Chapter 4 - THE DEMAND
The flashbulbs of the wedding photographers blinded Clara momentarily as she and Julian gripped the silver cake knife. They sliced through the bottom tier, Julian feeding her a small piece with practiced, romantic flair. The crowd erupted into applause. It was the perfect photo op.
As the guests returned to their champagne and the quartet resumed playing, Eleanor materialized beside them. The mask of the gracious mother-in-law slipped, revealing the desperate, cornered animal underneath.
"A lovely display," Eleanor muttered, her voice low enough that only Clara and Julian could hear. "But time is running out. Julian, did you get it?"
Julian's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. He turned to Clara, his eyes adopting a pleading, urgent look. "Clara, darling. My mother needs the code to the wedding gift safe in the bridal suite."
Clara wiped a crumb of frosting from her lip with a silk napkin. She looked at him with feigned confusion. "The safe? Why on earth would she need that now? We haven't even had the first dance."
Eleanor stepped closer, invading Clara's personal space. The scent of her heavy, expensive perfume was suffocating. "There is a minor family emergency, Clara. A logistical issue with some... investments. We need the cash envelopes your father's associates deposited earlier. It's a temporary loan."
"A loan?" Clara echoed, her voice perfectly even. "To pay off Felix's gambling debts to the Volkov syndicate?"
The color drained from Julian’s face instantly. His jaw went slack, and he stared at Clara as if she had suddenly transformed into a ghost. Eleanor took a sharp, gasping breath, her eyes darting around to see if anyone had heard.
"Keep your voice down," Julian hissed, panic leaking into his perfectly manicured tone. "How do you know about that?"
"I know everything, Julian," Clara said, stepping back, creating a physical distance between them. "I know about the two million. I know about your plan to drain my accounts once you had power of attorney. I know this entire wedding is a fraud designed to save your family from bankruptcy and your brother from a broken spine."
Eleanor’s face twisted into a mask of pure venom. "You listen to me, you arrogant little tech brat. You married into this family. You carry the Sterling-Hayes name now. Our debts are your debts. Give me the code to that safe, or I swear to God, I will ruin your reputation in this city."
Clara looked at the older woman, her gaze icy and unyielding. "My reputation is built on my own success, Eleanor. Yours is built on dust and lies. The answer is no. You are not touching a single dime of my money. Not for you, not for Julian, and certainly not for Felix."
May you like
Julian stepped forward, grabbing Clara's wrist. His grip was entirely different now—it was violent, desperate. "Clara, you don't understand the people Felix owes. They will come after all of us. Give us the code."
Clara yanked her arm free, her eyes flashing with dangerous fire. "I said no, Julian. It's over."
