Chapter 8 - Cancel the Wedding
Claire caught Lily around the waist just as the child lost her balance.
They both dropped safely to their knees several feet from the barrier.
Guests screamed.
Phones rose into the air.
Vanessa stopped.
For a second, no one moved.
Claire pulled Lily against her chest.
“Are you hurt?”
Lily shook her head, but tears filled her eyes.
“I did not mean to tear it.”
“I know.”
“It was an accident.”
“I know.”
Claire looked over Lily’s shoulder at Vanessa.
Her sister’s face showed no concern for the child.
Only fury about the dress.
“Don’t touch my daughter,” Claire shouted.
Vanessa stepped back.
“I never touched her.”
“You rushed at her while she was terrified.”
“She destroyed my gown.”
“She is eight years old.”
Margaret pushed through the crowd.
“Stop making a scene, Claire.”
Claire remained beside Lily.
“Take Vanessa away from us.”
Margaret looked at the stained dress and then at her granddaughter.
Instead of checking whether Lily was safe, she placed an arm around Vanessa.
“Look what that child has done.”
Claire slowly stood.
“That child is your granddaughter.”
“She should have been supervised.”
“I was supervising her.”
“Then this is your fault.”
Claire felt something inside her become very quiet.
For years, she had argued, explained, paid, forgiven, and returned.
She had believed that if she remained calm enough, generous enough, and successful enough, her family would eventually treat her with respect.
Now Lily stood trembling behind her because Claire had continued inviting dangerous people into their lives.
Margaret raised one hand as she stepped closer.
“You will apologize to your sister.”
Claire caught her wrist before the hand came near her face.
The crowd gasped again.
Claire did not squeeze or twist.
She simply stopped the movement.
Margaret stared at her.
“Let go of me.”
Claire released her.
“Stop ruining her big day, you jealous loser,” Margaret hissed.
Claire looked at her mother, her father, and Vanessa.
Then she looked at Lily.
Her daughter deserved to see that love did not require accepting humiliation.
Claire took out her phone.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Ms. Blackthorne?”
“Cancel the wedding. Effective immediately.”
There was no hesitation.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The music stopped.
The lights went dark.
Workers entered from every side of the terrace with calm, practiced efficiency.
Vanessa stared around in disbelief as champagne bottles disappeared from the tables.
“What did you do?”
Claire slipped the phone into her bag.
“I ended the event.”
Richard moved forward.
“You have no authority here.”
Daniel approached with security behind him.
“Ms. Blackthorne has full authority.”
Richard looked at him as though he had spoken another language.
Daniel continued.
“Claire Blackthorne’s company completed the purchase of Aurore Island twelve days ago.”
Guests began whispering.
Several lowered their phones.
Others aimed them more directly toward Claire.
Vanessa’s expression collapsed.
“You bought the island?”
Claire lifted Lily into her arms.
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I wanted to know how you treated people when you believed none of them had power.”
Vanessa looked around at the staff.
May you like
Claire followed her gaze.
“Now I know.”
