Chapter 21: No Baby, No Wedding

The service elevator opened on the lobby with two security guards holding Lorna by the arms.

Mr. Ackerly walked in beside them on his cane.

A woman in a white coat followed him.

Six hundred guests were still on their feet.

No one had left.

The livestream cameras at the back of the room had not stopped.

The counter in the corner of the big screen read three million viewers.

"This is the hotel physician," Mr. Ackerly said to the room. "Lorna, you've said eleven weeks. Please step aside with her."

"I won't," Lorna said.

"Then answer from here."

"I don't have to answer you!"

"There is a baby," Preston said, hoarse, from table one. "Tell them. Lorna, tell them."

She looked at him, and I watched her soft face go flat.

"There is no baby, you idiot," she said.

The room made one long sound.

"You never counted," she said. "None of you checked a calendar."

Her voice rose.

"You were so happy to be handed an heir that you built me a wedding."

"Lorna," Preston whispered.

"I told you what you wanted to hear. That's all anyone in this family does."

She turned in the guards' grip and found me on the stage.

"And you were supposed to sit in that car and wait for Sunday."

"I'm still strong," I said. "Just not for you."

Mr. Ackerly put a hand on the back of his son's chair.

"Preston," he said.

"Dad, I didn't know..."

"You knew she was married. I heard you say it."

The old voice did not rise.

"You are no longer the vice president of Ackerly Hotels. Your cards close at midnight."

Preston stared at him.

"You can't..."

"I paid for the bridge," Mr. Ackerly said. "I will answer for that to the court. You will answer for yourself."

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