Chapter 2 - The Groom’s Reckoning
The gold-leafed double doors at the far end of the hall swung open with a heavy, deliberate thud.
Victoria stood in the threshold, framed by the blinding glare of the crystal chandeliers hanging over the cathedral aisle beyond. Her off-the-shoulder wedding gown of pale champagne silk cascaded around her like melted brass, catching the light with every subtle movement of her hips. Her blonde hair was swept up into an elaborate, flawless bun, her diamond earrings reflecting the warm, luxury lighting of the estate.
Her expression held no warmth, no bridal nervousness—only a sharp, imperious impatience.
"Darling, the bishop is waiting," Victoria said, her voice smooth, crystalline, and completely devoid of inflection. "Leave her with the nanny."
Arthur stood motionless, his shadow stretching long and dark across the polished parquet floor. He didn't look at the grand hall filled with three hundred elite guests, nor at the bishop holding the golden ring bound to seal the merger of two massive pharmaceutical fortunes. He looked only at Victoria's eyes—the cold, calculating eyes of a woman who had systematically dismantled his life from the inside out.
Lily shrank back, stepping into the shadow of Arthur's broad shoulder, her tiny hands clutching the fabric of his grey suit jacket.
"You lied to me," Arthur said. The words didn't carry heat; they were dropped like lead weights into a deep well.
May you like
Victoria’s chin lifted an inch, her haughty composure flinching for a fraction of a second before hardening into steel. "Don't be dramatic, Arthur. We discussed her education. She needs structure. A specialized boarding academy is—"
"The paper says DEPART, Victoria," Arthur interrupted, his voice dropping an octave into a lethal register as he held up his crumpled fist. "It's a transfer deed. You signed away my legal guardianship under the secondary clause of the prenuptial trust."
