Chapter 7 - Security Steps Forward As Tempers Flare Rapidly
The cathedral security detail, realizing the situation had spiraled completely out of control, stepped up the main aisle.
“Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you and your child to exit the premises immediately,” the lead security officer instructed Hailey.
Hailey nodded cooperatively, turning her back on Ethan and the devastated Sterling family without a single look of remorse.
“Enjoy your ruined wedding day, Ethan... we have plenty more documents to share with the federal marshals downtown,” Hailey said smoothly.
She walked gracefully down the aisle, her heels clicking rhythmically against the stone floor as the crowd parted like the sea.
Ethan stood in a daze, watching her vanish through the heavy oak doors while his father slumped helplessly into a wooden pew.
“Dad... are those audit papers real?” Ethan asked quietly, walking over to where his father sat with his head in his hands.
His father didn't answer immediately, staring blankly at the floor as the reality of their impending ruin settled over him.
“Every single word of it is true, Ethan... our accounts were seized twenty minutes ago by federal authorities,” his father whispered brokenly.
The remaining wedding guests began grabbing their coats and purses, eager to escape the sinking ship of the Sterling family name.
Within ten minutes, the grand cathedral was completely empty, save for the abandoned floral arrangements and scattered program leaflets.
Ethan walked slowly back to the altar, picking up his discarded engagement ring from the marble floor with numb fingers.
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The American flag in the corner fluttered silently in the empty draft, marking the exact spot where his entire life fell apart.
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