Chapter 6 You Can’t Get Rid of Me!
Chapter 6 You Can’t Get Rid of Me!
Alisa’s words hit Cordelia like a shot of pure adrenaline.
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In an instant. Cordelia snapped back to her senses. This was not the time to start a public feud with the Garners. The first order of business was to deal with Sabrina.
If she let this drag on, the situation would spiral beyond repair–and Cordelia had no intention of letting the crowd leave with her as the evening’s punchline.
Stepping forward, she fixed Sabrina with an icy gaze. “Ms. Nelson, first of all, thank you for making the trip to attend my wedding.” she said coolly. “As for my husband’s character, I know exactly what kind of man he is. I don’t need anyone else pointing fingers on my behalf.
“As for the value of the wedding ring, I couldn’t care less. It’s the sentiment that matters.”
The implication was clear–Sabrina had barged into another woman’s wedding and openly criticized the bride. It was rude, out of line, and frankly, none of her business.
The marriage was Cordelia’s to live with, not Sabrina’s. Why meddle?
Sabrina should’ve turned on her heel and left. Instead, the tables had been turned on her, and for a moment, she couldn’t think of a single retort. She let out a sharp, derisive laugh. “Well, Ms. Roffe, if you enjoy wearing a cuckold, I suppose no one
can stop you.”
Cordelia’s face darkened.
Alisa cut in smoothly, “At least my cousin is a formally wedded wife, recognized by the Garners, with a multimillion–dollar wedding gift written into the family records. You, Ms. Nelson, can’t say the same, can you? I heard the Dickinsons called off your engagement after your family went bankrupt.”
She tilted her head, voice dripping with mockery. “A woman who can’t even be accepted into the Dickinsons–where does that confidence come from? You might want to take a hard look in the mirror before you go around judging others.”
Then she covered her nose, as though the air itself had gone sour. “I’ve heard the Auric Club is quite the cesspool–every vice under the sun. Buzzing with all sorts of shady business and people, the hospital lines afterward stretch for blocks. Ms. Nelson, if you’ve got time to meddle in someone else’s marriage, maybe get yourself checked first. We wouldn’t want you spreading something unpleasant to innocent people.”
Sabrina couldn’t defend herself.
“What? Sexually transmitted disease?”
That comment hit the crowd like a splash of ice water. People who had been holding the photo quickly dropped it as though it were toxic. The admiration in their eyes vanished, replaced with pure disgust.
High society didn’t just frown upon women with a nightlife reputation–they despised them. Even in well–mannered middle- class homes, respectable families wouldn’t let their daughters near that world.
“She was dumped by the Dickinsons. Maybe it’s because she’s sick, someone whispered. “Don’t take anything from her–you don’t know what you’ll catch. What if this stuff is contagious?”
“Exactly. Quick! Throw it away.”
In the original story, Sabrina had used her bidden identity and deep pockets to walk out of the Auric Club clean and in style. heading straight to the wedding to set the record straight.
But no one here knew that–except Alisa
Sabrina’s new reputation as “unclean‘ was like a brand seared onto her skin. Even with her usual iron will, she couldn’t hold back her fury. She glared at Alisa, voice rising
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Chapter 6 You Can’t Get Rid of Me!
“Alisa! Yes, I came from the Auric Club, but I never-”
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Alisa cut her off, not giving her the chance to fight back. “Save it. Look around–who here would even believe you?”
She cut in, her tone laced with contempt, “Security! Get her out of here.”
From the stage, Cordelia’s voice was cool and unyielding. “The Nelsons are already bankrupt, so you don’t need to damage to the doors. Who would bother arguing with someone in your condition? But I do hope you remember this, Ms. Nelson–next time, you may not be so lucky.”
Moments later, Sabrina was marched out under the eyes of every guest, her car swiftly dealt with as well.
Cordelia glanced down at Alisa, and the two women exchanged a knowing smile. Without Alisa’s quick reaction, Cordelia would have been the one left humiliated.
As for Darcy, Cordelia had all the time in the world to settle that score.
The ceremony had already missed its moment, and Cordelia had no desire to continue. After making sure the guests were politely seen to, she headed backstage.
There, she ripped the wedding ring from her finger, hurled it at Darcy’s face, and followed it with a sharp slap.
“Take your ring and get out. Darcy, crossing me is the worst mistake of your life. Do you really think you can mess with me? I’ll make sure you understand how difficult it is to get rid of me.”
Alisa’s intervention had salvaged Cordelia’s dignity from the wreck, but the fact remained: Darcy had kept a mistress even before the wedding, and the Roffes would never let that slide.
Upstairs, in a private room, Vania and Rhea faced off against Darcy’s parents.
Both families had taken a hit to their reputations today.
The Gardners knew they were at fault. Darcy’s father spoke first, trying for a conciliatory tone. “We failed as parents, but Rhea, I promise we’ll make sure Darcy cuts ties with that woman for good,”
Rhea let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Failed as parents? Don’t make me laugh. You expect me to believe you had no idea about her? You put on such a show before the wedding. I trusted you with my daughter, and this is how you repay me?”
Darcy’s mother had no answer.
Rhea’s voice was like a blade. “I see it now–Darcy’s not worth a thing.”
Sabrina had been right: Darcy was a mama’s boy.
If he’d had an ounce of backbone, he would have been with that woman openly from the start.
Instead, he didn’t have the courage to defy his family, yet he still clung to her in secret. Weak and spineless.
Darcy’s father bristled. “Rhea, I understand you’re angry, but we’re victims here too. No matter his faults, your daughter sull chose him.”
Rhea’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s that supposed to mean? If that’s your attitude, then let’s call off the wedding right now.”
The air in the room tightened, tempers rising
Then the door opened, and Cordelia walked in “Mom, Grandma, Fin not divorcing him”
Cordelia…” Rhea’s voice was heavy with warning.
Cordelia spoke with calm precision. “What’s done is done. Today was already an ugly enough spectacle. If I divorce Darcy right now, the gossip will only grow worse. The reason our families married in the first place was to maximize bencuts for
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Chapter 6 You Can’t Get Rid of Me!
。
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both sides.”
MILY
She glanced toward Alisa. “And thanks to my cousin, I still walked away with some dignity today.”
Staying married meant keeping most of the leverage–and at least some of her pride.
But a quick marriage followed by a quick divorce? That would destroy both.
It would make it look as if she couldn’t even measure up to Darcy’s little first love on the side. The thought of it made her burn with humiliation, but there’d be nothing she could do to change it.
The thought of people whispering behind her back, mocking her, made Cordelia’s hands clench.
Rhea wanted her daughter to be happy, but if Cordelia had made her decision, she wouldn’t stand in the way.
“Are you sure about this, Cordelia?”
“Yes, Mom. I’ve thought it through.” She turned to Vania. “Grandma, you’ll support me, won’t you?”
Vania nodded. Years in business had taught her that profit lasted; feelings faded. In the end, marriage survived on shared interests, not on something as fleeting as romance.
If it were her choice, she would have made the same decision Cordelia had.
Still, she hadn’t expected her granddaughter to see things so clearly, so soon.
“Cordelia, I’m not going to try and change your mind,” Vania said. “This is your choice, that’s all that matters. Whatever happens, this family’s door will always be open to you.”
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