CHAPTER 2: THE OWNER WAS NEVER THE GROOM
The venue manager kept his head lowered.
No one breathed.
No one even reached for another glass of champagne.
Patricia blinked.
"What... did you just call her?"
"Madam," the manager repeated calmly.
He opened the leather folder.
Inside was a property deed.
The official seal gleamed beneath the ballroom lights.
"I apologize for interrupting the ceremony," he said. "But the transfer became official at 9:00 this morning."
He turned to Clara.
"Congratulations. You are now the sole owner of Whitestone Estate."
Gasps swept through the ballroom.
Andrew frowned.
"What kind of joke is this?"
The manager looked confused.
"There is no joke, sir."
Patricia snatched the papers.
Her hands trembled as she scanned the first page.
Then the second.
Her face turned white.
"This... this can't be real."
"It has already been recorded with the county."
The manager smiled politely.
"The estate now belongs to Miss Clara Mason."
Andrew grabbed the documents.
"No."
"No, this place belongs to my family!"
"It belonged to the bank," the manager corrected.
"They sold it three months ago."
Andrew stared at Clara.
"You bought it?"
Clara nodded.
"I did."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She let out a quiet laugh.
"I tried."
"You were too busy telling me I wasn't good enough for your family."
Patricia stepped closer.
"You tricked us!"
"No."
Clara looked her straight in the eye.
"You just never thought the quiet girl could sign a bigger check than you."
Several guests couldn't hide their smiles.
Someone actually started clapping.
Patricia spun around.
"Stop applauding!"
Nobody listened.
Andrew reached for Clara's hand.
"Baby..."
She stepped back.
"Don't."
"You embarrassed me in front of everyone."
"I didn't know."
"You never asked."
Silence.
Then the manager cleared his throat.
"There's one more thing."
Everyone turned.
He smiled at Clara.
"Your surprise for the guests is ready."
Andrew frowned.
"What surprise?"
The manager looked around the ballroom.
"Madam asked us to wait until after the vows."
He paused.
"But I believe... now is the perfect time."
The lights suddenly dimmed.
Every screen inside the ballroom flickered to life.
May you like
And the first image that appeared made Andrew's knees almost give out.
End of Chapter 2...
