Chapter 1 - The Shattered Reception
My husband kicked my mother to the floor.
I made sure everyone at the reception saw exactly what happened next.
Garrett looked at me and sneered.
“Your mother should learn her place.”
Then he laughed when I ordered him to apologize.
That was enough.
I drove him backward into the decorative fountain.
Water exploded across his tuxedo as candles scattered over the marble.
Garrett climbed out furious and charged at me.
I avoided his swing and sent him crashing into the banquet console, knocking trays, vases, and silverware everywhere.
Then I pulled off my wedding ring and threw it onto his soaked chest.
“You kicked my mother, now crawl out of my house.”
Everyone expected Evelyn to defend her son.
Instead, she slowly backed away.
And that was when I noticed something disturbing.
She had watched Garrett attack my mother without looking surprised at all.
Almost like she had known exactly what he was going to do.
I rushed to my mother's side and helped her sit up.
She was trembling, clutching her chest in pain.
Her hand reached up to her neck, and her eyes went wide with sheer terror.
"Clara," my mother gasped, pulling me down to whisper in my ear.
"Garrett didn't lose his temper, he did it to steal your father's antique locket."
I froze as the realization hit me like a physical blow.
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I turned around to look for my violent, humiliated husband.
But Garrett and Evelyn were already gone.
