Chapter 10 - The True Feast
The autumn sun set over the Virginia countryside, painting the sky in brilliant shades of amber, gold, and deep violet.
In the backyard of my newly purchased farmhouse in Charlottesville, eighty people sat at long wooden banquet tables set beneath glowing string lights suspended from ancient oak trees.
There was no formal seating chart, no velvet ropes, and no society photographers.
Laughter echoed across the lawn as platters of roasted ribeye, fresh grilled salmon, artisanal cheeses, heirloom salads, and warm crusty bread were passed family-style between my parents, my friends, my clients, and Liam’s family.
I stood near the edge of the patio, wearing a simple cream linen dress, holding a glass of crisp white wine.
Liam walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder as we watched our guests enjoying the feast.
"Everything looks perfect, Emily," he whispered.
I looked down at the vibrant, beautiful table, then up at the smiling faces of the people who truly loved and respected me.
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"It really is," I said, a genuine, joyful smile spreading across my face.
I didn't need a thirty-one thousand dollar grand ballroom or a high-society name to build a rich life. All I needed was the courage to stand up, hold the microphone, speak the absolute truth, and build my own seat at the table.
