Sitting in my office, surrounded by contracts and receipts, I realized that love sometimes means letting people learn from their own mistakes. I’d been so focused on trying to protect her, to guide her, that I’d missed the signs of her growing resentment. It was time for a change of course.

I called the caterers first, then the decorators, and finally the venue. With each call, I felt an unfamiliar sense of liberation. It was odd, how freeing it felt to finally act on my own behalf. I wasn’t canceling the wedding, just my role as the financier. Jessica would have to make her own decisions, bear her own responsibilities, and yes, perhaps face the consequences of her words and actions.

By the time I finished, I felt a curious sense of peace. My phone buzzed with messages—Jessica must have realized something was amiss. But I needed a moment to think, to reflect on what had transpired and what would come next.