My Groom Abandoned Me at the Altar to Run After His Pregnant Ex—But When He Returned for the Family Ring, the Entire Hotel Belonged to Me
Part 1
Julian abandoned me before the officiant finished asking whether he accepted me as his wife.
The ballroom was filled with two hundred guests, white orchids, and enough cameras to preserve my humiliation forever.
Then the doors opened.
A pregnant woman stood beneath the chandelier.
Celeste.
Julian’s former fiancée.
One hand rested over her stomach. Tears covered her face.
“Julian,” she whispered. “Please don’t marry her.”
My groom released my hands.
He crossed the aisle without looking back and caught Celeste as she pretended to collapse.
His mother rushed after him.
“What happened?” Julian demanded.
Celeste looked directly at me.
“The baby is yours.”
A murmur passed through the ballroom.
Julian’s mother turned toward me as though I had created the situation.
“This wedding is over.”
I removed my veil.
Julian held Celeste against his chest.
“Avery, I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
He lowered his eyes.
His mother marched toward me and held out her hand.
“The Beaumont ring.”
The diamond on my finger had belonged to Julian’s grandmother.
“You want the ring now?”
“It is family property. Since you will not be joining the family, return it and leave the hotel.”
I looked around the ballroom.
The Beaumont family had selected this hotel because they believed it represented their status.
Julian’s mother had spent the entire week ordering employees around, threatening to have servers dismissed, and telling guests her family practically owned the place.
She did not know how close she was to the truth.
I slipped the ring from my finger and placed it on the table beside the untouched wedding cake.
Then I handed my phone to the hotel manager.
He read the message on the screen.
His posture changed immediately.
“Mrs. Beaumont,” he said, “your family must leave the property.”
Julian’s mother laughed.
“Do you know who we are?”
“Yes.”
“Then remove her.”
The manager shook his head.
“I cannot remove the owner.”
Silence spread through the room.
Julian looked at me.
“What does he mean?”
“My grandmother purchased this hotel in 1978. Ownership transferred to me last month.”
His mother stared at the ceiling, the ballroom, and the uniformed staff.
“You let us pay for this wedding?”
“You insisted on paying. I never stopped you.”
Celeste quietly moved away from Julian.
He noticed.
“Where are you going?”
She did not answer.
I looked at the manager.
“Give the staff every unopened bottle and untouched tray. Refund the guests who booked rooms. Charge the Beaumont family for all damages.”
Julian stepped toward me.
“Avery, wait. We can discuss this privately.”
“You made your decision publicly.”
He reached for the family ring.
Before his fingers touched it, Celeste grabbed the diamond and ran toward the exit.
Julian chased her.
She made it three steps before two police officers entered the ballroom.
One of them held up a photograph.
“Celeste Warren?”
The pregnant woman froze.
The officer continued.
“You are under arrest for fraud, extortion, and impersonating a licensed fertility specialist.”
Julian stared at her stomach.
“What is he talking about?”
Celeste slowly removed the padding beneath her dress.
But instead of looking frightened, she looked at me and smiled.
“You promised they wouldn’t arrest me until after he confessed.”
Every face turned toward me.
Julian whispered, “You knew?”
I looked at the hidden microphone beneath his boutonnière.
“I knew much more than that.”
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