CHAPTER 3: The Price of Pride
Security appeared quietly at the edges of the ballroom.
Not aggressive.
Just… present.
Clara glanced toward Patricia.
“I’ll give you ten minutes,” she said calmly. “To leave my property.”
Patricia’s face twisted with rage. “You think you can throw us out like this?”
Clara didn’t raise her voice.
“I don’t think,” she said. “I know.”
Andrew stepped forward again, desperation creeping in.
“Clara, please… we can fix this.”
She looked at him—really looked at him—for the first time without love clouding her vision.
“No, Andrew,” she said softly. “You had months to stand beside me.”
Her eyes flicked briefly to the torn fabric at her feet.
“You chose to stand behind her.”
Patricia scoffed. “You’ll regret this. No one will marry a woman who humiliates her husband’s family like this.”
May you like
Clara smiled faintly.
“Good,” she said. “Then I won’t have to marry the wrong man twice.”
