Victoria reached out to grab Richard's arm, her voice rising into a sharp scream.
Bride: You cannot ruin our wedding day over a poor maid's story!
Groom: Get your hands off me right now!
Richard shoved her hand away firmly, causing Victoria to lose her balance completely.
She stumbled backward and fell hard onto the polished marble floor with a loud thud.
Her expensive suit was wrinkled, and her styled hair fell messily over her pale face.
Bride: Richard! You are making the biggest mistake of your entire life!
Groom: No, marrying you would have been the biggest mistake of my life.
Richard pulled his cell phone from his inner jacket pocket without hesitation.
He dialed three numbers and held the phone up to his ear with steady hands.
Groom: Yes, I need federal agents at my Dallas residence immediately.
Groom: I have evidence of child trafficking, document fraud, and illegal bribery.
Victoria's eyes went wide with pure terror as she heard his spoken words.
She scrambled to her feet, abandoning her designer bag on the white floor.
Bride: You will not lock me up! I have rich parents who will fight this!
She turned around to run toward the grand front exit doors of the mansion.
Richard moved fast, blocking the heavy arched doorway with his tall frame.
Groom: You are not going anywhere until the police carry you out in cuffs.
Bride: Let me go! I will give you the custody papers back willingly!
Groom: You are going straight to federal prison for what you did to my family!
Victoria sank back down onto her knees, sobbing uncontrollably on the white marble floor.
All her money, pride, and fake status disappeared in a single painful instant.
Clara stood up slowly, holding small Lily tightly in her warm arms.
The little girl buried her head safely into Clara's neck, feeling completely secure at last.