Chapter 5 - The Glass Of Champagne At The Altar
The heavy mahogany doors swung open, and the crowded ballroom erupted into polite, sophisticated applause.
Photographers from the city’s top business journals flashed their camera lenses as we walked slowly down the white aisle.
I looked around the room, seeing the faces of my oldest business partners, my firm’s shareholders, and prominent local politicians.
They all believed they were witnessing a fairy-tale romance—a powerful widowed billionaire marrying his brilliant young assistant.
Evelyn leaned close to my side, her voice barely audible over the swelling violin music.
“See, Thomas? Everything is perfect,” she murmured sweetly, her eyes gleaming with triumphant greed.
“After today, we can finally focus on restructuring the family trust without your daughter’s endless interference.”
My grip on her arm tightened slightly, but my face remained completely motionless as we reached the floral altar.
The wedding officiant, an old family friend who had buried my late wife, smiled warmly at us both as he opened his book.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite Thomas Vance and Evelyn Kensington in holy matrimony,” he began.
Evelyn turned to face me, taking both of my hands in hers, her white veil cascading over her lace dress like sea foam.
“Before we read the vows,” I interrupted smoothly, my voice carrying clearly through the lapel microphone.
The officiant blinked in surprise, pausing his reading as the room grew completely quiet.
“I would like to raise a toast to my beautiful bride-to-be,” I announced, turning to face the hundred and fifty seated guests.
A waiter quickly stepped forward, placing a glass of vintage champagne into my hand and one into Evelyn’s delicate fingers.
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, a small twitch appearing at the corner of her perfectly lipsticked mouth.
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“Thomas, what are you doing?” she whispered under her breath, trying to keep her smile locked in place.
“I’m telling our guests the truth, Evelyn,” I said into the microphone.
