Chapter 10 - The Formal Civil Signing Ceremony Is Permanently Canceled
An hour after the chaos erupted in the ballroom, the hotel lobby echoed with the quiet sounds of departure.
Valeria walked out of the bridal suite, having changed out of her wedding gown and into a sleek, professional black pantsuit.
She held the platinum engagement ring in her palm, dropping it carelessly into a brass waste bin near the elevators.
Her phone buzzed incessantly with blocked calls, panicked text messages, and desperate voice notes from Marcus.
She blocked his number without listening to a single word of his crying apologies.
Arthur waited by the glass revolving doors, holding his daughter’s designer handbag with a gentle, reassuring smile.
“Are you alright, sweetheart?” Arthur asked softly as she walked up to him.
“I’ve never felt more alive, Dad,” Valeria smiled genuinely, linking her arm through his.
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“Good; your mother is waiting at home with a bottle of champagne to celebrate your freedom,” Arthur laughed warmly.
They stepped out into the crisp Chicago night air, leaving the ruined wedding reception far behind them.
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