Her Husband To Be
Violet stood in front of her soon-to-be husband, her heart racing. The journey had been long, but now they were on the brink of making it official.
As she took a deep breath, Violet tried to calm her nerves. She had always dreamed of this moment—of Bryce becoming her husband and beginning their forever together. Yet, despite her excitement, a single worry lingered in the back of her mind.
Reading Her Vows
It was the most important day of her life, yet as she stood before her loved ones reading her vows, there was something she had to say—something that had been weighing on her heart for far too long.
As she looked out over the crowd, her gaze landed on her soon-to-be husband's ex-wife. Violet had been a part of their past, but today, she felt the need to speak her mind. With a steady voice, she turned to Violet and asked her to stand, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
Now Was The Right Time
She hesitated, not wanting to reveal her emotions in this way, but it seemed the only option to make people truly understand her. Holding the paper, she carefully reviewed the words she had written, each one heavy with meaning.
A sense of unease washed over her. Was it the right moment? The reactions would surely be overwhelming, yet she knew there was no turning back. It had to be now, or she’d never find the courage again.
Loud Gasps
She noticed Jenny in the crowd, seated just two rows from the front. Taking a deep breath, Violet called out, "Jenny, could you please stand up? I need to say something."
A hush fell over the room as everyone exchanged glances, some gasping in surprise. But Violet knew she had no choice. The truth had to be revealed, especially with the children involved.
Taken Aback
When Violet Jennings met Bryce Paulse, he didn’t hold anything back. "I have three kids and an ex-wife," he told her right away, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Though initially surprised, Violet admired his honesty. It showed he respected her enough to be upfront, and that transparency made her feel valued. She found herself appreciating his openness, and soon realized she felt the same way about him.
Welcoming
Violet's nerves were on edge as the day arrived for her to meet his children. She worried they might think she was trying to take the place of their mother, which made the situation even more daunting.
To her relief, the kids were warm and welcoming. They greeted her with kindness and even handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Their respectful behavior left Violet pleasantly surprised and eased her anxieties.
Getting Serious
Things weren’t always smooth sailing, especially with Bryce’s oldest daughter, Leah. At 16, Leah wasn’t exactly warm toward Violet, much to Violet’s disappointment.
Determined to make it work, Violet knew she had to try harder. With her relationship with Bryce growing more serious, she was eager to build a positive connection with all of his children and hoped time and effort would ease the tension.
All Those Excuses
Violet had a great relationship with the twin boys, Ben and Billy. At ten years old, they were always excited when she took them out for burgers and ice cream, eagerly enjoying every moment together.
However, things weren’t as smooth with Leah. Every time Violet invited her to the mall, Leah would come up with an excuse. Deep down, Violet had a sense of why Leah was avoiding the outings, but she couldn't bring herself to confront it just yet.
Bothering Her
Violet hesitated at first, unsure of how to approach the situation. She had a feeling she knew what was really happening, but she didn’t want to upset Bryce by bringing it up.
Still, the unease gnawed at her. She wasn’t sure how he would respond, but she couldn’t ignore her instincts any longer. All Violet wanted was to build a relationship with Leah, yet something—or someone—seemed to be getting in the way.
Getting Home From Work
She waited eagerly for Bryce to come home that evening, unaware of his surprise. As soon as he walked through the door, the twins followed him, each holding a large bouquet of red roses.
"Hey, what's going on? Are you two staying the night?" she asked the twins, but they remained silent. It wasn't until she turned around that she saw Bryce on one knee, a smile on his face.
Surprise!
She gasped out in surprise when she saw him holding out the ring. And before he could even ask her the question, she screamed out “Yes!” with joy.
It was the happiest moment of her life, and the twins hugged her. But she noticed that Leah wasn’t present. It made her feel a little bit hurt.
Bringing Up The Matter
The newly engaged couple celebrated with a day out. Even though Violet was very happy, she wanted to bring up the matter that had been bothering her for some time.
She took a deep breath and spoke. “Honey, I’m concerned that Leah doesn’t like me much, and I think I know why. I think your ex-wife is involved.”
Defending Her
Bryce was taken aback. He didn’t know that Violet was feeling that way. He tried to assure her. “No way, I don’t think Jenny is involved. Leah is a teenager, and she’s going through teenage girl stuff, that’s all,” Bryce replied.
But Violet wasn’t convinced, and she wasn’t impressed that Bryce came to his ex-wife’s defense so swiftly.
It Was Time
But she wasn’t going to leave it just there. It was time to have a word with Jenny. She had only texted her before about the children, but they had never met face to face, and they had never spoken over the phone.
But now, since Violet and Bryce were engaged and she was going to be their stepmother, she thought it was time for a phone call.
Calling Jenny
She clicked on Jenny’s name and waited while it rang. It rang a long time until Jenny finally answered. “Um, hello? Jenny speaking,” she said in a huff.
Violet could hear she sounded a bit off. “Hi Jenny, it’s Violet. I need to speak to you about something,” Violet said. But then something unexpected happened.
Busy
Violet could hear a lot of noise in the background, and then Jenny spoke again. “Um, now is not a good time. I’m really busy. Can I call you back?” Jenny asked.
“Sure, yeah,” Violet replied. She hung up in a huff. She didn’t like Jenny’s tone of voice. It sounded like she didn’t want to speak to her at all.
Confirmed?
It didn’t sit well with her, and it only confirmed to her what she was thinking all along. That Jenny was telling her children to give her a hard time.
It infuriated her, and she knew that she was right all along. She had a bad day because of it. But then, later on, her phone rang. It was Jenny. She didn’t know if she wanted to talk to her. She was too angry.
An Unexpected Call
But maybe she could confront her about it. It was time to give her a piece of her mind. When she answered, she got a very unexpected response from Jenny.
“Hey, sorry about earlier. I was in a bit of a mess. Leah is driving me crazy with her moods. I just can’t win with her. She’s a nightmare. I’m sure she’s given you hell, too. By the way, congratulations on your and Bryce’s engagement. I’m so happy for you!” Violet’s mouth was agape.
Finally, But
Only a few months later, Violet and Bryce were standing face to face, saying their vows. Violet was a bundle of nerves as she stood in front of her husband-to-be. They had come a long way, and now it was time to make things official.
She took a deep breath. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Bryce was finally going to be a husband, and they would live happily ever after. But Violet had one worry.
Getting Something Off Of Her Chest
It was the biggest day of her life, yet as she read her vows, there was one thing she needed to get off of her chest once and for all.
She scanned the crowd of people and then spotted her soon-to-be husband’s ex-wife. Violet had something to say to her. Everyone gasped as she asked her to stand up.
Please Stand Up
She spotted Jenny sitting two rows from the front. She took another deep breath and called to her. “Jenny, could you please stand up? There’s something I want to say.”
Everyone looked at each other, and some let out audible gasps. But Violet had to do it. They didn’t know the truth, and most of all, there were children involved.
Saying Something
As Jenny stood up, Bryce looked at Violet, not knowing what was about to happen. Violet got ready to say something.
“Jenny, we didn’t know each other too well in the beginning, and I misjudged you for the wrong reasons. I just want to thank you in front of everyone here today. Thank you for being kind to me and patient, and thank you for raising such well-mannered children. It’s a privilege to be their stepmother, and I’m happy to call you my friend.”
Overwhelmed
Violet's unexpected words hung in the air, and the crowd shifted uncomfortably, their earlier gasps now replaced by a different kind of surprise.
Jenny blinked in disbelief, her eyes glistening with tears as she slowly sat back down, her heart touched by Violet's unexpected gratitude. She was overwhelmed by her outpouring of love.
Unexpected But Welcomed
Bryce, standing beside Violet, was equally taken aback. He hadn't expected this turn of events, but he realized that Violet was trying to build bridges and create a harmonious family dynamic for the sake of the children. He smiled at her, his love for her deepening.
The children were happy that their mother and stepmother were getting along.
Unity
Violet continued with her vows, expressing her love for Bryce and her commitment to being a loving stepmother to his children. Her words resonated with everyone in the room, reminding them of the importance of love, forgiveness, and unity in blended families.
Violet loved Bryce’s children as her own, and they needed a healthy family structure in place.
Sealing Their Commitment
As the ceremony concluded and the newlyweds sealed their commitment with a kiss, there was a palpable sense of warmth and reconciliation in the air.
Violet's decision to speak her heart had transformed what could have been a tense and awkward moment into an opportunity for healing and growth. All she wanted was for everyone to get along and love each other.
A Genuine Friendship
In the days that followed, Jenny and Violet began to build a genuine friendship based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the well-being of the children.
Leah, no longer feeling caught in the middle, gradually warmed up to Violet, realizing that her stepmother had her best interests at heart. Violet couldn’t wait to make up for all the lost time between the two of them.
A New Chapter
Their wedding day had not only marked the union of two people in love but also the beginning of a new chapter in their family’s life— a chapter filled with understanding, forgiveness, and the promise of a brighter future.
Violet’s courage in the truth had set the stage for a happily ever after that everyone could look forward to.
A Bright Future
With their newfound unity and love, Violet and Bryce's family began to flourish. The children, once torn between two households, now had the love and support of both their parents and their stepmother.
As the years passed, their family grew stronger, and the bond between Violet and the children deepened. Violet realized that her decision to speak from the heart on their wedding day had not only brought healing but had also paved the way for a bright and harmonious future for their blended family.
Happily Ever After
Violet and Bryce's love continued to grow, and they cherished the precious moments they shared with their children. Leah, Ben , and Billy blossomed under the care of their loving parents and stepmother, forming a close-knit family that supported each other through the ups and downs of life.
As they looked back on that fateful wedding day, they couldn't help but smile, knowing that it was the day when honesty, forgiveness, and love had triumphed. Violet had not only won over her husband's children but had also won their hearts, leading them all toward a true "happily ever after."