Chapter 18 - Before I Say I Do
The guests began whispering.
Chloe looked over her shoulder.
“What’s happening?”
Julian gently released her hands.
“I need everyone to hear something.”
Richard stood.
“This is inappropriate.”
Julian looked directly at him.
“Sit down, Uncle Richard.”
The church went silent.
Richard froze.
Julian nodded toward the audio technician.
A recording began playing through the cathedral speakers.
Chloe’s voice.
“People like you should be grateful people like me let you indoors.”
Guests turned toward her.
Then another clip.
“Get on your knees and clean it.”
Then the sound of water.
Then her laughter.
Chloe’s face drained.
“This is edited.”
Julian did not react.
The next recording played.
Her conversation with Richard.
“Once we’re married, Julian receives the voting shares.”
Then Chloe.
“And after Julian serves his purpose, we won’t need him anymore.”
Gasps spread through the church.
Richard pushed toward the aisle.
Two investigators stepped from the back pew.
He stopped.
Chloe stared at Julian.
“You set me up.”
He looked at her sadly.
“No.”
“You did that yourself.”
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the cathedral.
Julian did not move.
Security stepped forward.
He raised one hand.
“No.”
Chloe’s eyes filled with fury.
“You think your mother is better than me?”
“No.”
Julian’s voice remained calm.
“She made mistakes.”
“She admitted them.”
“You weaponize everyone else’s mistakes so nobody looks at yours.”
Richard shouted from the aisle.
“You’re destroying your father’s company!”
I stood.
“No, Richard.”
“You tried that fifteen years ago.”
His face twisted.
I continued.
“The board received every document this morning.”
“Including the 2009 transfer.”
“The company has already initiated an independent review.”
“You have nothing left to threaten me with.”
For the first time, Richard looked afraid.
Then the church doors opened.
Federal investigators entered.
Chloe backed away from Julian.
“This is insane.”
One investigator approached her.
“Chloe Bennett?”
She looked around at hundreds of faces.
Nobody came to help.
The investigator continued.
“We need to speak with you regarding allegations of extortion, unlawful recording, attempted financial fraud, and conspiracy.”
Chloe turned toward Julian.
“You promised to marry me.”
Julian looked at the woman he had once planned his life around.
“No.”
“I promised you a wedding day.”
He stepped away from the altar.
“I never promised how it would end.”
But Chloe still had one last secret.
And she screamed it before the investigators could lead her away.
May you like
“Ask your mother who really owns the house.”
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