Attending my daughter’s wedding should have been the happiest day of my life, but the moment I saw my ex-husband Phil and his new wife, everything inside me twisted. Old wounds I thought had healed were ripped open, and fresh ones began to form. I reminded myself to focus on Mila—her happiness, her future—but my past refused to stay buried.

Phil had always been cruel in subtle ways, treating me like a pretty bird trapped in his cage. His affairs were no secret, though I had been the last to know. When I finally filed for divorce, I thought I was breaking free, but the settlement left me with almost nothing. Now, only months later, he stood before me with a younger wife who, insultingly, shared my name. And to make the cut deeper, he announced she was pregnant—the one thing he had always denied me when I begged for another child.

That night, Phil cornered me on the terrace, showering me with fake compliments before leaning in to kiss me. I shoved him away, furious. He hadn’t changed—still selfish, still unfaithful. My anger turned to resolve when I later caught him kissing the hotel receptionist. I took photos, proof of what he really was.

At the rehearsal dinner, Phil tried to intimidate me into silence, claiming his pregnant wife didn’t need stress. But I stood my ground. I told him I had the photos and would use them if he strayed again. His smug mask cracked, and for once, he had no words.

As I walked away, I felt lighter. His betrayals were no longer my burden. Mila’s wedding wasn’t about the man who had hurt me—it was about new beginnings. And mine had just started, too.