Chapter 9 - Cancel Everything
The ceremony ended with applause.
Tiffany kissed Ethan beneath the flower arch while cameras flashed. To the guests, it appeared to be the beginning of a perfect marriage.
Margaret knew it was the beginning of a countdown.
The legal marriage certificate would not be filed until the officiant delivered it to the county office. Graham had privately asked the officiant to delay delivery for twenty-four hours because of suspected document fraud.
Tiffany did not know that.
Neither did Adrian.
During the cocktail hour, Ethan played his role well. He smiled for photographs, greeted relatives, and allowed Tiffany to lead him from group to group.
Margaret remained near the edge of the ballroom.
She saw Adrian enter a private corridor with a silver document case.
Ethan followed five minutes later.
Margaret checked her phone.
No message.
She waited.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
The band began the first dance.
Tiffany entered the ballroom alone.
Her smile looked strained.
“Where is Ethan?” Lucille asked.
“Signing a company document.”
“At his wedding?”
“Adrian said it could not wait.”
Margaret moved toward the corridor.
Tiffany blocked her.
“You are not interrupting another private meeting.”
“My son is not alone with the man trying to steal his inheritance.”
Several guests turned.
Tiffany lowered her voice.
“You have no idea how tired Ethan is of you.”
“Then let him tell me.”
“He does not need to. I have seen every message he never answered.”
Margaret studied her.
“You read his phone?”
“I am his wife.”
“The certificate has not been filed.”
For the first time that day, Tiffany looked genuinely surprised.
Margaret stepped around her.
Tiffany grabbed her wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Ethan.”
Tiffany tightened her grip.
“Stay away from him.”
Margaret pulled free.
The movement drew more attention.
Tiffany saw the guests watching and immediately changed her expression.
“Please,” she said loudly. “Do not cause a scene.”
Margaret continued toward the corridor.
Tiffany followed.
Near the ballroom entrance, Daniel appeared carrying a folder.
He gave Margaret a slight nod.
The signal meant Ethan was safe.
Margaret stopped.
Tiffany nearly collided with her.
“What are you doing?” the bride demanded.
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you to decide how far you are willing to go.”
Tiffany looked toward Daniel.
Fear flashed across her face.
Then Adrian returned to the ballroom alone.
His silver case was gone.
“Where is Ethan?” Margaret asked.
“He needed a moment.”
“What did you make him sign?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“Everything involving the Hale trust concerns me.”
Adrian leaned closer.
“You are embarrassing yourself.”
Margaret saw a smear of blue ink on his cuff.
He had used the stolen seal.
She reached for her phone.
Tiffany slapped it from her hand.
The device struck the carpet.
The music stopped.
Every face turned toward them.
Tiffany’s control finally broke.
“You have interfered for the last time.”
She slapped Margaret across the cheek.
Ethan emerged from the corridor just as the sound crossed the room.
He stopped.
Tiffany raised her hand again.
The second slap knocked Margaret’s pearl earring to the floor.
“Get out,” Tiffany shouted. “You’re ruining my wedding.”
No one moved.
Margaret bent and collected the earring.
Then she picked up her phone.
“Then pay for it yourself.”
She called Daniel.
“Activate the cancellation authorization.”
The bandleader received the notification first.
The musicians lowered their instruments.
The bartender closed the bottles.
The kitchen stopped the plated dinner service.
Tiffany looked around in disbelief.
“You cannot do this.”
“I just did.”
Daniel opened the folder.
“All services billed under Margaret Hale’s name are canceled.”
Ethan walked toward them.
“Mom, what did you do?”
Margaret looked at him.
“What you were not ready to do.”
Daniel produced the second contract.
“The hotel also needs immediate clarification regarding a second wedding booked with the same authorization.”
Tiffany’s face turned pale.
Ethan stared at her.
“What second wedding?”
Daniel opened the contract.
“The bride is listed as Tiffany Avery.”
Tiffany shook her head.
“That is not me.”
“Avery was your father’s surname,” Margaret said.
Daniel moved to the final page.
“The groom is listed as Adrian Vale.”
The room erupted.
Guests whispered, shouted, and raised their phones. Lucille moved toward the side exit, but hotel security blocked her path.
Ethan turned slowly toward Adrian.
“You booked a wedding with my wife?”
Adrian’s face remained composed.
“It is not what it appears to be.”
Tiffany reached for Ethan.
He stepped away.
Daniel continued.
“The second event was scheduled for August 1 at Bellmere House. All charges were assigned to Margaret Hale.”
“That contract is fake,” Tiffany said.
Margaret opened her purse.
“I have the hotel recording, the airline tickets, the company filings, and the amended trust agreement.”
Adrian moved toward her.
Security stepped between them.
Tiffany looked around the room.
Then she pointed at Margaret.
“She created all of it.”
Margaret expected the accusation.
What she did not expect was Ethan’s response.
He looked at his mother and said, “Show me everything.”
Before Margaret could open the folder, a woman’s voice came from the back of the ballroom.
“She cannot show you the most important document.”
The guests turned.
A woman in a dark blue coat stood beside table seven.
Her hair was disordered, and a bruise marked her temple.
She held a torn envelope against her chest.
May you like
Margaret recognized her.
Evelyn Ross had arrived to claim Seat 27.
