spanng="EN"Joyce’s POV

    spanng="EN"Everything’s falling apart. If I had known that this would happen, I would have nevere here at all. I can feel the weight of my husband’s gaze on me. But I’m not going to admit to any wrongdoing. He might say she has proof, but I don’t believe it. She never said a word about it, so if she did have proof, she would have confronted us by now. She wouldn’t have held it back; she would have led with it. I feel sure enough to challenge him about it. I refuse to lose face in front of so many. They’re acting like this is the wedding of the year.

    spanng="EN"Now I know how Elizabeth felt. Being caught off guard by reporters was humiliating. I had been on the other side of it and had the upper hand. Now, I’m the one being humiliated, and I will not stand for it. This has to stop. Hearing what Roger just said, I can tell that he’s angry. He might even be angry enough to throw me under the bus as well, and I need to stop him before he does. How can I hold my head up in polite society again if he did to me what he just did to Sasha?

    spanng="EN"I couldn’t care less about Sasha. She had been a means to an end. A way to get Roger away from Elizabeth, and it needed to be done. Only Sasha had lied to me. She lied about her baby being Roger’s. She lied about being a qualified designer. She lied about caring for my son.

    spanng="EN"She told me about her award and how prestigious it was to have been able to win one. How few designers had even won it, yet Elizabeth had won it many times over. She also had awards that Sasha didn’t have. I originally thought Sasha was heaven sent. The perfect person to rece Elizabeth. Recing a designer with a designer was the perfect solution. How could I have been so wrong?

    spanng="EN"“Roger, this is not the time, nor the ce, to air our drama. Let’s just leave and go home to talk this out. We are clearly not wanted or needed here,” I suggested. “I’m not quite done yet, Joyce. You recall that you received a lot of airtime while ndering Elizabeth. Thewsuits against you will be filed this week. Don’t you want to know what’sing? Don’t you need time to try to think of the lies you will use as an excuse? Or need time to figure out a way to spin it? I know you thought you had gotten away with it, but let me assure you that you didn’t. I already mentioned the false arrest, and that will alsoe with filing a false police report as a bonus. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do

    spanng="EN"anything about that. We’ve done it for you. Instead of going through everything, as I do need to get to a wedding. I would suggest that you hire a good attorney, because Elizabeth already has one. You can review the two incidents that led to her being ambushed to see what you will be answering for Joyce. I’ve decided against helping you. You never helped Elizabeth, so why should you expect any help from us?” he advised.

    spanng="EN"“I spoke the truth. I had proof,” I managed to say.

    spanng="EN"“You had a forged document that your daughter, Regina, gave you. Which brings us to your daughter. Her friend, who printed it for her, has already confessed to the police. She pretended to be his girlfriend, iming it was just a ‘prank‘ on the homeowner. He turned on her as soon as the door shut on the interview room. He wasn’t made for going to prison. We can prove what you three did. Oh, and to make sure that you don’t leave the city, or the country, all three of your passports have been red–gged. You won’t be going anywhere until this has been dealt with. Good luck to each of you, as you’re going to need it. We will not be letting any of this go. Your lies are about to be exposed to the whole city. I can assure you that you will end up getting the same thing you wanted for Elizabeth, total humiliation,” he replied coldly.

    spanng="EN"“I didn’t do anything to her. I only spoke the truth. I didn’t realize that the document was forged. Nothing bad actually happened to her, and the charges were dropped,” I sputtered out, trying to find a way out of this.

    spanng="EN"“You brought the media after her twice. Both times were attempts to embarrass her in front of everyone. You can’t try to twist this around and act innocent. You knowingly lied about Elizabeth because you thought she was an orphan. You thought she couldn’t fight back, but you’re wrong. Maybe this is the life lesson you needed to learn to leave people alone. You wereplete shameful in what you did. You are nothing but a bully who tries to put on airs, attempting to act like ady, but you’re anything but,” he snapped back at me.

    spanng="EN"“He’s quite right about everything.” A voice came from behind the cameras.

    spanng="EN"I turned to look, and the first real stirring of fear rose up. Erika Carrington, the CEO of the top financepany in the city, was walking towards us. I suddenly remembered the incident in the restaurant months ago. The one where I went off on Elizabeth after she nodded towards Erika. I thought Elizabeth had overstepped with how she always acted all high and mighty. I was fed up with it, and I wanted to put her in her ce. I had Roger deal with her afterwards, but I always wondered how she knew Elizabeth. Seeing her at the venue, I’m suddenly concerned.

    spanng="EN"“I’ve watched this little show of yours, Joyce. It’s unfortunate that you don’t even have the sense to be embarrassed about what you’re doing. You have ruined your two oldest children. There is only hope for your youngest and your husband. The other two have clearly taken after you,” Erika stated.

    spanng="EN"“Wait a minute. I don’t even know you. You can’t make a statement like that about me. I have sessfully run my ownpany for several years,” Roger corrected her.

    spanng="EN"“You did it? Or was it Elizabeth who actually made it sessful? She built yourpany from the ground up, and you turned your back on her,” Erika replied.

    spanng="EN"“I’m here to correct what I did. I’m willing to marry her today if she will agree to it,” Roger responded.

    spanng="EN"“I’m not talking about you marrying this….person…in her ce. I’m talking about the night your mother threw a fit at her nodding at me. It had nothing to do with her, and yet, she got you to hurt her. I left my assistant behind to take care of her. I have a copy of the video he took, as well, in case she ever needs it. You sprained her wrist. No, don’t try to argue with me, it’s a fact that can be proven quite easily. She could have retaliated, believe me, she could have leveled yourpany, much like she’s doing now. But she didn’t, all because she loved you, well, at the time she did. I had lunch with her two weekster. I implored her to rethink the engagement. I’m so d she did. You and your family do not deserve her,” Erika smugly stated.

    spanng="EN"“I don’t know what she told you, but it isn’t true. My son never hurt her,” I replied. The group is growing muchrger, and a few are even recording us now,

    spanng="EN"“My assistant sent it to me. I saved it. I’m not here to argue with you. I’m telling you that your son really made a huge mistake. Your little n to have him marry someone else, instead of Elizabeth, was the biggest mistake that I’ve ever heard of. Let me put it to you like this: I would’ve never insulted the Caldwell family like you did. But the damaged is already done, and it cannot be corrected. I have to say that I like her style. There’s no sense in keeping trash around. She has withdrawn her support of your business and taken back her designs. Therefore, it will copse on its own. You’re right to panic, Roger. You just need to ept the fallout from your own bad choices. Oh, and don’t forget to thank your mother for all her input on what you needed to do. She might havee up with it, but you carried it out willingly,” Erika replied before turning and walking up the steps to enter the venue.

    spanng="EN"“Mom,” Roger said. His voice was tense and anxious.

    spanng="EN"“No, I don’t believe it. I couldn’t have been so wrong about her. She’s an orphan,” I managed to say.

    spanng="EN"“If she’s an orphan, who the hell am I?” an angry voice sounded from behind the groom.

    spanng="EN"“Charlie, I’ve got this. You need to go ahead and take your ce. The wedding is about to start,” the man stated.

    spanng="EN"“Seth Caldwell,” Roger whispered.

    spanng="EN"All hope sank at that time. The new groom might have lied, but Erika Carrington and Seth Caldwell vouching for Elizabeth made my stomach drop. I had to fix this immediately. “I’m sorry. How could I have known? I swear, if I had known who she was. I would have happily endorsed their wedding. She loves my son. Please, allow him to marry her. He realizes his mistake. I should never have interfered with their engagement. Roger loved Elizabeth. He didn’t want to marry Sasha, but she swore she was pregnant with his baby. I thought I was doing the right thing,” I cried out, before kneeling on the ground.

    spanng="EN"“I never liked Roger for my sister. He wasn’t worthy of her, but she wanted him, so I stepped back. Do you honestly think you can humiliate a Caldwell like you have done over and over again, and get away with it? You don’t want any consequences, but you didn’t mind throwing rocks at my innocent sister. You’re living in a ss house, Joyce. You’re the one who has done wrong. You need to get a good attorney, because if I have anything to say about it, you’re going to suffer a lot. I had you investigated, and the thing you value most is your reputation. I’m going to make sure that your reputation takes such a hit that no one will want to be seen with you ever again. How does that sound?” Seth told me before shaking his head and walking away.

    spanng="EN"The Security team was the only people left out here with us, besides the reporters and cameramen. The Security Team had gone up the steps and were now watching to see if any of us were willing to try to make it past them. I was too stunned to speak. I never anticipated this. Our group was dead silent until my husband and Roger spoke at the same time.

    spanng="EN"“Don’t ever speak to me again, Mom. I’m through with your bullshit. You and Sasha are responsible for mypany’s demise,” Roger stated.

    spanng="EN"“I want a divorce, Joyce. You’ve changed so much that I don’t even recognize you anymore. You ruined our son’s life and business for what? Petty jealousy. I’m done,” my husband Scott told me before walking away with Roger.