Chapter 8 - No Wedding
Ethan returned to the altar.
Victoria remained beneath the chandeliers, still wearing the gown chosen for photographs that would never be taken.
The guests waited.
He removed the wedding band.
“There will be no wedding.”
Victoria’s composure finally cracked.
“You cannot humiliate me in front of everyone.”
Emma looked at the staff lining the aisle.
“You hid me under the floor in front of everyone.”
Ethan addressed the venue employees first.
Every worker would be paid in full.
No canceled-event fee would come from the employee fund.
The money would come from his personal account.
The housing repair budget would be restored before any family dividend resumed.
The manager announced that workers would receive three permanent board seats.
Former employees would retain lifetime protections in the apartment buildings.
The development sale was formally canceled.
Guests who wished to remain were invited to donate directly to the housing repair fund.
No naming rights.
No private dinners.
No access to tenant data.
The first donor pledged quietly.
Then another.
Within an hour, enough money had been raised to replace roofs at three employee buildings.
Victoria watched the room move on without her.
“You think this makes you honorable?” she asked Ethan.
“No.”
He looked toward Emma.
“It makes me late.”
Victoria turned toward the staff corridor.
The manager blocked no one.
The door was open.
She was free to leave.
But before she moved, Emma held up the recent signature attributed to their mother.
“If Margaret Merrick is alive, Victoria may not be the person who designed this.”
Victoria stopped.
The fear on her face was different now.
May you like
Not exposure.
Recognition.
