Chapter 5 - The Confrontation at Rose's House
An hour later, I sat at the kitchen table in Grandma Rose's cozy cottage on the edge of town. The smell of chamomile tea and lavender filled the air, providing a stark contrast to the chaos of the ballroom.
"Grandma," I said, holding the warm teacup in both hands. "Why didn't you tell me three years ago?"
Rose sat down across from me, her old hands folding neatly over her apron. "Because three years ago, sweetheart, your parents swore to me that Victoria was entering counseling and that they were going to reimburse your business anonymously through a private family trust."
"Did they?" I asked.
Rose shook her head sadly. "No. They used the trust money to buy Victoria’s engagement ring and fund today’s wedding. When I discovered the truth last week, I told your mother that if she didn't confess to Michael's family before the wedding, I would do it myself. She thought I was bluffing."
Before I could reply, the heavy front door of the cottage burst open.
My mother and father marched into the hallway, their faces twisted with rage. My mother's dress was rumpled, and my father held a stack of legal papers in his fist.
"You have thirty seconds to give us the rest of those files, Rose!" my father demanded, stepping into the kitchen. "The Vance family's attorneys have already called. They are pulling their capital from my business by midnight unless we can prove Victoria was framed!"
"She wasn't framed, George," Rose said calmly without standing up. "And I will not destroy my own soul to cover up your daughter's crimes."
"She is your granddaughter!" my mother yelled, tears streaming down her face. "Emily is fine! Her business survived! Why do you care more about her past than Victoria's future?!"
I stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the wooden floorboards.
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"Because I am a human being, Mom!" I shouted, the emotion I had suppressed for a decade finally bursting out. "I worked eighteen hours a day to keep my business afloat while you called it a hobby! You watched me starve while you gave my stolen money to Victoria!"
My mother stared at me, momentarily shocked by my outburst. But her heart remained hardened. "You always were selfish, Emily."
