“You little parasite!” she screamed at me. “You came into this family for money!”
Adrian turned toward her.
“No, Mom. She found the money you stole.”
The silence afterward was almost beautiful.
“My father trusted you,” Adrian said.
“I protected this family!”
“You robbed it.”
She slapped him.
Right there in front of everyone.
Hotel security stepped in and escorted Evelyn from the chapel while she shouted that the company belonged to her and that Adrian would regret choosing “that woman” over blood.
The wedding did not continue.
Not that day.
The minister dismissed the guests.
By sunset, the hotel had revoked Evelyn’s access, banks froze several accounts, and three directors agreed to cooperate with investigators.
Later, Adrian and I stood outside in the garden.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I looked down at the cheap ivory dress.
“I’m not marrying you until you know who your family is without me standing between you and the truth.”
