Isabella’s face turned ghostly white. My mother looked like she might faint.
Julian continued, his voice growing stronger.
“I tried to fight it. I tried to honor the relationship I had with Isabella. But every time I saw Elena fighting to raise her son alone, working double shifts, protecting him from a family that treated them both like mistakes… I realized I was with the wrong sister. I proposed to Isabella because I was scared of what I felt for Elena. That was cowardice. And I’m done being a coward.”
He looked straight at me, tears in his eyes.
“Elena, I love you. I love Mateo. And if you’ll have me, I want to spend the rest of my life proving that you and your son are not baggage — you are the greatest treasure I’ve ever been given.”
The ballroom was completely silent for three full seconds.
Then chaos erupted.
Isabella screamed. My mother dropped her glass. Guests whispered furiously. Cameras flashed. Mateo stopped crying and looked up at me in confusion.
“Mommy… is he saying he wants to be my daddy?”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Julian stepped off the stage and walked straight to our table. He knelt in front of Mateo first.
“Hey, buddy,” he said softly. “I know today has been really hard. But I promise — if your mom says yes, I will never make you sit at the back of the room again.”
Mateo looked at me, then at Julian, and nodded slowly.
Julian turned to me, taking my trembling hands.
“I know this is messy. I know the timing is terrible. But I couldn’t let them humiliate you for one more second. I love you, Elena. Say yes, and we’ll figure out the rest together.”
