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“Troy Imperial, do you accept Clara Valderama to be your lawful wedded wife?”
« Yes, Father. I accept him with all my heart, » Troy replied dramatically.
The priest turned to me. “Clara Valderama, do you take Troy Imperial to be your lawful wedded husband, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
I stared at Troy. I turned my gaze to his mother. Then, I took the microphone from the priest.
“Until death?” I asked coldly into the microphone that echoed throughout the resort. “I just want to clarify, Troy… is the death we’re talking about the ‘accident’ you’re planning in Paris tomorrow to steal my billions?”
The Explosion of Truth
A deafening silence fell across the cathedral. Guests, politicians, and billionaires froze in their seats.
Troy’s jaw dropped. All color drained from his face. « C-Clara? B-Babe… what are you saying? Are you kidding? »
“What’s going on here?! Why is that woman ruining the wedding?!” Doña Carmela shouted in panic from her seat, her hands shaking.
“I’m not kidding, Troy,” I replied firmly and thunderously. I gestured to my crew standing behind the sound system.
In an instant, the very recording from my cellphone earlier played over the venue’s large speakers. Hundreds of guests could hear the clear voices of Troy and his mother:
« They will kill Clara but they will make sure I survive… Don Alejandro’s entire billion-dollar inheritance will go to me… Vanessa will be with me forever. »
After the recording was played, the once-quiet church was filled with screams, horror, and disgust from the visitors. Media cameras began to flash.
Troy’s knees went weak and he fell to his knees at the altar. He was sweating profusely and could barely breathe from the intense fear and shame. “C-Clara! P-Listen to me! T-That’s not true! That’s AI! That’s edited!”
“Shut up, monster!” I yelled, and for the first time, I slapped him in the face with a very strong slap! FUCK ME! “How dare you kill me for my father’s money?! You demons!”
“Security! Arrest that woman! She’s crazy!” Doña Carmela screamed, ready to run out of the venue.
“Lock the gates!” I ordered.
Right after I said that, dozens of NBI agents and uniformed police officers rushed in. They quickly surrounded Troy and Doña Carmela.
“Troy Imperial and Carmela Imperial,” the NBI chief announced as he ruthlessly handcuffed the mother and daughter. “We are arresting you for Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Grand Estafa. We have also obtained a confession from your men that you allegedly paid in Paris to commit the crime.”
The Judgment and Justice
“NO! Clara, you’re so pitiful! I love you! I won’t do that!” Troy pleaded, sobbing as he fell to the floor, trying to reach the hem of my gown.
“Back off. You’re disgusting,” I coldly judged. I looked at Doña Carmela who was crying and looking away. “And for the information of both of you, I spoke to the banks this morning. They will foreclose on your mansion tomorrow. You will rot in jail.”
Troy screamed and begged as authorities dragged him out of the resort. The disgusted guests who had just been saluting them watched.
I turned my back on them. My tears flowed, not from the pain of broken love, but from gratitude that God had saved me from death. The day they thought would be my end turned out to be the very cemetery of their dreams and freedom.