The Poor Daughter They Ignored Was Actually A Billionaire Chapter 04
The wedding was at one of the most expensive venues in Newport.
White roses everywhere.
Crystal chandeliers.
Champagne towers.
Money in every corner.
My parents spent the first hour watching the doors.
Elliot kept asking who was related to which Sterling.
Ethan kept adjusting his tie.
Melanie studied the guest list like there would be a test later.
Everyone was trying to impress someone.
Halfway through the toasts, Sabrina stood.
She picked up the microphone.
“Before we keep celebrating, I want to do something for someone very special to me.”
Her eyes found mine.
My stomach tightened.
“My sister.”
The room turned toward me.
Sabrina smiled.
“Elena has been away for ten years.”
“She’s twenty-eight now.”
“Single.”
A few people laughed softly.
She continued.
“She never finished college.”
“She works at the front desk of a small clinic in Boston.”
“She doesn’t make much.”
My mother’s smile grew wider.
Sabrina’s voice turned warm.
“But she has a good heart.”
“So I thought maybe tonight, with so many wonderful people here, we could help her too.”
She laughed.
“A little matchmaking.”
I stared at her.
A man near the bar stood up.
He was maybe forty-five.
Balding.
Divorced ring mark still visible on one finger.
He lifted his glass.
“I sell used cars in Providence.”
A few people laughed.
He grinned.
“Divorced. Two kids. But I make decent money.”
He looked directly at me.
“I don’t care if she didn’t go to college.”
More laughter.
Another man stood from the back.
Late thirties.
Security uniform under his jacket.
“I work nights at a casino.”
He smiled.
“Still live with my mom, but only because rent is crazy.”
Then he called across the room.
“Does she have student debt?”
The room laughed again.
I stood.
“I’m not interested.”
My mother’s face changed immediately.
“Sit down.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
She lowered her voice.
“These are decent men.”
“They don’t even care about your background.”
“Why are you being picky?”
Sabrina’s eyes filled.
Right on cue.
“Elena, please.”
“I’m only trying to help.”
I looked at her.
“By telling an entire ballroom I’m poor and uneducated?”
Her lip trembled.
“I didn’t say poor.”
“Didn’t you?”
Julian Sterling stood from the head table.
He wrapped an arm around Sabrina.
“Enough.”
His eyes moved to me.
“She spent half the night worrying about you.”
“If you’re not interested, take a number and move on.”
“Stop embarrassing my bride.”
Whispers spread around the ballroom.
“The bride went to NYU.”
“She works in luxury marketing.”
“And her sister is a receptionist?”
“Twenty-eight and single too.”
“That family must be exhausted.”
I heard every word.
I felt almost nothing.
My mother stood.
Her finger pointed at me.
“This is Sabrina’s wedding.”
“You have to ruin everything, don’t you?”
“I said I’m not interested.”
“And she was trying to help you!”
Elliot stood too.
“Elena, just leave.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Seriously. You’re jealous because Sabrina married up.”
Melanie caught my sleeve.
“Just apologize.”
“If the Sterlings kick you out, how are they ever going to help you get a better job?”
I pulled my arm away.
Then I looked at all of them.
My mother.
My father.
Elliot.
Ethan.
Melanie.
Sabrina.
Julian.
“You’re all sure.”
No one answered.
I repeated it.
“You want me to leave.”
My mother pointed toward the doors.
“Get out.”
Elliot’s face was hard.
“Leave.”
Sabrina wiped at her eye.
“Elena, this is the most important day of my life.”
“Please don’t make it worse.”
Julian looked at me.
“You heard them.”
“You’re not welcome at my wedding.”
I raised one eyebrow.
“Okay.”
Then I turned.
I had made it halfway to the ballroom doors when they suddenly opened.
Fast footsteps.
Then a man’s voice.
Panicked.
“Dr. Bennett!”
I stopped.
Every head turned.
Richard Sterling was crossing the ballroom toward me.
Not walking.
Almost running.
Julian froze.
“Grandfather?”
Richard did not even look at him.
His eyes stayed on me.
“Dr. Bennett, wait.”
He reached me and stopped.
His breathing was uneven.
The entire ballroom had gone silent.
Richard Sterling looked at the room.
Then at his grandson.
His voice dropped.
“The bride can leave.”
Julian’s face changed.
“The groom can leave.”
Then Richard turned back to me.
“But Dr. Bennett—”
His expression was hard.
“She does not.”