The crowd watched in complete shock as Victoria and her father were escorted through the heavy double doors, leaving the grand ballroom in total, heavy silence.
Julian turned around to face Clara, tears welling in his eyes as he took a cautious step toward her.
Julian: Clara... I am so sorry. I had no idea... I swear on my life I didn't know what they were doing to you.
Clara: I know you didn't know, Julian. If you were part of it, I would have brought the police straight to your house.
Julian: They told me you died in the ICU... they held a fake memorial service... they showed me pictures of a grave...
Clara: They paid fifty thousand dollars to forge my death records so they could seize the Vance family trust fund and force you into a corporate marriage merger.
Julian: Why didn't you contact me earlier? How did you escape that clinic?
Clara: A nurse named Elena realized who I was three weeks ago. She helped me smuggle a letter to the federal prosecutor and unlocked the back doors last night.
Julian reached out, his hand shaking as he gently brushed a strand of dark hair away from Clara's scarred cheek.
Julian: You're safe now, Clara. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again.
Clara: I'm not here for protection, Julian. I'm here to take back my family's legacy and my place as the CEO of Vance Enterprises.
Julian: It's yours. It was always yours. I'll hand over all executive control to you tomorrow morning.
Clara looked around the grand room at the hundreds of stunned high-society guests who were still holding their phones, recording every second of the aftermath.
Clara: Everyone, please enjoy the free food and drinks tonight. But the wedding is officially canceled.
The guests began to cheer and applaud, amazed by the sheer bravery of the woman who had returned from the dead to claim justice.