Chapter 2: The Wedding That Became a Reckoning
Clara gently removed her veil.
"I didn't buy this estate to impress anyone."
She looked directly at Andrew.
"I bought it because I wanted to build our future here."
Andrew finally found his voice.
"You... never told me."
"I tried."
"You were always too busy listening to your mother."
The room remained perfectly still.
Clara nodded toward the giant projection screen behind the stage.
"Please."
The venue manager pressed a button.
Photographs appeared.
Design sketches.
Invoices.
Construction permits.
Security footage.
Every improvement made to the estate during the previous six months had been personally financed by Clara.
The final video stunned everyone.
It showed Patricia secretly ordering staff to replace Clara's handcrafted decorations with more "appropriate" luxury arrangements.
Another clip revealed Patricia laughing with friends while calling Clara "a gold-digging seamstress."
Every insult.
Every humiliation.
Every attempt to control the wedding...
Had been recorded by the estate's security system.
Andrew slowly lowered his head.
"I... didn't know."
May you like
Clara answered without anger.
"You never wanted to know."
