The minister awkwardly lowered his heavy leather Bible and backed away slowly.
Mark stood up while holding his baby son closely against his dark jacket.
Lily held onto his pant leg, trembling from cold and sheer exhaustion.
The whispering among the two hundred seated wedding guests grew significantly louder.
Mark's wealthy stepfather, Richard, marched down the center aisle with a stern expression.
Richard: Mark, control this ridiculous scene so we can finish the family ceremony.
Mark: My children were just thrown onto the street, Richard!
Richard: Your ex-wife signed a legal settlement months ago during the quiet split.
Mark: I transferred fifty thousand dollars into the family trust account last Tuesday!
Alyssa: Why are we discussing dirty financial matters at our beautiful altar?
Mark: Because my children are starving and freezing right in front of us!
Mark looked into his tiny son's pale face and felt sick inside.
He noticed red marks along the infant's delicate wrists and little ankles.
Mark: Lily, tell Daddy the truth right now.
Lily: The big lawyer came to the house yesterday with some men, Daddy.
Mark: Which lawyer came to your home?
Lily: The lady who smells like sweet perfume and sits in your office.
Mark slowly turned his head to stare directly at his glowing bride.
Alyssa's confident face suddenly turned completely white in the bright sunlight.
Mark: Alyssa, why would my personal divorce attorney visit my ex-wife yesterday?
Alyssa: I have no idea what a three-year-old child is talking about, Mark!
Lily: She took Mommy's papers and pushed Mommy down on the cold grass!
The crowd gasped sharply as the toddler pointed her tiny finger at Alyssa.
Mark: Is this why you insisted on managing my automatic trust fund transfers?
Alyssa: You are taking the crazy word of a toddler over your bride!
Mark: She knows your face because you helped arrange our original custody agreement!
Mark grabbed his phone out of his inner tuxedo pocket with shaking hands.
He dialed his ex-wife's personal number while keeping his son pressed close.
The call went straight to automated voicemail after four long, painful rings.
Mark: I am going outside to find Clara right this second.
Richard: If you walk out that door, Mark, the family business partnership ends!
Mark: Then let it end right now, because my family comes first!