Chloe: No! Julian, say something! Tell him he can't cancel our wedding!
Julian stood frozen on the lawn, looking at the crying woman in white lace, then down at the wet stone fountain, and finally at his father's unyielding eyes.
Julian: How could you steal from me, Chloe? We were supposed to be building a life together.
Chloe: It wasn't stealing! We're getting married! What's yours is mine!
Julian: My father is right. You didn't want me. You wanted the Vance family money.
Chloe: That's not true! I love you, Julian!
Julian: Then why did you scream at a girl on the ground instead of helping her up? Why did you talk to her like she was trash?
Chloe opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Her mask had been completely stripped away in front of two hundred high-society guests.
Howard: Security team, step forward please.
Four guards in dark suits stepped out from behind the main mansion doors, moving quickly across the grass.
Head Security: Yes, Mr. Vance?
Howard: Please escort Miss Miller and her parents off my property immediately.
Chloe's Father: Howard! You can't treat us like criminals! We have rights!
Howard: You have the right to leave peacefully, Richard, before I hand the bank transaction records over to the federal prosecutor waiting on line two.
Chloe's father turned pale, grabbing his wife's hand and pulling her toward the parking lot without saying another word.
Chloe: Julian! Are you really going to let them kick me out in my wedding dress?!
Julian: Take off the ring, Chloe.
Chloe: What?!
Julian: Take off the five-carat diamond ring my father bought for you. You don't deserve to wear it for another second.
Chloe pulled the diamond ring off her finger with shaking hands and slammed it onto the head table, sending a crystal water glass shattering onto the stone floor.
Chloe: You are all crazy! All of you! I hope you rot in this fake castle!
She gathered the heavy lace skirts of her forty-thousand-dollar dress in her fists, running blindly across the lawn toward the exit gates as guest camera flashes clicked non-stop behind her.
Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the dramatic interruption to your evening.
The crowd remained quiet, completely spellbound by the unraveling drama.
Howard: The wedding is officially canceled. However, the food is paid for, the bar is open, and we are going to turn this reception into a celebration of truth and second chances.
A few guests began to clap, and within seconds, the entire garden erupted into loud applause and cheers.
Howard: Maya, my dear, go upstairs to the main guest suite. My housekeeper has dry clothes waiting for you.
Maya: Mr. Vance, I should probably just go home...
Howard: You're not going home, Maya. You're sitting at the head table tonight as my guest of honor.