"I know."
An ambulance was called. James stayed beside Margaret while Elena held her hand. Sophie stood a few steps away, crying silently.
Arthur watched the scene with an expression that was difficult to read.
Then he turned toward the exit.
Edward noticed.
"Where are you going?"
Arthur stopped.
"This has gone far enough. I am taking my leave."
"Not yet," Edward replied.
"You cannot detain me."
"No one is detaining you. But you should understand that the people here have heard enough to know that something is seriously wrong."
Arthur looked at the guests.
"You are all being manipulated by an emotional performance."
Elena stood.
"Then let the documents speak."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small folder.
Inside were copies of records she had received from Richard Harris several weeks earlier. She had not intended to bring them to the wedding. In fact, she had hoped she would never need them.
But when Edward contacted her and explained that Margaret might attend the ceremony, Elena had begun to suspect that the past was about to return.
The folder contained bank statements, trust summaries, and copies of letters addressed to her father.
She handed the documents to Edward.
"Richard gave me these after he confirmed my identity. He said the originals were being held securely. He also told me that the trust had never been properly settled."
Edward examined the first page.
Arthur's face lost color.
"Where did you get those?"
"From the lawyer you thought you could silence," Elena replied.
"Those records are confidential."
"They belong to the people whose money was taken."
Arthur stepped toward her.
"Be careful what you accuse me of."
Elena did not move.
"I am not accusing you of anything that cannot be investigated."
Edward looked at the papers.
"There are transfers here to a company registered under a different name, but the director's address matches your office."
Arthur said nothing.
"There are also withdrawals made shortly after Daniel's death," Edward continued. "And several payments that appear to have no connection to the children's education or care."
"Those were legitimate family expenses."
"Then you should have no difficulty explaining them to an independent auditor."
Arthur's grip tightened around his cane.
"You think you can destroy my reputation with a handful of old papers?"
"No," Elena said quietly. "You did that yourself. The papers simply explain why."
The ambulance arrived a few minutes later.
Paramedics examined Margaret and prepared to take her to the hospital for further evaluation. Elena climbed into the ambulance with her mother.
Before the doors closed, Sophie approached.
"Elena, please."
Elena looked at her.
"Can I come with you?"
For a moment, neither sister spoke.
Then Elena moved slightly to make room.
Sophie climbed inside.
James followed in his car, while Edward remained at the venue to speak with the wedding coordinator and arrange for the guests to leave peacefully.
Arthur was still standing beneath the garden lights when the ambulance pulled away.
For the first time in many years, he had no control over where the family was going.
At the hospital, the doctors confirmed that Margaret had suffered an episode of severe stress and exhaustion. Her condition was stable, but they wanted to monitor her overnight because of her medical history.
Elena sat beside her bed.
Sophie sat near the window, still wearing her wedding dress.
James had gone downstairs to bring them coffee and clean clothes. Neither sister had spoken much since arriving.
Eventually, Sophie broke the silence.
"Do you hate me?"
Elena looked toward her.
"I don't know."
Sophie nodded, accepting the answer.
"I think I deserve that."
"Why did you keep the photograph?"
Sophie reached into the small handbag she had brought from the wedding.
She removed a folded picture.
It showed Margaret standing in a garden, holding a little girl by the shoulders. The child wore a blue ribbon in her hair.
Elena recognized herself immediately.
She had not seen the photograph in more than twenty years.
Her hands began to shake.
"Where did you find this?"
"In Uncle Arthur's study. It was inside an envelope with your name written on it."
"Did he know you had it?"
"I don't think so. I took it because I couldn't stop looking at it."
Elena studied the picture.
On the back, in Daniel's handwriting, were five words:
My girls. My whole world.