Chapter 1 - The Scent of Truth
The heavy oak doors of St. Jude Cathedral loomed over the brilliant afternoon sunlight, but inside, the atmosphere was thick with sudden, suffocating tension. Stephanie stood rigid in her designer lace wedding dress, her blonde hair pinned back flawlessly, a multi-carat diamond necklace catching the stained-glass light. Facing her was Martha, an elderly woman in a simple blue patterned dress, arms extended for a grandmotherly embrace.
Stephanie stepped back, her nose wrinkling in open revulsion.
“Please don’t hug me,” Stephanie said softly, her voice dripping with disdain.
Martha froze, her kind eyes welling with quiet hurt.
Stephanie glared, her refined mask slipping entirely as she looked the older woman up and down.
“You smell like manure,” Stephanie snapped, loud enough for the string quartet in the back to stutter their notes. “Keep that peasant away from me.”
Charles, standing tall in his custom black tuxedo, stepped forward. His expression was carved from granite.
“Stephanie, apologize to my mother right now,” Charles said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
Stephanie blinked, her mouth parting in sheer disbelief as she stared at her groom. She caught sight of the heavy manila envelope visibly tucked into the inside pocket of his tuxedo. Panic flickered behind her manicured facade.
“Oh my god, Charles, it was a joke,” Stephanie laughed nervously, though no one else joined in.
Charles maintained his unyielding gaze, his jaw tightening as he reached up. With agonizing slowness, he slid the platinum wedding band off his finger.
“Take the ring off,” Charles commanded.
May you like
Stephanie’s breath caught in her throat as she realized the manila envelope was the deed to the family farm.
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