Chapter 5 - The Pink Stain
The ceremony began beautifully.
Lily walked down the aisle carefully, scattering petals before the smiling guests. Claire watched from the front row, overwhelmed with pride.
For several minutes, everything remained peaceful.
Nathan read his vows. Vanessa smiled beneath her veil. The ocean breeze lifted the edges of her gown while cameras captured the perfect scene she had planned.
Then, during a pause before the final blessing, Lily stepped away to retrieve a pink fruit drink from a small refreshment table.
A gust of wind caught one of the decorative ribbons attached to her basket. Lily turned quickly to stop it from blowing toward the water.
Her cup slipped.
Only a few drops landed on Vanessa’s long train.
The stain was smaller than Claire’s hand.
Vanessa looked down.
The ceremony stopped.
“You careless little brat,” she said.
The words carried through the microphone.
Lily went completely still.
Claire rose from her chair.
“It was an accident.”
Vanessa lifted the stained fabric as though it had been destroyed.
“She ruined it!”
A staff member stepped forward. “We can clean that immediately, ma’am.”
Vanessa ignored her.
“Apologize,” she ordered Lily.
“I’m sorry,” Lily whispered.
“Louder.”
Claire moved into the aisle.
“That is enough.”
Vanessa pointed at the sand before her.
“Kneel down and apologize properly.”
The guests murmured.
Lily’s face crumpled.
Claire reached her first and pulled her close.
“You will not speak to my daughter that way.”
Their mother rushed from her seat, not to comfort Lily but to protect Vanessa’s ceremony.
“Claire, do not make a scene.”
“She called an eight-year-old child a brat in front of one hundred people.”
“Vanessa is under pressure.”
Their father joined them. “Have Lily apologize and sit down.”
“She already apologized.”
“Then make her do it properly.”
Claire felt Lily trembling against her side.
At that moment, something inside Claire finally became clear.
Her parents were not confused.
They were not trying to keep peace.
May you like
They were choosing Vanessa again, even when the person being sacrificed was a frightened child.
Claire took out her phone.
