Carrie stood quietly on the rooftop, the soft rustle of her gown brushing against the petals of white roses that blanketed the venue. The evening breeze carried the scent of blossoms and the faint hum of distant laughter from the city below. She looked down at her wrist, where the jade bracelet glimmered in the warm glow of the lights. It felt cool against her skin, a weight both grounding and comforting.

“Welcome home,” David’s mother had said, her voice filled with sincerity as she handed over the box. Those words echoed in Carrie’s mind, resonating deeper than she had expected. Home. A place she had longed for but had never truly known—not with her parents, not in the shadow of her sister’s manipulations. Yet here, surrounded by David and his family, she felt it for the first time.

David stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on her back. His presence was steady, a quiet assurance that she was no longer alone in navigating the chaos of life. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, his voice cutting through her thoughts.

Carrie turned to him, her lips curving into a small smile. “Better than okay,” she replied. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but they weren’t tears of sorrow. They were tears of relief, gratitude, and something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years—hope.

The rooftop was quiet now, save for the gentle rustling of leaves and flowers. David’s grandmother sat nearby with a serene expression on her face, watching over them like a benevolent guardian. His parents stood a few steps away, speaking quietly to one another but clearly keeping an eye on their son and his fiancée.

Carrie thought back to everything that had brought her here—the betrayals, the heartbreaks, and the moments of despair when she thought she’d never escape the toxic web her family had spun around her. She had endured years of being overshadowed by Molly, her parents’ blatant favoritism, and Felix’s insistent pursuit despite her lack of affection for him. Yet somehow, she had come out on the other side stronger, wiser, and with David by her side.

“Do you regret any of it?” David asked suddenly, as if reading her thoughts.

She glanced up at him, startled by the question. “Regret?” she repeated, tasting the word on her tongue. Did she regret it? The years of pain and struggle? The sacrifices she’d made to ensure Molly and Felix ended up together so she could be free?

“No,” she said firmly after a moment. “I don’t regret it. It shaped me into who I am today. And it brought me here… with you.”

David’s lips twitched into a smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “Good,” he said simply.

Carrie reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “What about you? Do you regret getting involved with someone like me? All this drama I carry?”

David chuckled, shaking his head. “Carrie, I think you underestimate how entertaining your life is.” His tone was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of affection that made her heart swell. “Besides,” he added more seriously, “you’re not just someone I got involved with. You’re someone I chose.”

Chosen. The word settled over Carrie like a warm blanket. For so long, she had felt like an afterthought in her own family—a pawn in their games or an obstacle to be overcome. But with David, she was more than that. She was his equal, his partner, his choice.

The sound of a microphone crackling to life drew their attention back to the stage where David’s grandmother now stood. Despite her age, she held herself with an air of authority that commanded respect. “Carrie,” she began, her voice steady and clear, “you’ve been through more than most could bear, and yet here you are—stronger for it.” She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. “Today isn’t just about welcoming you into our family. It’s about celebrating the woman you’ve become.”

Carrie felt her breath hitch as the older woman’s words washed over her. She glanced at David, who gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Go on,” he murmured.

Taking a deep breath, Carrie stepped forward to join David’s grandmother on the stage. The older woman reached out to take her hand, holding it gently but firmly as she spoke again. “This bracelet,” she said, gesturing to the jade band around Carrie’s wrist, “is a symbol of strength and unity. It has been passed down through generations in our family, and today it becomes yours.”

Tears welled up in Carrie’s eyes as she looked at the bracelet again. It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry—it was a testament to her place in this family, a family that valued her for who she was rather than what she could do for them.

“Thank you,” Carrie whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

David’s grandmother smiled warmly at her before stepping back to let Carrie address the small gathering. She turned to face David’s parents and grandmother first, then looked out at David himself standing just offstage.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” she began hesitantly, “but I’m grateful for all of you—for welcoming me into your lives and showing me what family truly means.” Her gaze lingered on David as she added softly, “And for showing me what love is supposed to feel like.”

David stepped forward then, closing the distance between them in just a few strides. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “You deserve all of it and more,” he said simply before leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

The applause that followed was warm and genuine, filling the rooftop with a sense of joy and celebration that Carrie hadn’t felt in years—if ever.

As the evening wore on and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in hues of gold and pink, Carrie found herself sitting quietly with David on one of the benches overlooking the skyline.

“Do you think they’ll ever stop trying?” she asked suddenly.

David didn’t need to ask who she meant—her parents, Molly, Felix—all the people who had tried to control or undermine her life for so long. He shook his head slightly. “Probably not,” he admitted honestly. “But they won’t succeed.”

Carrie nodded thoughtfully before leaning her head against his shoulder. “I think I can live with that,” she said softly.

David wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as they sat together in comfortable silence. For once in her life, Carrie felt at peace—not because everything was perfect or because all her problems had magically disappeared—but because she finally had something worth holding onto: herself.

And David.

And this new family that felt more like home than anything ever had before.