The wedding guests continued taking their assigned seats while whispering anxiously to one another across rows.
Mark stepped closer to Sarah, trying gently to put his arm around her shaking delicate shoulders.
Sarah pulled away instantly, looking at him with eyes filled with hurt and deep disappointment.
Sarah: You just stood there while she attacked me!
Mark: She threatened to cut me off completely!
Brenda stepped directly between the young couple, thrusting the thick folder toward Sarah's pale face.
Brenda: Sign these legal paper waivers right now or leave this place forever!
Sarah looked closely at the bold black title stamped across the front of the top white page.
It was a strict legal agreement waiving all claims to Mark's wealthy family trust fund estate.
Sarah: I never asked for your family money, Brenda!
Brenda: Then sign the paper and prove it to everyone here!
Mark looked down at the clipped grass, tears dripping slowly off his chin onto his tie.
He refused to meet Sarah's eyes as his mother kept pressing the pen into her hand.
Sarah: Is this what you really want, Mark?
Mark: I just want everyone to stop fighting!
Sarah could not believe how weak her future husband was acting during this huge life crisis.
She had loved Mark for three long years, believing he was a strong and reliable partner.
Now he was crumbling under his mother's harsh pressure right in front of all their friends.
The wedding minister stood near the white floral archway, looking incredibly uncomfortable and deeply troubled.
Minister: Perhaps we should pause the ceremony briefly?
Brenda: No minister, we settle this business right now!
Sarah wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her trembling hand and raised her head high.
She looked around the crowd for any familiar friendly face who might offer her some help.
Her mother had passed away years ago, leaving only her powerful father to protect her family.
She checked her glowing smartphone screen again, but there was still no incoming reply from him.
Brenda laughed coldly, tapping her long red nails against the wooden clipboard in her hands.
Brenda: Your father is not coming to save you today!
Sarah: He will be here any minute now!
Brenda: He knows you are marrying beneath your station anyway!
Mark grabbed his mother's arm tightly, trying desperately to pull her away from the bride.
Mark: Mom, please stop talking like that!
Brenda shoved her son back forcefully, ignoring his soft pleas with total cold contempt in her eyes.
Sarah felt a sudden painful tightening in her belly from all the extreme emotional stress.
She leaned against a nearby decorated chair, gasping softly as the sun grew even hotter overhead.