The heavy oak doors at the back of the cathedral creaked open again. This time, two men in crisp dark suits and federal badges walked deliberately down the center aisle.
Agent Miller: Victoria Sterling? Arthur Pendelton?
Victoria backed away from the steps, clutching the skirts of her wedding gown, her face contorting in panic.
Victoria: Get out of here! This is a private religious ceremony! You have no jurisdiction in this church!
Agent Miller: We have a federal warrant for wire fraud, identity falsification, and conspiracy to commit grand larceny, issued out of the Southern District of New York.
Arthur Pendelton sank into the wooden pew, burying his face in his hands, completely defeated.
Arthur: I told you, Victoria... I told you the banking records in Zurich would leave a digital footprint if she ever showed up.
Victoria: Shut up, you idiot! Shut your mouth!
Julian: Arthur... you helped her steal my father's estate?
Arthur: Julian, your father never trusted your financial judgment. He made Helena the sole trustee with complete power of attorney over the Vance family foundation. Victoria promised me twenty percent if I helped register the emergency probate declaration.
Julian lunged toward Arthur, his face red with fury, but two guests in the front row grabbed his arms and held him back.
Julian: You were my father's best friend! You swore an oath to protect our family!
Arthur: Greed makes fools of us all, Julian. Look around you. None of this was ever yours.
Helena stood up calmly, holding Leo close against her side as the federal agents approached the altar.
Agent Miller: Helena Vance? We need you to confirm your identity with these baseline biometric scans so the temporary restraining order against the accounts takes immediate effect.
Helena: Of course, Agent Miller. My legal team has already filed the primary petition at the county courthouse this morning.
Victoria stared at Helena, her voice screeching with uncontrolled venom.
Victoria: You took a job as a maid? You worked as a cheap banquet server just to ambush me on my wedding day?
Helena: I needed to see your face when the truth hit you, Victoria. I needed to see you standing in that white dress, knowing you will never wear this ring, you will never own this name, and you will never spend another dollar of my family's legacy.
The second agent produced a pair of stainless steel handcuffs, stepping directly toward the bride.
Victoria: Don't touch me! Do you know who my father is? My father donates millions to the governor's campaign!
Marcus Sterling: Victoria, stop talking right now. Don't say another word until our defense counsel arrives.
Marcus didn't even look at his daughter as he turned and walked swiftly toward the side exit, abandoning her on the altar steps.
Victoria: Dad! Dad, don't leave me here! Julian, help me!
Julian stood motionless, staring at the woman he was about to marry with pure disgust.
Julian: You tried to kill the mother of my child.
Victoria: She was nobody! She was a nobody who trapped you with a baby!
The metallic snap of the handcuffs echoed sharply through the grand hall as the agent locked her wrists behind her back, wrinkling the ornate lace of her designer gown.
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