Chapter 3 - The Reception Goes Dark
Mom stared at me.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I handled the situation.”
“Then why isn’t anyone working?”
“Because I canceled the services.”
She laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the possibility was too ridiculous for her to process.
“You canceled Sarah’s wedding?”
“Yes.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
Mom turned toward Mr. Bennett.
“Fix this.”
He didn’t move.
“I’m afraid Ms. Hart is the only person authorized to reverse the suspension.”
Mom looked back at me.
Her expression slowly changed.
“What are you talking about?”
Before I could answer, shouting erupted outside.
Greg appeared in the doorway.
Sarah was behind him wearing a white hotel robe over her stained wedding dress.
Dad followed.
Greg held his phone in one hand.
“What the hell did you do?”
I stood.
“Lower your voice.”
“This is my wedding.”
“No.”
“It’s Sarah’s wedding.”
“And you’re standing beside an injured eight-year-old.”
Greg glanced toward Mia.
His eyes remained there for less than a second.
Then he looked back at me.
“The resort says our account has been frozen.”
“That’s correct.”
“They said you authorized it.”
“I did.”
Sarah pushed past him.
“You?”
Her laugh was sharper than Mom’s had been.
“You can barely afford your apartment.”
I looked at her.
“I own my apartment.”
“Whatever.”
She waved her hand.
“Tell them to turn everything back on.”
“No.”
Sarah blinked.
Dad stepped forward.
“Elena, enough.”
“You’re angry.”
“We understand.”
“But punishing Sarah’s guests because Mia tripped is childish.”
“Mia didn’t trip.”
Nobody spoke.
I looked directly at Sarah.
“She was pushed.”
Sarah crossed her arms.
“I barely touched her.”
“You grabbed her.”
“You dragged her.”
“And you shoved her over the edge.”
“It was a three-foot drop.”
“Four feet, eight inches.”
Mr. Bennett corrected quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
He continued.
“The lower landing has a stone border.”
“She was fortunate.”
Sarah’s face tightened.
Dad sighed.
“Fine.”
“Sarah lost her temper.”
“We’ll deal with it privately.”
“No.”
Dad frowned.
“No?”
“There is nothing private about what happened.”
“There were cameras.”
That got Sarah’s attention.
“What cameras?”
I pointed toward the corners of the deck.
“Security cameras.”
Greg looked toward Mr. Bennett.
“Delete the footage.”
Mr. Bennett’s expression didn’t change.
“No, sir.”
“I’m telling you to delete it.”
“And I’m telling you that you have no authority to give me that instruction.”
Greg took a step toward him.
“Do you know who I am?”
Mr. Bennett looked almost bored.
“Yes.”
“Gregory Mercer.”
“Guest villa 14.”
I nearly laughed.
Greg didn’t.
Then the lights outside dimmed.
Music stopped.
A distant cheer from confused guests turned into murmuring.
The decorative fountains shut down.
The illuminated wedding monogram disappeared from the side of the main pavilion.
Sarah stared outside.
“What is happening?”
Mr. Bennett answered.
“The premium wedding package has been terminated.”
Sarah turned toward me.
“You really did this?”
“Yes.”
She took a step closer.
“You jealous little bitch.”
Mom said nothing.
Dad said nothing.
Greg smiled.
“You think this makes you powerful?”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I think paying the bill made me generous.”
His smile disappeared.
Sarah whispered.
“What bill?”
Mr. Bennett placed the folder on the table.
I opened it.
Then I slid the first page toward her.
At the bottom was the total.
$2,037,418.62.
Sarah stared at the number.
Then at the name beside PAYMENT GUARANTOR.
ELENA HART.
Her lips parted.
“No.”
I looked at my sister.
“Yes.”
May you like
“You’ve been celebrating a two-million-dollar wedding.”
“And I paid for every single cent.”
