Chapter 4 - The Sound of the Microphone
Victoria threw her hands into the air, letting out a sharp, dismissive screech. ""What kind of insane lie is this? Logan, why are you just standing there? Call security right now! Have this psychotic woman and her brat escorted off our island!""
Logan took a step back, his face turning an ash-gray color that looked sickening under the warm fairy lights. His hands were shaking so hard that he dropped his glass, sending water splashing across his polished leather shoes. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. His chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow gasps.
""Logan!"" my father commanded, stepping forward with his chest puffed out, attempting to assert his traditional authority. ""Handle your future sister-in-law. This is absurd. Isabel has completely lost her mind. She's embarrassing this entire family in front of our distinguished guests.""
I didn't answer my father. Instead, I calmly walked over to the band's stage. The six-piece jazz band had stopped playing minutes ago; the musicians stood near their instruments, exchanging wide-eyed glances. The lead vocalist had left his wireless microphone resting on an ornamental mahogany podium near the edge of the stage.
I picked up the microphone.
The heavy metal felt cold and substantial in my right hand. I adjusted Sophie on my hip with my left arm, keeping her head tucked securely against my neck so she wouldn't have to look at the hateful glares from Eleanor and Victoria.
Tap. Tap.
The sound of my finger tapping the microphone mesh boomed through the sixty-thousand-dollar concert sound system hidden among the palm trees. The low frequency vibrated through the stone floor, silencing the quiet murmurs of the eighty wealthy guests instantly. Every single pair of eyes turned toward me.
""Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,"" I said, my voice smooth, steady, and perfectly amplified. ""I apologize for the brief interruption to tonight’s festivities. But since my sister has chosen to turn this private family event into a public display of physical violence against an eight-year-old child, I believe it is only fair that everyone in attendance understands the reality of where they are standing.""
""Isabel! Put that down right now!"" Eleanor hissed, rushing toward the podium with her fists clenched. ""You have crossed the line! You are ruining Victoria’s life!""
""One more step, Mother,"" I said calmly into the mic, ""and I will have the island security staff remove you first.""
Eleanor froze in her tracks, her mouth dropping open in sheer outrage. She looked around frantically, expecting my father or Logan to intervene, but Logan was frozen like a marble statue, staring at the floor in complete defeat.
""Victoria mentioned earlier that my daughter ruined her two-million-dollar island wedding,"" I continued, speaking clearly to the entire gathering. ""She claimed that her brilliant, multi-millionaire fiancé paid for every flower, every jet, and every grain of sand on this estate. She claimed that I am merely an envious, penniless spectator who doesn't belong in high society.""
A heavy, suffocating silence blanketed the terrace. Several high-profile guests pulled out their phones, clearly captivated by the explosive corporate and family drama unfolding before their eyes.
""Six months ago, Logan’s enterprise suffered a complete financial collapse,"" I announced, looking directly into the cameras of the whispering influencers in the front row. ""His lines of credit were frozen. His secondary investment round fell through. He could not even afford the initial fifty-thousand-dollar holding deposit for this private cay. He came to my office in Manhattan on his knees, begging me to rescue him from public humiliation.""
""That's a lie!"" Victoria screamed, her voice cracking into a panicked register. ""He’s a visionary founder! Tell them, Logan! Tell everyone she’s lying!""
Logan didn't move. He closed his eyes tightly, a single bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
""I agreed to finance this entire event,"" I continued, unbothered by her screaming. ""Every single vendor, the chartered Gulfstream jets that brought you from Miami, the four-tiered French pastry cake, the five-star catering staff, and the exclusive rental of this island for the next seventy-two hours. Every single cent came from my firm, Vance Horizon Capital. Logan signed a master contract assigning his company’s remaining equity to me, along with a strict behavioral code of conduct for this estate.""
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I looked down at Victoria, who was now staring at Logan with wide, horrified eyes.
""Clause 14B of that contract states that all privileges, amenities, and event permissions are granted at my sole discretion, and may be terminated immediately upon any act of violence or abuse committed against my family. Five minutes ago, Victoria struck my daughter across the face and shoved her toward a cliff. Therefore, this wedding is officially over.""
