Chapter 2: The Groom’s Worst Nightmare
Ethan, the groom, didn't move. He felt the blood drain from his extremities. He knew that ring. He had seen it in the restricted section of his grandfather’s study, in the books detailing the 'Titans of Industry.' This woman wasn't a beggar; she was the estranged recluse, the one who liquidated failing tech giants for breakfast. She was his estranged aunt, and he had just spent three years building a reputation based on the lie that he was the 'sole heir' to a fortune that actually belonged entirely to her.
"Vanessa," Ethan whispered, his voice cracking. "Put the phone down. Now."
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"What? No! This is going to be the most viral video of the year!" Vanessa hissed, tapping her screen. She looked at the woman with pure disdain. "Look at her, Ethan. She’s probably trespassing. Security!"
Elena didn’t wait for security. She pulled a small, sleek device from her pocket—not a phone, but a remote. She pressed a single button. Instantly, the massive, state-of-the-art sound system of the wedding, which had been playing romantic ballads, died. In its place, a calm, amplified voice broadcasted from every speaker in the venue. It was Elena’s lawyer.
