Chapter 4 The Wedding Heist
Elysia glanced at Rowena. “That’s not really appropriate, is it? This is your and Stellan’s wedding.”
I nudged Stellan forward. “It’s fine. Let Rowena go with him and help
out.”
Stellan nodded. “Rowena looks amazing today. It’s fitting for us to go together.”
Everyone walked out. I changed into something casual, picked up my phone, and started taking pictures of my own wedding from a distance.
Purchase completed
While they were busy greeting guests and offering toasts, I made my way to collect the wedding gifts.
Before the wedding, I didn’t insist on separating gifts from my side and Stellan’s. Everything was collected together.
The Rookwoods were clearly playing games. This drama was only just beginning. That money from my family and friends? I was taking it back.
Rowena’s mother, Denise Everhart, was sitting at the table, popping sunflower seeds while watching over the envelopes.
I walked up and flipped through the gift log, quickly estimating the cash
gifts from my relatives and my parents‘ friends.
“I just did the math,” I said. “The wedding gifts from my side add up to about thirty thousand dollars. I’m going to take that. And my parents should take the ones from their friends–after all, they’ll need to return the favor eventually.”
Denise rolled her eyes and cracked another seed. “So the new bride wants to take control of the money already? Go entertain your guests, honey. This isn’t something you need to worry about.”
Then I called my parents. “Mom, Dad, we’ve been played.”
I gave them the rundown. My dad was so angry he wanted to storm in and shut down the whole wedding.
Purchase completed
I stopped him. “Dad, let’s just take what’s ours first. No point in taking an even bigger loss.”
They marched over to Denise. “We’re here to collect the wedding gifts. from our side.”
Denise gave them a fake smile. “Oh! I’m really not the one in charge here. I’m just helping out. If I give you the money, how am I supposed to explain it to Stellan’s mom?”
Dad didn’t say another word–he just went under the table and started pulling the envelopes. “Then tell her I took what belongs to us. If she’s got a problem, she can come and go through the log with me.”
Denise lunged and shoved my dad hard. “What do you think you’re doing? Robbing us?!”
Denise was surprisingly strong. My dad stumbled back a few steps and fell straight to the ground.
I rushed to help him up. “Dad! Are you okay?”
Face down, he gave me a subtle wink, then went completely still.
I caught on immediately and played along, panicking. “Mom! Call 911! Dad hit his head!”
I stood up and stormed over to Denise. “You pushed him! He fell because of you!”
“He lost his balance! That’s not my fault!” Denise snapped.
We started yelling, and it didn’t take long for guests to gather around.
“Isn’t that the bride? What’s she doing out here fighting with someone during her own reception?”
“Someone’s on the ground too. Did they really get into a fight on their wedding day?”
Stellan, Rowena, and his parents arrived after hearing the commotion. Elysia looked annoyed. “The wedding’s still going on. What the hell is
this?”
My mom pointed straight at Denise. “My husband’s down right now because she pushed him. I’ve already called an ambulance. If anything happens to him. I’m pressing charges.”
Rowena stepped in front of her mom, flustered. “Don’t accuse her like that! What if he just slipped?”
I yanked Rowena by the arm. “There are cameras everywhere in this hotel. Pick any one of them–we’ll see who’s lying!”
Stellan grabbed my wrist. “Lyra, stop! What are you doing? You really want to fight Rowena?”
I looked at him, nothing but fury left in my chest. “Stellan, I’m your legal wife. Not her.”
Stellan’s father, Dorian, jumped in, clearly rattled. “Stellan, go check on him!”
