son set the stage for Sta

ecognized many faces, well-known from lo

on appeared to ha

ght of Terry and Stacey's intima

r of college, Terry b

However, Helena's struggle with panic disorder persisted, making it impossible for her to ful

u'd be upset with me and skip the eve

owing in her gown, clinging affecti

eted them with a calm demea

y, unable to meet He

ut she always kept her distance-and on top of

life with someone like her

iness had been doing well in recent ye

being her bridesmaid after discovering her p

esitance, Stacey

you promised to be my bridesmaid. You'r

, allowing the diamond on her ring finger to c

rried. Sorry for not telling

sion briefly re

ce of the wedding ring adorning Helena's finger,

Helena, who did you marr

her vow to Alden to kee

explained, "My husband

just to save face. After all, Helena was nothing more than a weather anc

y man would ever wa

g to Helena. "You'll have to manage your own makeup; my artist is u

ed the content

overly flashy champagne tulle dress that s

augh at Stacey's petty

ng to witness Helena's discomfort, she not

tering the room, now dressed in a fitted off-shoulder evening gown, with her ha

y's irritation grew. She b

bridesmaid dress I gave yo

g it. It just didn't fit well, so I tweaked it a

to alter sponsored outfits, Helena had become quite skil

cleverly altered it into an elegant off-shoulder ensemble. Helena's makeup was understated,

stunning, effortlessly eclipsing Stacey in her d

med with regret as he observ

eak, but just then, the w

Helena moved through the room, raising

and Terry had built a shared network

, often assisting her peers. This garnered her much respect, partic

lena. One might mistake this for

One's a thief, the other just takes whatever they ca

caused Stacey's pol

na. Carol Marshall, Terry's mother, took Helena's hand with te

re health crisis two years ago, spending

gently, knowing it w

hich was partly why Helena had felt comfortable in

th Terry's relatives and friends, Stace

the limelight, relegating her to a m

y snapped, "Helena, you can lea

t laugh, "But I haven't give