Chapter 4 - The Severing of Ties
I looked down at the ring, then at the people who had spent three years treating me like a stray dog they had reluctantly allowed into their house.
"Three years," I said, my voice echoing in the grand room. "Three years of holidays where I was given the cheap gifts, made to sit at the end of the table, and told that my child would never be a 'true' Miller because of my background. Three years of listening to you, Eleanor, tell Dominic that he should have married someone with 'class.'"
I stepped out of Arthur’s coat for a moment, revealing my torn dress once more.
"This is your class," I said, pointing to the torn blue fabric. "This is your elegance. Ripping a pregnant woman’s clothes because of your own greed and insecurity."
"Vivienne, please," Dominic begged, tears streaming down his face. "We can fix this. We can move away. Just you, me, and the baby. I’ll cut them off! I’ll never speak to my mother or sister again!"
"You didn't cut them off when they were insulting me, Dominic," I said. "You didn't cut them off when they were mocking my family. You only want to cut them off now because you realize my father can crush your entire life with a single phone call."
I looked at my father. "Dad, what is the status of the Miller Group’s commercial loans?"
Arthur pulled out his phone, glanced at a quick text, and looked at Dominic. "The Miller Group holds three major commercial mortgages with Pendelton National Bank. They also rely on our hotel supply chain contracts for forty percent of their annual revenue."
Dominic’s face went completely blank. "No... please, Lord Pendelton, no. That would bankrupt us. We would lose everything."
"You already lost everything, Dominic," I said. "You lost me. And you lost your daughter."
I took off my wedding ring—a simple, modest gold band I had insisted on because I didn't want him to spend money he didn't have. I dropped it into his open, trembling palm.
"Mr. Harrison," I said, turning to the director. "This wedding reception is officially over. Please evict these people from my property."
"With pleasure, Lady Vivienne," Harrison said. He turned to his security team. "Clear the room. The hotel is closing this ballroom for private maintenance. All guests must exit immediately."
"Wait!" Eleanor screamed, grabbing a flower arrangement. "You can't do this! We paid for this! We have the contract!"
"The contract has a standard morality and safety clause," Harrison said coldly. "Assaulting a member of the Pendelton family on our premises is a direct breach. Your deposit is forfeited, and you will receive a bill for the damage to Lady Vivienne's dress, which was a custom piece valued at fifty thousand dollars."
The security guards moved in, politely but firmly guiding the shocked guests toward the exits.
Chloe began to scream, her beautiful wedding day turning into a chaotic, humiliating circus as her bridesmaids scrambled to grab their bags and run from the impending legal storm. Dominic remained on his knees, staring at the little gold band in his hand as if he couldn't comprehend how his entire world had collapsed in the span of thirty minutes.
May you like
I turned my back on them. I walked out of the ballroom, my hand resting on my stomach, surrounded by my father's security team.
As the heavy double doors closed behind me, I felt the first real breath of freedom I had taken in three years.
