Lucas was openly crying now, but smiling.
“No. You embarrassed yourself the moment you humiliated my son, Mom.”
Michael walked to the microphone stand near the DJ booth.
His hands shook slightly as he adjusted it.
“I wasn’t planning to announce this today,” he said, and the entire courtyard held its breath.
“But considering what just happened, I think right now is the perfect moment.”
He looked at me. Then at Lucas. Then directly at his mother.
“Immediately after this wedding, I’m filing the paperwork to legally adopt Lucas. Officially. Permanently. He will be my son in every way that matters.”
“Immediately after this wedding, I’m filing the paperwork to legally adopt Lucas.”
The courtyard erupted.
People cheered. Several guests openly cried.
Someone shouted, “Yes! Finally!”
Lucas made a sound between a laugh and a sob and ran straight into Michael’s arms.
Loretta looked like she’d been slapped.
“You can’t just replace your real family with…”
“Mom. This is your last warning. If you can’t support us, then I need you to leave. Right now. This is NOT negotiable.”
Every eye in the courtyard turned to Loretta.
“Mom. This is your last warning.
If you can’t support us, then I need you to leave. Right now.
This is NOT negotiable.”
She opened her mouth, looking around desperately for support.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke up for her.
Not one single person.
Her face flushed deep red.
She grabbed her purse, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the wedding in front of 120 witnesses.
And you know what?
Nobody missed her.
Not even for a second.
Nobody spoke up for her.
Not one single person.
Lucas didn’t let go of Michael’s hand for the rest of the ceremony.
