Chapter 9 - The Sirens in the Courtyard
The cathedral screens flickered to life in crystal-clear 4K resolution with surround sound.
Scene One: Olivia deliberately tilting her wrist to splash red wine onto Sophie’s clean floor, sneering: “Clean it again.”
Scene Two: Olivia stealing Margaret’s blood pressure medication and scolding Sophie.
Scene Three: Olivia planting Margaret’s sapphire brooch into Sophie’s backpack.
Scene Four: Olivia’s encrypted video call with Julian Cross, detailing their scheme to institutionalize Margaret, fire Sophie, and liquidate the Buckhead estate post-marriage.
The cathedral descended into absolute, horrified pandemonium.
Robert stood up in his pew, trembling with fury, looking at the bride as if she were a venomous snake. Guests began whispering and filming on their phones.
Olivia’s face morphed from pristine bridal innocence into a mask of pure, unadulterated venom. She tore off her veil, screaming into Michael’s face: “You pathetic bastard! You set me up!”
“No, Olivia,” Michael said, his voice cold as granite. “You set yourself up the second you mistook honest labor for weakness.”
The heavy oak cathedral doors burst open.
Detective Ray Barnes and four uniformed Fulton County officers marched down the center aisle, weapons holstered, holding signed warrants.
“Olivia Henderson and Julian Cross,” Detective Barnes announced. “You are under arrest for Felony Grand Larceny, Scheme to Defraud, and Conspiracy.”
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Julian attempted to slip through the side exit, but two plainclothes officers tackled him in the vestibule, pinning him to the stone floor.
As steel handcuffs clicked around Olivia’s lace-covered wrists, she thrash-screamed curses, her designer gown tearing as she was dragged past three hundred cameras out into the flashing red and blue strobe lights in the church courtyard.
