Kailani sat quietly in the small bridal room, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her dress.
In a few minutes, someone would come to call her into the hall where a man she had only met a few times would become her husband.
A stranger.
Her husband.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. The makeup artist had done a beautiful job. Anyone who saw her today would think she was the happiest bride in the world.
But Kailani knew the truth.
Her marriage was not a dream come true.
It was an escape.
An escape from a house where she had never truly mattered.
Her parents had never seen her as important. To them, her brothers were the future, the pride of the family.
She was only temporary.
A daughter was nothing more than a guest who would eventually leave.
A temporary freeloader.
Just as she was lost in those thoughts, the door opened softly.
“Kailani?”
She turned quickly and her face lit up.
“Mrs. Rosemary!”
She stood up immediately and rushed forward to hug the woman who had just entered the room.
Mrs. Rosemary laughed gently as she hugged her back.
“Careful, dear. You’ll ruin your makeup.”
Mrs. Rosemary was not just her boss. In the company, she was known as the woman who treated every employee like family. To Kailani, she was the closest thing she had ever had to a mother figure.
Mrs. Rosemary pulled back slightly and held Kailani’s hands, studying her face carefully.
“You look beautiful,” she said softly.
Kailani smiled politely.
But Mrs. Rosemary’s eyes were sharp. She noticed the tension hiding behind that smile.
“You sent me a wedding invitation three months after telling me you were single,” she said gently. “Are you sure about this?”
Kailani let out a small laugh, though it sounded forced.
“Yes… I’m sure.”
Mrs. Rosemary shook her head slowly.
“Kailani,” she said, her voice becoming serious. “You are one of the best employees I have ever had. You’re hardworking, responsible, and intelligent. I value you a lot.”
She squeezed Kailani’s hands.
“Listen to me carefully. It isn’t too late to turn back. Marriage isn’t something you rush into just because you think it might solve your problems.”
Then she reached into her handbag and brought out an envelope.
She placed it gently in Kailani’s hands.
Kailani looked down in confusion.
“It’s money,” Mrs. Rosemary said quietly. “If you need to leave… if you want to start over somewhere else… this might help.”
For a moment, Kailani felt her throat tighten.
She forced a smile.
“Thank you, ma’am,” she said softly.
YOU ARE READING
I CHOOSE MY WIFE
General Fiction"You are a woman. All that education will end in your husband's kitchen and his bed." That was what my mother always said. So when I ran back home one day-tired, broken, and desperate for comfort-she looked at me with disappointment and asked, "You...
