The garden was completely silent as Clara held the phone tightly against her hot ear.
Her father did not ask any more questions over the static line.
Father: I am two minutes away with full security, hold on tight, baby.
The line went dead immediately, leaving Clara standing tall beside the floral arch.
Victoria laughed out loud in a harsh, ringing tone that echoed across the lawn.
Victoria: Who are you calling, your poor truck driver father from Texas?
Victoria: He cannot save you from the prenuptial agreement you signed last month!
Mark looked down at Clara with a confused and deeply guilty expression in his eyes.
Mark: Clara, why didn't you tell me your father was flying in today?
Clara: Look at what they are doing to us, Mark!
Clara: You promised to protect me and our child from your family's cruelty!
Mark: I thought my father had handled the inheritance papers already!
Clara stepped back from Mark, feeling a deep distance grow between them instantly.
She held the torn side of her silk gown together with her left hand bravely.
Victoria smirked and turned to face the shocked audience of rich local family friends.
Victoria: This girl's family does not have a single dollar to their name!
Victoria: She tricked Mark into a rushed wedding to steal our family business assets!
Suddenly the sound of heavy SUV doors slamming echoed from the parking lot nearby.
Three tall men in black suits walked quickly through the wooden garden gates.
Behind them walked a silver-haired man wearing an expensive custom dark grey wool suit.
Mark's father stood up instantly from his front row seat, his eyes widening in shock.
Mark's Father: Mr. Vance? What on earth are you doing here in Ohio?
The guests stood up in excitement as they recognized the famous billionaire businessman.
Arthur Vance walked past the crowd without looking at anyone except his crying daughter.
He removed his black suit jacket gently and wrapped it around Clara's shoulders warmth.
Arthur: I am so sorry I was late, my precious daughter.
Arthur: Nobody touches my family and gets away with it in broad daylight.
Victoria's smug smile disappeared completely as she dropped the brown paper envelope.
Victoria: Daughter? Clara is your biological daughter?
p>Arthur: She is my only child and the sole heir to Vance Enterprises.
Mark stared at Clara as if he were seeing her for the first time ever.
The entire crowd let out a massive collective gasp that filled the bright warm garden.