Back at the luxury wedding hall, the atmosphere had turned completely sour as guests quietly snuck out the back exits.
Claire sat on a velvet couch in the dressing room, frantically tapping her phone screen while her makeup artist tried to fix her face.
Claire: Why isn't my bank application opening?! What is wrong with this stupid Wi-Fi?!
Makeup Artist: Ma'am, please stop moving your head. The mascara is smearing again.
Claire: Get out! All of you, get out of my room right now!
The makeup crew quickly gathered their brushes and hurried out the door, leaving Claire alone with Julian and his mother, Beatrice.
Beatrice: Claire, darling. The venue manager is standing outside with the final billing invoice.
Claire: Tell him to wait five minutes, Beatrice! I am resolving a temporary technical glitch with my bank!
Beatrice: A temporary glitch? Julian told me your stepdad cancelled your credit line!
Claire: He is NOT my stepdad! He's just an executor! He doesn't have the legal authority to freeze my money forever!
Julian: He has the authority right now, Claire! The manager needs a primary card for the three hundred thousand dollar balance!
Claire pulled her sleek black credit card out of her designer clutch bag and slammed it onto the glass coffee table.
Claire: Take the black card! It has an unlimited line of credit! Swipe it and stop panicking!
Julian picked up the heavy metal card, glaring at her with dark, suspicious eyes.
Julian: If this card declines, Claire, my family is walking away from this wedding, and our engagement is off.
Claire: It won't decline! It's guaranteed by Vance Global Capital!
Julian walked out into the corridor, where the venue manager, Mr. Davis, was waiting with a mobile payment terminal.
Manager: Ah, Mr. Julian. Is Ms. Vance ready to settle the final venue balance?
Julian: Here is her primary black card. Process the three hundred and fifty thousand dollars immediately.
Manager: Right away, sir.
Mr. Davis inserted the heavy metal card into the top slot of the payment machine, keying in the total amount.
A low, sharp beep echoed through the quiet hallway, followed by a bright red error message flashing on the screen.
Manager: Hm. That's strange. *Transaction Declined: Account Frozen by Issuer.*
Julian: Try it again! Swipe the magnetic strip on the side!
Manager: Sir, I can swipe it, but code 403 means the primary institution has placed an absolute lock on the funding line.
Mr. Davis swiped the card again, but the same loud red light flashed across the terminal screen.
Manager: I'm sorry, Mr. Julian. This card is completely dead.
Julian turned around, his face dark with immense rage as he shoved open the dressing room door.
Julian: The card declined, Claire! You're completely broke!
Claire: What?! That's impossible! Try it again!
Julian: It code-four-o-three'd! Your bank blocked the card!
Beatrice stood up from her chair, her silk dress rustling as she grabbed her designer purse.
Beatrice: Julian, we are leaving right now. I will not have our family name dragged through a cheap hotel fraud scandal.
Claire: Beatrice, please! You have millions! Just cover the venue fee for today and I will pay you back tomorrow!
Beatrice: Pay me back with what? Your fake inheritance?
Claire: It isn't fake! My biological father was a billionaire!
Manager: Ms. Vance, if you cannot provide a valid form of payment right now, I will be forced to contact the police department for theft of services.
Claire: Police?! Do you know who I am?! My name is Claire Vance!
Manager: Your name is on a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar contract, Ms. Vance. And right now, you are in default.