I thought wedding stress meant cake flavors, not defending my daughter. I’m 45, divorced, and Paige—11, sharp, resilient—is my everything. When I met Sarah, she embraced us both. For four years we laughed through dinners and movie nights. Her “yes” to my proposal felt like sealing what already was.

Then wedding plans soured. Sarah wanted her niece as flower girl but not Paige. Later she admitted she’d hoped I’d become a “holiday-visit dad” after the wedding. My heart froze. I slid off the ring.

That night Paige drew us together under a heart. I told her there’d be no wedding because she comes first. Now we’re taking the honeymoon ourselves—sun, sand, ice cream. My vow to her is forever.