Chapter 2 - The Broken Deal
The grand Bellamy estate was completely empty within two hours.
Caterers quietly packed away the uneaten food while the string quartet slipped out the back gates.
Audrey sat alone in the massive bridal suite, staring at her reflection in the gilded mirror.
She touched her red cheek, the physical sting of Julian’s slap already fading into a deep, burning fury.
She finally understood why Lenora had looked so terrified as Julian dragged her away from the pool.
Lenora had endured the humiliation entirely for the secret property deed Audrey was supposed to sign over after the vows.
With the wedding destroyed, the legal transfer of those lucrative assets was permanently cancelled.
Lenora was walking away with absolutely nothing.
Audrey stood up and unzipped her heavy wedding dress, letting it fall to the floor in a pool of white silk.
She reached for her phone and immediately called her lead estate attorney.
She ordered him to freeze every single trust fund and lock down the Bellamy corporate accounts.
If Lenora had kept her identity a secret, Audrey knew Julian might be hiding massive secrets of his own.
Meanwhile, across town in a cramped apartment, Julian was screaming at his mother.
He had just finished reading the soggy contract he pulled from Lenora's apron.
Lenora was crying, finally confessing her past affair with Richard Bellamy.
She told Julian about the immense wealth Audrey was actually set to inherit on her twenty-fifth birthday.
Julian stopped screaming and stared at the numbers printed on the ruined contract.
He had always known Audrey was rich, but he had no idea she was the sole heir to a billion-dollar empire.
The anger in his eyes slowly transformed into a cold, calculating greed.
He realized he had just thrown away the biggest winning lottery ticket of his entire life.
Later that evening, a heavy knock echoed through the quiet halls of the Bellamy mansion.
Audrey opened the heavy oak door to find Julian standing on her front porch.
He looked completely devastated, holding a bouquet of her favorite white roses.
“Audrey, please forgive me,” Julian begged, his voice trembling with fake emotion.
He claimed he had overreacted to seeing his mother in the water and didn't know the full story.
Audrey stared into his eyes and saw the desperate, hungry ambition hiding just beneath his tears.
She knew exactly why he had really come back.
Audrey smiled softly, inviting the traitor back into her home.
She poured him a glass of scotch, playing the part of the heartbroken, forgiving bride.
She told him that the wedding could still happen if they could just learn to trust each other again.
Julian eagerly agreed, promising to cut his mother out of his life completely for Audrey's sake.
Audrey hugged him, resting her chin softly on his shoulder.
Over his shoulder, she glanced at Julian’s phone resting on the side table.
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The screen lit up with a new text message from Lenora.
The message read, "Did she take you back? We need that signature before Friday."
