Chapter 5 - The Groom’s Exit Strategy
Sutton finally stood up from the head table. Her silk bridal rehearsal dress trailed behind her on the floor, and her hair was slightly disheveled. The arrogant, triumphant smirk she had worn at the top of the stairs was completely gone, replaced by a frantic, panicked glare.
""You did this on purpose,"" Sutton shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at me. ""You fell down those stairs yourself just to steal my spotlight! You've been jealous of me since the day I was born, Fallon! You're a crippled, miserable failure who couldn't even keep an inspection contract, so you come here to destroy my wedding out of spite!""
""Is that right, Sutton?"" a calm, deep voice echoed from the entrance of the pavilion.
Every head in the room snapped toward the doors.
Alden walked in. He wasn't wearing his tuxedo. He wore a crisp navy blazer, open at the collar, and his expression was as cold as carved stone. Behind him walked his father, Judge Richard Vance, holding a sleek black leather briefcase.
Sutton’s face lit up with desperate relief. ""Alden! Thank goodness. Look at her—she’s insane, she brought lawyers here, she's trying to ruin everything—""
""Quiet, Sutton,"" Alden said, his voice completely devoid of the warmth he had shown me in the bridal suite two days ago.
He walked past her without even glancing at her face, stopping right beside my wheelchair. He looked down at my heavy black leg brace, his jaw tightening.
""I'm sorry,"" Alden said softly to me. ""I should have checked the security logs sooner. If I had known what your family was doing behind your back, I never would have let you near this place.""
Sutton stared at him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. ""Alden... what are you talking about? We're getting married tomorrow! The guests are already here!""
Judge Richard Vance stepped forward, opening his briefcase and pulling out several stiff sheets of legal paper.
""There will be no wedding tomorrow, Ms. Mercer,"" the judge said calmly, his deep, authoritative voice carrying effortlessly across the pavilion. ""My son has filed an official petition for annulment based on fraudulent inducement and material misrepresentation. Furthermore, our legal team has reviewed the financial disclosures provided by Miss Fallon Mercer's legal counsel.""
The judge turned his piercing gaze toward Stellin and Althia.
""It appears your daughter Sutton, with the active participation of you both, systematically drained corporate funds from Fallon’s engineering consulting firm over the past six months to finance this destination wedding, totaling over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in hidden unauthorized transfers.""
The gasps from the surrounding guests were audible. Several members of Sutton’s bridal party dropped their champagne flutes, backing away from the head table as if my parents carried a contagious disease.
Stellin grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself, his face turning an alarming shade of gray. ""That’s... that’s family money! We helped her build that business!""
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""You didn't build a damn thing,"" a cool, polished voice rang out from the entrance.
Vesper stepped into the pavilion, wearing an impeccably tailored charcoal pantsuit, her sunglasses folded in her hand as she surveyed the room like a general inspecting conquered territory.
