Chapter 3 - The Bride's Awakening
“Get out.”
The voice came from the doorway. My older sister, Elena, stood there holding a tray of lukewarm coffees, her eyes blazing with an absolute, unholy fury. She set the tray down and pointed a finger at Julian.
“I told the nurses to call security if you didn't leave in three minutes. You have one minute left, Julian,” Elena spat.
Julian ignored her, running a frantic hand through his perfectly styled hair. He turned to Maya. “We need to call Harrison. We need to file an emergency injunction. She’s committing fraud.”
Maya, however, wasn't looking at him. She was staring at me, her eyes darting frantically as she did the math. Maya had never loved Julian. She loved the Vance name. She loved the black card, the Hamptons house, the private jets.
“Julian,” Maya said, her voice shaking. “If she has 51%... what do you have?”
“I have 10%!” Julian snapped. “But it doesn't matter, we’ll sue her into oblivion—”
“Ten percent,” Maya repeated, the horror dawning on her face. “Julian, the pre-nup. The pre-nup is contingent on your net worth remaining above five hundred million. If she takes the trust…”
“Who cares about the pre-nup right now?!” Julian screamed, finally losing his polished veneer. “My entire legacy is sitting in her arms!”
“I care!” Maya shrieked, lifting the heavy skirts of her wedding gown. “I didn't marry a minority shareholder, Julian! I didn't endure your mother’s snide comments and hide in hotel rooms for two years to end up with a man who just got outsmarted by his ex-wife!”
Julian looked at his new bride as if he were seeing her for the first time. The illusion of his perfect, adoring replacement was shattering in real-time.
Two burly hospital security guards appeared behind Elena.
“Mr. Vance,” the taller guard said, placing a heavy hand on Julian’s tuxedo shoulder. “It’s time to go. Now.”
Julian looked at me one last time. There was no arrogance left. Only a deep, venomous hatred. “This isn't over, Clara. I will take that boy from you. You won’t see a dime. I will destroy you.”
May you like
“You’ve already tried,” I said, matching his stare. “And look where it got you.”
Maya pushed past the security guards, practically running down the hallway in her wedding dress, leaving her new husband to be escorted out like a trespasser.
