Chapter 4 - The Bubble Bursts
The air in the ballroom shifted from confused celebration to outright scandal.
Whispers swept through the tables like wildfire. Daniel’s father stood up, crossing his arms with an expression of cold disgust aimed directly at my mother. Guests were pulling out their phones, some whispering behind their hands, while Tyler’s parents looked as though they had just been slapped across the face.
Tyler stepped forward, his eyes darting frantically between Khloe and me. The smug satisfaction he had worn minutes earlier had completely evaporated.
"Wait," Tyler stammered, his voice carrying through the quiet room even without a microphone. "Khloe... what is she talking about? You told me your parents saved up to give us an early wedding gift. You told me this was all paid for."
Khloe whipped around to face him, her voice cracking with desperation. "Tyler, don't listen to her! Maya is just jealous! She's always been jealous of me because Mom loves me more, and she can't stand that we're having a baby!"
"Jealous?" I laughed. The sound was cold and genuine. "Khloe, you don't even have a passport that’s valid past next month. But more importantly, you don't have plane tickets."
Mom lunged toward me, trying to snatch the microphone from my hand. "Give me that! You ungrateful, vicious little brat! After everything I sacrificed for you—"
Daniel stepped between us in an instant. He stood a full head taller than Mom, his presence commanding and unshakeable.
"Do not touch my wife," Daniel said, his voice low, steady, and loaded with authority. "Do not take another step toward her."
Mom recoiled, shocked that Daniel—who had always been polite, quiet, and endlessly accommodating—was now treating her like a trespasser.
I stepped out from behind Daniel's shoulder, raising the microphone back to my lips.
"As I was saying before my mother tried to physically silence me," I continued, looking out at the stunned crowd, "the tickets she booked on my card are gone. I discovered the charge yesterday afternoon, called the agency, and canceled the entire transaction within the twenty-four-hour grace period. The credit card has been frozen and reported for unauthorized use."
Khloe shrieked. "You canceled our flights?!"
"They were never your flights, Khloe," I replied evenly. "They were purchased with stolen funds. And as for our Santorini villa and private suites? Daniel and I didn't cancel them. We rescheduled our departure. We fly out tomorrow morning on an upgraded itinerary that none of you have access to."
"You ruined my life!" Khloe screamed, entirely abandoning the delicate, glowing mother-to-be persona she had carefully cultivated. She stomped her foot on the floor, sending a puff of lingering pink smoke into the air. "You knew how badly I wanted to go to Europe! Tyler and I needed this babymoon! You make six figures and you won't even give your niece a proper vacation?!"
"You are twenty-four years old," I said, my voice hardening. "You and Tyler have two jobs between you. If you want to go to Greece, earn it. Stop expecting me to fund your fantasy life while you treat me like a doormat."
At that moment, Tyler’s father, Richard, stood up from Table Four. He didn't look at Mom. He didn't look at Khloe. He looked directly at his son.
"Tyler," Richard’s booming voice cut through the hall with surgical precision. "Did you know about this?"
May you like
Tyler looked like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. "Dad, I swear... I had no idea. Khloe told me her family handled everything. She swore it was a gift."
"You lied to me?" Tyler turned to Khloe, his face pale with utter humiliation. "You dragged me into a felony in front of my entire family?!"
