Chapter 2 – Why She Bought the Venue
Chapter 2 – Why She Bought the Venue
Patricia’s face tightened.
“This is a trick,” she said quickly. “A woman like her cannot afford this estate.”
Clara smiled faintly.
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
Silence.
Clara walked slowly down the broken aisle, stepping over pieces of her dress.
“I didn’t buy this venue because I wanted a wedding.”
She paused.
“I bought it because I knew exactly who would try to ruin it.”
Andrew frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Clara turned toward him.
“For six months, your mother tested me.”
A low tension spread through the room.
“She changed guest lists behind your back,” Clara continued.
“She replaced my wedding planner twice.”
“She demanded financial records, background checks, even my family history.”
Patricia snapped.
“I was protecting my son!”
Clara’s eyes sharpened.
“No. You were trying to break me.”
She reached the center of the hall.
“And when I realized you would never accept me… I decided something.”
The room held its breath.
“I bought the venue.”
Gasps erupted.
“To make sure that if I was ever humiliated here… it would happen on land I owned.”
Andrew’s voice cracked.
“So this… this was planned?”
Clara shook her head slowly.
“No.”
“This was prepared.”
A heavy silence fell again.
Then Clara added, quieter:
“But what your mother did tonight…”
May you like
Her gaze dropped to the torn dress.
“…was never part of my plan.”
