Chapter 3: The Drop
Panic set in quickly. Jessica, the bride, shrieked as the head caterer abruptly ordered his staff to pack up the caviar stations and wheel away the tiered wedding cake.
"What are you doing?!" Jessica cried, grabbing the caterer's arm.
"Your family's checks just bounced, ma'am," the caterer replied, pulling his arm away.
Julian, desperate and sweating, grabbed Clara’s arm as she turned to leave with her father. "Clara, stop this! You're overreacting!" he pleaded, the reality of his financial ruin finally piercing his arrogance.
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Clara looked down at his hand, her expression entirely devoid of warmth. She calmly slid the massive three-carat diamond wedding ring off her finger. She held it over Jessica’s half-empty champagne flute and dropped it in with a soft clink.
"Keep it," Clara said smoothly. "You're going to need the cash."
