PART 2: THE SHATTERED ILLUSION
Diane’s eyes darted frantically between Gabriel’s pale face and the venue manager standing right behind him.
“Gabriel, darling, it’s not what you think!” she stammered, hurriedly trying to hide the silver scissors behind her silk dress.
Lauren dropped the torn lace onto the floor as if it had suddenly caught fire, her arrogant grin instantly vanishing into a look of sheer panic.
Gabriel stepped into the room, his breath catching in his throat as he looked at the ruined heirloom scattered across the hardwood floor.
“You cut her dress?” Gabriel asked, his voice dangerously low, stripped of all its usual warmth.
“It was an outdated rag, Gabriel!” Diane argued, regaining her sharp composure. “The Stone family has standards, and she refused to wear the designer gown I bought her or sign the prenuptial agreement!”
I held up my phone, my hand completely steady as I pressed play on the audio recording I had captured just minutes prior.
Her own voice echoed through the suite, loud and unmistakable: “She will wear the Stone gown. She will sign the agreement. And she will learn how this family works.”
Gabriel stared at his mother in utter disbelief, the illusion of his loving, protective family crumbling to ashes around him.
(Will Gabriel stand up to his powerful family, or will the wedding be canceled forever? Click “Next Page” to continue reading…)
