When Layla married Derek at the courthouse, she didn’t need lace or chandeliers to feel like a bride—just love, intention, and a quiet lunch that felt like theirs. But her joy quickly unraveled as his family dismissed their marriage as “not real,” reducing her role to little more than a placeholder. From subtle jabs to open dismissals, Layla found herself shrinking in rooms where she was supposed to feel at home.
Still, she stayed gracious, baking cookies with nieces and nephews, hosting brunches, helping at family events—until the moment she overheard the truth. That night, sitting in a car with a bottle of wine and an ache in her chest, something inside her didn’t break—it transformed. And what bloomed from that heartbreak? Well… it was going to be unforgettable.
