A sense of relief washed over Zoey with that realization. Lise slowly rose from the floor, steadying herself, and walked calmly toward Carol. She dropped to her knees with a loud thud. Then, she began begging, “Carol, please believe me. I never meant to hurt you. I know I can’t explain what happened, but it wasn’t me. If you give me a chance, I’ll find the real person responsible. Please, just give me that chance!”

Carol stared at Lise with an icy expression.

“It’s over. I gave you a chance before, but now you’ve let both Neil and me down.”

The crowd stood in silence, watching this ridiculous scene unfold.

Lise opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her.

Just then, a voice cut through the silence.

“Mrs. Wheeler, when will you pay the money?”

Calvin walked confidently toward Carol with his group of thugs, his face exuding arrogance, making it clear he wouldn’t leave without collecting the money.

Neil, in his wheelchair, approached with a visibly darkened expression of displeasure. Nonetheless, he instructed his assistant, “Give him half a million.”

Without hesitation, the assistant completed the transaction, and Calvin’s face lit up with satisfaction as he checked the new balance on his phone.

Moments later, Calvin looked over at his crew and said, “Let’s not disrupt Mr. Wheeler’s grand wedding any further. We’re leaving.”

His visit was apparently motivated purely by financial gain. The group left the banquet hall in high spirits.

Lise refrained from looking at Neil, feeling afraid. She was frustrated! The theft had nothing to do with her at all! Why was she being blamed?

Carol then stood, her voice calm.

Every journey starts at gα?ησν?s?c?

“I’m exhausted.” She could no longer bear being near Lise and decided she needed to seek out Katelyn for the real story. As she headed for the exit, her eyes briefly connected with Katelyn’s before she continued on her way out.

Suddenly, a group of reporters swarmed around Lise, all eager for a statement.

“Miss Bailey, what you did is equivalent to murder.”

Another reporter aggressively pushed a microphone toward her.

“Miss Bailey, with your aspirations of wealth now ruined, what can you tell us?”

Lise fought to push the reporters back, her frustration boiling over as she yelled, “Get away from me! All of you, just leave!”

Neil simply gave a dismissive glance her way before he turned to leave.

Attempting to rise, Lise called out, “Neil!”

Surrounded by a group of reporters, Lise found it impossible to reach Neil. Panic flashed in her eyes.

It was over! It was all crumbling down. Her grand wedding had become a joke. Friends and family cast accusatory glances and hurled insults at her as they spread.

At that moment, Lise felt forsaken by everyone. Hatred overwhelmed her. She had been so close, just a step away.

Her once luxurious wedding gown was now in shreds, her meticulously styled hair undone, and her expensive jewelry mocked her current situation.

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