Chapter 5 - THE RECORDING
Jason’s voice filled the ballroom.
“Are you sure she won’t notice anything tomorrow?”
No one moved.
The recording continued.
Robert explaining the revised pages.
Elaine discussing when to place them in Meline’s folder.
Jason asking whether the bank would verify her assets before funding.
Sydney laughing softly.
Then Elaine’s voice.
“Meline will sign.”
A pause.
“She always chooses the family.”
The recording stopped.
The ballroom had become silent enough to hear the air-conditioning vents.
Robert shot to his feet.
“This is illegal.”
Rebecca answered before Meline could.
“No, Mr. Carter.”
She remained perfectly calm.
“Your daughter was physically present during the conversation.”
Robert stared at her.
“You had no right.”
Meline looked at her father.
“You planned to put twenty-two million dollars of debt in my name.”
“It wasn’t debt.”
Robert’s voice rose.
“It was a temporary guarantee.”
One of the Northstar Capital executives stood.
“That is not how your application described it.”
Robert turned toward him.
His face changed.
“You weren’t supposed to be here.”
The executive’s expression hardened.
“We were invited by the bride.”
Meline watched panic spread through her father.
He had built his entire life around appearing respectable.
Now bankers, investors, extended relatives, friends, and vendors were watching the performance collapse.
Jason reached for Meline’s hand.
She moved away.
“Please.”
His voice dropped.
“We can talk privately.”
“We will.”
Hope appeared in his eyes.
“After the next recording.”
Sydney made a sound.
“Meline, don’t.”
Terrence slowly stood.
Sydney saw him.
She stopped breathing.
Meline looked at her sister.
“I called Terrence last night.”
The color disappeared from Sydney’s face.
Terrence walked toward the aisle.
He wore the gray suit Sydney had selected for him.
Only yesterday morning, he had believed he was attending his sister-in-law’s wedding with his pregnant wife.
Now he looked ten years older.
“Syd.”
His voice barely carried.
Sydney shook her head.
“No.”
Meline pressed play.
Jason’s recorded voice returned.
“And after the wedding, what happens to us?”
Then Elaine.
“They’ve waited this long.”
“They can wait a little longer.”
Jason again.
“I’m not raising Terrence’s kid forever.”
Someone shouted from the back of the room.
Sydney covered her mouth.
Terrence stared at her.
The recording continued.
Sydney’s voice.
“Once the loan goes through and Meline is tied to everything, we’ll figure it out.”
Then silence.
Meline stopped the audio.
Terrence did not yell.
He simply asked one question.
“How far along are you?”
Sydney began crying.
“Terrence—”
“How far?”
“Eleven weeks.”
Terrence calculated silently.
Everyone could see it happening.
Their anniversary trip to Seattle had been fourteen weeks ago.
Jason and Sydney had apparently been together before that.
Terrence’s jaw tightened.
“Is the baby his?”
Sydney looked at the floor.
Terrence nodded once.
That was his answer.
He removed his wedding ring.
Placed it on the edge of the stage.
And walked away.
Sydney lunged after him.
“Terrence!”
He stopped at the ballroom doors.
But he did not turn around.
“You had eleven weeks to tell me.”
His voice cracked for the first time.
“You chose today.”
Then he left.
Sydney collapsed into a chair.
Jason stared at Meline.
The groom finally understood.
This ceremony had never been about saving the wedding.
It had been designed to expose everyone.
May you like
But Meline was not finished.
Not even close.
