Julian stared at Victoria with total disbelief written across his young face.
Julian: My whole life might be a lie and you only care about a ceremony?
Victoria: My rich family is watching us embarrass ourselves on these public steps!
Julian turned away from his bride and faced his birth mother again.
Julian: Please tell me what happened twenty years ago, Mom.
The old woman took a deep and painful breath before speaking her words.
Mother: I was very sick in the local city hospital back then.
She explained how she had signed temporary care papers while getting treatment.
Richard Miller was the wealthy chairman of the local hospital board back then.
He and his wife could not have any natural children of their own.
When they saw little Leo in the hospital nursery, they wanted him badly.
They used legal tricks and forged documents to terminate her parental rights.
By the time she recovered from her illness, her baby was gone.
The police told her that the powerful Miller family had full custody.
She was too poor to hire a good lawyer to fight them.
Mother: I fought with everything I had, but no court would listen.
Julian: My adoptive father lied to my face every single day of my life.
Julian felt a hot tear roll down his warm cheek as he spoke.
He remembered asking about his real biological parents when he was little.
Richard had always told him that his mother did not want him.
That lie had made Julian feel unwanted for his entire life.
Now he knew the heartbreaking truth behind his hidden past story.
Victoria grabbed Julian's tuxedo sleeve with a sharp and tight grip.
Victoria: Even if this story is true, Richard left you his entire inheritance!
Julian: I do not care about his dirty money or his big house!
Victoria: Well I certainly care about our financial future together, Julian!
The guests began to murmur loudly among themselves at her harsh words.
Julian looked at Victoria as if he was seeing her clearly for the first time.
She did not care about his emotional pain or the stolen mother.
She only cared about the wealth and high social status he held.
Julian: Is that really all I am to you, Victoria?
Victoria: Do not be dramatic on the most important day of our lives!
Julian slowly reached down and unpinned the white flower from his lapel.
He dropped the flower onto the ground right beside her fallen bouquet.
Julian: The wedding is canceled as of right now.
Victoria shrieked in absolute anger as the crowd gasped in sheer shock.
Victoria: You cannot walk away from me for this dirty old beggar!
Julian ignored her screams and gently took his mother's cold hand.
Julian: Come with me, Mom, we have a lot of lost time to make up.