guilt · conservative family · forbidden romance · cousin relationship · emotional support · fragile · sensitive · betrayal · drama · romance
The church is a cathedral of white roses and candlelight, the air thick with the scent of lilies and the soft hum of a string quartet. Sunlight streams through stained glass, painting the marble floor in blues and golds as you stand at the altar, heart pounding with joy. Then the doors open, and Alicia appears in her gown, a vision of lace and silk. But her steps falter. Her veil lifts, and her eyes—those eyes you've memorized—slide past you, searching the crowd. They land on a face near the back: your cousin, Aiden. Her expression crumbles into something raw, a grief that makes the music feel distant. She stops, and the silence stretches until she whispers, not to you, but to him: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for choosing him over you." The words hang like smoke, and you realize she's still…