Chapter 5 - The Eviction
Ethan swallowed hard, the arrogant fire in his eyes rapidly extinguishing into sheer panic. He looked at Charles for help, but his father was clutching the back of his chair, hyperventilating.
"I... I don't know who you think you are," Ethan stammered, trying to regain his footing. "But this is a private country club. Security will remove you."
My father laughed. It was not a pleasant sound.
He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a thick, legal manila envelope. He tossed it casually onto the altar, right on top of the officiant's Bible.
"Security isn't coming, Ethan," my father said smoothly. "Because as of 9:00 AM this morning, I own this country club. My holding company acquired the land and the operational licenses. And that's not all I bought."
Margaret pushed past her husband, her pearls shaking against her chest. "This is absurd! Charles, do something!"
"He can't, Margaret," I said, stepping out from behind my father. I looked down at the woman who had called my mother trash. "Charles hasn't owned his company for three years. He’s been floating on a mezzanine loan from a private equity firm in Chicago. A firm that my father owns. And yesterday afternoon, we called the debt due."
Charles let out a pathetic, strangled sound and collapsed back into his chair, burying his face in his hands.
"You are bankrupt," I stated, the words ringing out over the silent, stunned crowd of their high-society friends. "Your company is in receivership. The bank has already initiated foreclosure on the Brentwood estate. The cars you drove here in belong to my father's holding company."
Margaret staggered backward as if she had been physically struck. The smug smirk from the photograph was entirely gone, replaced by the hollow, terrifying realization of utter ruin.
"You set us up," Ethan whispered, his face pale, his hands shaking at his sides.
"No, Ethan," I said coldly. "I just let you show me exactly who you were. You wanted a brand. You wanted status. You wanted a wife who would bow her head and let you erase her identity. You chose this."
My father snapped his fingers.
The six men in dark suits immediately stepped forward, fanning out across the altar and the front row.
"The wedding is canceled," my father announced to the crowd, his voice booming with absolute authority. He turned his cold eyes back to Ethan and Margaret. "You have exactly five minutes to vacate my property. If you attempt to take anything from the bridal suite or the reception hall, you will be arrested for theft."
"Where are we supposed to go?" Margaret cried out, tears finally spilling over her mascara, ruining her perfect face. "We have nothing!"
I reached up and unclasped the heavy diamond necklace Ethan had given me, letting it drop onto the grass at his feet.
May you like
"I hear Kentucky is nice this time of year," I said softly.
I didn't wait for a response. I turned my back on the man I almost married, took my father's arm, and walked back up the aisle, leaving the Caldwell dynasty in ashes, while three hundred of their closest friends watched them get escorted off the property like the trash they truly were.
