Chapter 3: The Wedding They Could Not Control
The next morning, I arrived at Cedar Grove Estate before anyone expected me.
The sun was barely above the trees.
Workers were arranging flower displays. Staff members carried boxes into the reception hall. The entire property was preparing for a celebration that suddenly felt like a battlefield.
When I walked through the entrance, Julian was already there.
So was Chloe.
And standing beside them was a man in a dark suit holding a leather briefcase.
Their lawyer.
Julian saw me and immediately looked annoyed.
"I knew you would come.""
I looked at him calmly.
"You called a lawyer to change a contract you never read.""
Chloe stepped forward.
"Claire, this doesn't need to become ugly.""
I looked at her.
"Interesting. Because removing me from a wedding I paid for wasn't ugly?""
Her expression tightened.
"We just wanted a different arrangement.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You wanted control.""
The lawyer cleared his throat.
"I'm Mr. Harris. I represent Mr.
and Mrs. Whitmore.""
I almost smiled.
"Mrs. Whitmore?""
Chloe looked uncomfortable.
The wedding wasn't even happening yet, and they were already using a married title.
Mr. Harris opened his briefcase.
"We would like to discuss transferring financial responsibility and ownership of the event.""
"Ownership?""
I looked at Julian.
"Did you tell your lawyer the contract is already signed?""
He frowned.
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters.""
I walked toward the table where the documents had been placed.
"Because Cedar Grove Estate was booked under my name.""
Mr. Harris looked at the papers.
Then his expression changed slightly.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"The contract can be reassigned," he said.
"Yes," I replied.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"With my approval.""
The room went quiet.
Julian crossed his arms.
"Claire, stop acting powerful.""
That sentence almost made me laugh.
Because for years, I had avoided looking powerful around my family.
I lowered my voice.
"I am not acting powerful, Julian.""
I tapped the contract.
"I am reading the document you signed.""
Chloe stepped closer.
"You wouldn't cancel everything.""
I looked at her.
"Why not?""
Her face changed.
Because she realized she didn't have an answer.
"You love your brother.""
I nodded slowly.
"I do.""
That surprised them.
Then I continued.
"But loving someone doesn't mean letting them use you.""
For the first time, Julian looked uncertain.
The lawyer picked up the agreement again.
"There is a cancellation clause.""
"I know.""
"And there may be financial consequences.""
"I know.""
He looked at me.
"Then why are you here?""
I stared at the wedding hall.
At the flowers.
At the decorations.
At the dream I had built for someone who had no problem destroying me.
"I came here because I wanted to know if my family was going to apologize.""
Nobody spoke.
Not Julian.
Not Chloe.
Not the lawyer.
That silence told me everything.
I turned around.
"Okay.""
Julian stepped forward.
"Okay what?""
I looked at him.
"Now I know.""
His expression changed.
"Claire, don't do something you'll regret.""
I almost smiled.
"Regret?""
I walked closer.
"You should ask yourself that question.""
I left the estate without another word.
But before I reached my car, my phone buzzed.
A message from Mom.
*You are being selfish. Your brother's wedding is tomorrow. Do the right thing.*
I stared at the screen.
The same woman who told me family helped family was now demanding I continue helping after they humiliated me.
I typed a reply.
Then deleted it.
Because I realized something.
They didn't deserve my anger.
They deserved the consequences of their choices.
That afternoon, I received a call from Cedar Grove's management.
"Claire, we need confirmation.""
"About what?""
"The event.""
I looked out my office window at the city below.
"What happened?""
The manager hesitated.
"Julian told several vendors that he was the person paying for everything.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course he did.
"He also promised them immediate transfers.""
"And?""
"He hasn't paid.""
I leaned back.
"So now?""
His voice became serious.
"Now every vendor is asking for the actual contract holder.""
I looked at my name on the agreement.
Claire Bennett.
The person they removed.
The person they insulted.
The person they thought they didn't need.
"Tell them," I said.
"Tell them what?""
I smiled.
"Tell them the contract holder has made a decision.""
That night, Julian sent me another message.
This time, it wasn't an insult.
It wasn't arrogant.
It was desperate.
*Claire, please call me. We need to talk.*
I stared at the message.
Then another one appeared.
*Dad says you need to fix this.*
I almost laughed.
Even now, they didn't say sorry.
They just wanted me to repair the damage they created.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice came through.
"Is this Claire Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"This is Rachel from Cedar Grove Estate.""
I sat up.
Her voice sounded nervous.
"Claire, I think you need to know something before tomorrow's wedding.""
I waited.
"What?""
There was a long pause.
Then she whispered:
"Julian and Chloe didn't just try to take over the contract.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"What did they do?""
Rachel lowered her voice.
"They tried to remove your name from the paperwork without your permission.""
I looked at the documents sitting on my desk.
And suddenly, the wedding wasn't just about money anymore.
It was about something much bigger.
Because if Rachel was telling the truth...
May you like
My brother hadn't just betrayed me.
He had crossed a legal line.
