Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: The Family Chooses Sides
The argument moved into the wedding hall because Ryan wanted witnesses.That was the kind of man he was. He did not just want Emily blamed. He wanted her humiliated.The guests stood in a wide circle while Lily cried in her mother’s arms.Margaret rushed to Ryan’s side.“My poor son,” she said. “After everything he has planned.”Charles sighed heavily, as if Emily had personally destroyed the family name.“Emily, this is why we worry about you,” he said. “You never discipline the child.”Emily stared at him.“Lily is hurt.”“She caused chaos,” Charles replied.Olivia looked uncertain. Her father, Thomas Whitmore, stood beside her with a serious expression. He did not speak yet, but he watched everything.Ryan turned to Olivia.“I’m sorry you have to see this,” he said softly. “My sister has always been unstable.”Emily felt the old pain rise in her chest.Unstable.That was the word Ryan used whenever she noticed something he wanted hidden.When he took money from their father’s office years ago, he called her unstable. When he lied about selling property without permission, he called her unstable. When Emily asked about their father’s missing documents, Ryan called her unstable.Now he was using the word again.But this time, Lily was in her arms.And Emily was done shrinking.“My daughter did not steal those rings,” she said.Ryan smiled without warmth.“Then where are they?”Before Emily could answer, a young hotel staff member appeared at the entrance of the hall, pale and out of breath.“Ma’am,” he said, looking at Olivia first, then Emily. “The cameras recorded everything.”Ryan’s smile vanished.
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