Chapter 6 - The Fall Everyone Saw
Amelia reached the fountain before Richard blocked her path.
Guests were beginning to move toward the ceremony seats. A few turned when they heard his voice.
“You will not walk out and humiliate your sister.”
“I’m trying to leave quietly.”
“You’re carrying confidential documents.”
Amelia held the envelope against her chest.
“They belong to the trust.”
“They belong to this family.”
“No. They belong to the investigation.”
Richard stared at her.
“What investigation?”
That single question revealed more than he intended.
He did not ask whether there was an investigation.
He asked which one.
Amelia stepped back.
“How many people are examining you?”
Richard reached for the envelope.
She pulled it away.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Amelia,” Cynthia warned from behind him.
Penelope stood several yards away in her wedding gown, surrounded by bridesmaids.
Guests were now openly watching.
Richard lowered his voice.
“You have spent your entire life trying to punish me because you were jealous of your sister.”
“I wanted you to treat me like your daughter.”
“I gave you an education, a job and a place in this family.”
“You gave me obligations and called them love.”
His face tightened.
“Without me, you would have nothing.”
For the first time, Amelia smiled.
Richard misunderstood the expression.
He believed she was mocking him.
“You think that useless husband of yours will protect you?” he demanded. “You think a quiet little marriage makes you important?”
“Blake has nothing to do with this.”
“Of course he doesn’t. Men like him never do.”
Amelia moved around him.
Richard caught her arm.
“Let go.”
“Sign the papers.”
“No.”
Penelope began crying.
“Dad, everyone is staring.”
Richard looked toward the guests.
His reputation had always mattered more to him than any person.
Amelia saw panic enter his eyes.
He needed the scene to end.
He needed her to surrender.
Instead, she pulled her arm free.
“I am giving these documents to the authorities.”
Richard’s control broke.
“You ungrateful, unwanted little—”
He placed both hands against her shoulders and shoved.
Amelia stumbled backward.
Her heel caught the stone edge of the fountain.
The sky turned, the guests gasped, and cold water closed over her.
For several seconds, she could not move.
Her wet dress dragged against her legs as she pushed herself upright. A floral arrangement floated beside her. The gold envelope remained trapped against her chest.
Nobody helped her.
Richard stood beside the fountain, breathing heavily.
Cynthia covered her mouth.
Penelope stared at Amelia as though Amelia had ruined the wedding by falling.
Then one of the bridesmaids lifted a phone.
Richard immediately changed his expression.
“It was an accident,” he announced. “She lost her balance.”
Amelia climbed out of the fountain alone.
Her hair covered part of her face. Water streamed from her sleeves onto the stone.
“You pushed me.”
“You were behaving hysterically.”
“You called me unwanted.”
Richard looked at the guests.
“You all saw her attack me.”
Nobody answered.
He reached for the envelope again.
A man’s voice cut across the lawn.
“Touch her one more time, and this will become the least of your problems.”
Richard turned.
Blake Campbell was walking toward the fountain.
Behind him were three senior executives from Campbell Holdings, two attorneys and the investigator responsible for reviewing the Hartwell loan.
The guests recognized him before Richard did.
Whispers spread quickly.
“Is that Blake Campbell?”
“The Campbell Holdings founder?”
“What is he doing here?”
Blake removed his suit jacket as he approached Amelia.
He placed it around her shoulders and gently examined the red mark forming on her arm where Richard had grabbed her.
Then he looked at Richard.
May you like
“You put your hands on my wife.”
The entire wedding lawn became silent.
