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He couldn’t wait to insult me again.
“Connor thinks… you could transfer the money. Just temporarily. We’ll refund you.”
I laughed so hard that the couple at the next table turned to look at me.
“Are you calling your wife, whom you didn’t invite, to ask for money to bail you out of trouble at the wedding I was too embarrassed to attend?”
“That’s not it.”
“Exactly.”
“Claire, please. Everyone’s going crazy.”
I could hear it. The music had stopped completely. Murmurs rose among the guests. The staff moved discreetly, with formidable efficiency, the kind you have when you’re trained to remain calm in the face of expensive disasters. I pictured Connor in a tuxedo, sweat dripping down his collar. I pictured Vivian, with her flawless makeup, the venom hidden behind her smile. The image was almost tempting enough to make me want to order dessert.
Then Ethan lowered his voice.
“They say if the dispute isn’t resolved within the next 20 minutes, they’ll start shutting down everything—service and stations—and they might call local law enforcement if customers try to leave without signing a waiver.”
I blinked. So it wasn’t just embarrassment. It was a nervous breakdown.
“How much is it?” I asked.
There was silence.
“Seventy-eight thousand.”
I almost dropped my fork. “You’re kidding!”
“That’s not the total amount,” he quickly clarified. “There’s still the balance, the service charge, the extra alcoholic drinks, and a few other extras Vivian approved this afternoon.”
“Of course.”
“Of course…”
“No. Let me guess. No one wanted to talk about actual figures because everyone wanted to appear rich.”
Silence. That was answer enough.
I stood and walked to the edge of the terrace, gazing at a narrow Roman street gleaming gold under the lights. My anger had transformed into coldness, precision, almost a weapon.
“Put Connor on.”
A few seconds later, my brother-in-law arrived, breathless and furious.
“Claire, I know it looks bad…”
“It doesn’t look serious, Connor. Actually, it is.”
“We just need help getting through the night.”
“You mean you need help? Interesting, since Vivian made it clear I’d ruin the aesthetics.”
He exhaled loudly. “She was wrong.”
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“That’s the first honest thing anyone in your family has ever said to me.”
“Please,” he said, and this time his desperation was palpable. “If this all goes wrong, it won’t just be embarrassing. Everyone’s threatening to sue us. Vivian’s family is already blaming us. My parents are panicking. Ethan says you have the money.”
Yes. Years of prudent investments, a recent bonus, and an inheritance I’d set aside for a specific purpose. But having money and giving it away are two very different things.
“Here are my terms,” I said.
Silence.
“First, I will not send a single cent to Vivian, her father, or you. I will wire the money directly to the venue after I speak with the finance manager and receive the invoice.”
“GOOD.”
“Second, Ethan will sign a postnuptial agreement when I get home.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“This is between you two.”
“This has been your business since the moment you called me.”
He didn’t protest.
“Third, before the reception resumed, Vivian made a public announcement thanking me by name for saving her marriage.”
“Claire, you would never do that…”
“So, enjoy the dry chicken and the police reports.”
He mumbled something into the phone, then returned dejectedly. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Your brother is leaving for Rome tomorrow. Alone.”
The silence that followed was so complete I thought the connection had been cut off.
Connor then said, “Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been so serious.”
There were muffled exchanges. Then Ethan spoke again.
“I’ll come,” he said softly.
This should have been a victory. In reality, I felt mostly exhausted.
“Good,” I said. “Now, put me through to the CFO.”
Within minutes, I received the bill, itemized for every expense: from the last-minute ice sculpture to the second caviar buffet, which cost more than my monthly rent. I asked for written confirmation that the payment would only cover the venue’s bill and not my personal debts. Then I made the transfer. Simple, direct, and final.
I remained online waiting for the announcement.
A microphone crackled. Then Vivian’s voice: tense, courteous, with anger lurking beneath the surface.
“Before continuing with the evening, I’d like to thank Claire Cole for stepping in and resolving an unexpected issue with the audience. Her generosity allowed the reunion to be a success.