Chapter 4 - Unmasking the Deception
Tiffany scrambled on her hands and knees, trying desperately to claw the photo off her stocking and hide it beneath her dress. "It's nothing! It's just a joke! Nick's girlfriend gave me that as a gag gift!" she stammered, her voice high-pitched and hysterical.
I slowly stood up from my chair behind the ficus, resting my hand heavily on my wooden cane. The silence in the ballroom was absolute as I tapped my way into the center of the hall.
"A joke, my dear?" I said, my voice echoing clearly off the high ceilings. "Is that why you glued it to the bottom of your bridal shoe? So you could literally walk all over my grandson while taking his name and his money?"
Tiffany's head snapped toward me, her eyes burning with fury. "You old bat! You set me up! You made him spill that water!"
"I merely helped a child clean up a sticky mess," I replied coolly.
Mark stepped between Tiffany and me, his protective instincts instantly kicking in. He reached down, picked up the wet photograph with two fingers, and read the pink inscription aloud. The guests gasped louder this time. Tiffany’s mother hid her face in her hands, while several of Mark’s business associates shook their heads in disgust.
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"Mark, please listen to me!" Tiffany sobbed, reaching for his pant leg. "He means nothing to me! It was just a stupid fantasy! I love you! I love your family!"
"No, Tiffany," Mark said softly, stepping back so her hand grabbed only thin air. "You love my bank account. You love the life I provided for you and Leo. But you don't love me."
