My mother, Eleanor, reached down into her handbag, pulled out her phone, and tapped the screen twice.
Suddenly, the church exterior speakers—which had been playing soft acoustic organ music for our processional—went dead silent. A sharp beep echoed across the stone courtyard, followed by my mother’s clear, unshakeable voice broadcasting over the Bluetooth sound system.
“Attention, everyone,” my mother spoke into her phone, her calm tone amplified for all seventy guests to hear. “Since my son-in-law, Mark, has chosen to fulfill his filial duties before his marital ones, I am making a small schedule adjustment.”
Vivian’s triumphant smile instantly froze. Mark stopped dead in his tracks at the bottom of the steps, still holding his mother in his arms like a child.
“The reception at the Grand Manor is officially canceled,” my mother announced smoothly. “I placed the deposit under my name, and as of thirty seconds ago, I have redirected the catering, the open bar, and the band to my backyard for a private party honoring my daughter.”
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, followed by a wave of murmuring.
What was hidden in the contract? Continue reading Part 3 below to unearth the truth.
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