“Natalie,” she said.

Natalie held up her phone. “Emergency proxy filed electronically with Delaware counsel at 3:07 p.m. Trustee authority is active.”

Matthew added, “Notice sent to Whitmore Biogenics board and Langford Strategic Holdings. Merger freeze begins now.”

Several phones in the chapel buzzed at once.

Board members.

Executives.

Assistants.

Investors.

Tiny vibrations of power shifting.

A man in the fifth row looked at his screen, then at Carter, then away.

A woman near the aisle whispered, “Trading desk is going to see this.”

Carter heard her.

His nostrils flared.

Katherine did not smile.

That was the mistake amateurs made when revenge began.

They smiled too early.

Katherine simply took off the engagement ring.

The diamond was eleven carats, emerald-cut, flawless, and famous. A magazine had called it “the Langford Lighthouse” because it looked big enough to warn ships.

She placed it on the altar beside the unity candle.

The sound was small.

A tap of stone and diamond.

But everyone heard it.

“This belongs to your family,” she said.

Evelyn stared at the ring like Katherine had slapped her with it.

Carter’s voice went low. “You will regret this.”

Katherine looked at him.

“I regretted it two minutes before the wedding.”

Then she turned and began walking back down the aisle.

No applause.

Just the sound of silk moving over stone.

Her mother stepped into the aisle and reached for her, but Katherine shook her head once.

If Diane touched her, she might become a daughter.

Right now, she had to remain a witness.

The guests parted even though there was nowhere to part.

Some looked ashamed.

Some looked hungry for scandal.

Some looked terrified because they had signed things with Carter too.

Katherine reached the chapel doors.

Her hand touched the old brass handle.

Then Carter spoke behind her.

“You leave now, and I release everything.”

She stopped.

There it was.

The hook beneath the hook.

Everything.

Katherine turned slowly.

“What everything?”

Carter stood at the altar, one hand curled around the edge of the carved rail.

His eyes were alive again.

Not with victory.

With spite.

He had lost the clean version of the day.

So now he wanted to make the room dirty.

“You know what I’m talking about,” he said.

Katherine did not.

But she had learned not to show uncertainty in a room full of predators.

“Say it,” she said.

Carter smiled.

“The paternity file.”

The chapel went silent for a different reason.

Diane whispered, “What?”

Katherine felt the baby move.

Her mind did not fracture.

It sharpened.

Paternity file.

Carter wanted the room to think she was afraid.

He wanted doubt to stain her before she reached the door.

He wanted headlines.

Pregnant Bride Exposes Groom, But Baby Scandal Explodes.

He wanted her to defend herself emotionally, urgently, foolishly.

Instead, Katherine tilted her head.

“Release it.”

Carter blinked.

She took one step back toward him.

“Release it now.”

“Katherine,” Natalie warned softly.

But Katherine kept her eyes on Carter.

A liar expected panic.

He did not know what to do with invitation.

Carter’s smile faded.

“You don’t want that.”

“I want anything you planned to use against me brought into