Chapter 10 - THE WALK DOWN THE AISLE
Claire entered the garden alone.
Her father was supposed to have walked beside her.
Daniel had once said he would be honored to meet her halfway.
Now he waited beneath the arch, smiling like the devoted fiancé guests believed him to be.
Claire took each step slowly.
She saw Hale Meridian employees.
Board members.
Childhood friends.
Relatives who had praised Daniel for helping her heal.
Lorraine sat in the front row wearing diamonds purchased with money from the false supplier accounts.
Tessa stood near the sound station.
Her hand shook against the headset.
Detective Brooks remained beside the garden entrance.
When Claire reached the altar, Daniel took her hands.
“You’re freezing.”
“I know.”
The officiant welcomed the guests.
Daniel began his vows.
He spoke about fate.
Trust.
Protecting Claire after unimaginable loss.
Claire listened without interrupting.
Then the officiant turned to her.
Before she could speak, Lorraine stood.
“There is one family tradition.”
Daniel produced the folder.
A murmur passed through the guests.
Lorraine explained that the bride and groom would sign a symbolic unity document before exchanging rings.
Rachel rose from her chair.
“I have not approved that document.”
Lorraine smiled toward the guests.
“Claire’s attorney has difficulty separating work from love.”
Daniel held out the pen.
“Just the ceremonial page.”
Claire opened the packet.
The marked proxy was there.
So was the power of attorney.
“What happens if I refuse?”
Daniel kept smiling.
“Don’t do this here.”
“Why not? You brought the papers here.”
“Claire.”
“Tell them what the documents transfer.”
Lorraine stepped forward.
“She is panicking.”
Daniel reached for Claire’s phone.
“Give me that.”
Claire moved back.
Tessa pressed a button at the sound station.
The study recording began playing through the speakers.
Once she signs, I control the voting shares.
Every guest heard Daniel’s voice.
Then Lorraine:
The lake house accident has to look cleaner this time.
Daniel dropped the pen.
Lorraine shouted for Tessa to stop the audio.
Tessa removed her headset and stepped away.
“I’m done helping you.”
Daniel turned toward Claire.
“What did you record?”
“The parts where you planned to steal my company.”
The next clip played.
Her father almost reached the road after the boat exploded.
Lorraine moved toward the sound station.
Two officers intercepted her.
Daniel fell to his knees.
“Claire, listen to me.”
“You had three years to tell me the truth.”
“I didn’t kill your father.”
Arthur’s recovered recording played next.
Lorraine’s car. Daniel is with her.
Daniel’s face emptied.
Detective Brooks approached with the tablet showing the study footage.
“Step away from the bride.”
Daniel reached once more for Claire’s phone.
Officers restrained him.
Lorraine screamed that Claire was destroying the family.
Claire looked at the woman who had planned to drug her that morning.
“You never wanted a family. You wanted access.”
The ceremony ended without vows.
But the investigation was only beginning.
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Because the original supplier records in Arthur’s lockbox showed that Lorraine and Daniel had stolen far more than anyone suspected.
👉 The failed wedding exposed a murder plot—but Arthur’s files connected the Mercers to a financial scheme that had endangered thousands of Hale employees.
