Chapter 3 - The Family Confrontation
The reception turned into a surreal, chaotic spectacle.
While my brother and his new bride sat alone at their lavish, empty "power table"—abandoned by the executives who were desperate to get close to Emmett—Table Nineteen became the undisputed center of the universe.
For two hours, Emmett didn't move. He ate his dinner at the tiny plastic table, chatted with the kids, and introduced me to every high-level CEO in the room as his "indispensable strategic partner."
By 10:00 p.m., as the violinists wrapped up their sets and the guests began to filter out toward the estate’s valet, my parents finally found the courage to approach.
My mother came first, clutching her pearl necklace, her eyes shining with fake, exaggerated tears. My father walked beside her, trying to put on his classic stern, patriarchal expression, but looking entirely outclassed.
“Jenna, darling!” Mom chirped, her voice trembling slightly. “My goodness, we had no idea! Why on earth didn't you tell us you were working with Mr. Stewart? We could have given you a seat right at the front table next to us!”
I stood up from the tiny plastic chair, smoothing down my pale blue dress. “You didn't give me a seat anywhere, Mom. Nicholas put me here.”
“Well, Nicholas was just stressed!” Dad chimed in quickly, stepping forward with his hands in his pockets. “You know how weddings are, Jenna. High pressure, lots of moving parts. Your brother was just trying to organize the event. He didn't mean anything by it.”
I looked at my father. For twenty-eight years, every insult Nicholas had thrown at me was dismissed as "just stress" or "a joke." Every achievement I made was ignored, while every minor step Nicholas took was treated like a national holiday.
“He told me I was ruining the entrance,” I said, my voice flat, calm, and utterly cold. “He told me I was not on his level.”
Mom reached out to touch my arm, but I subtly stepped back, out of her reach.
“Oh, sweetie, he was just teasing!” Mom laughed nervously, shooting a terrified glance at Emmett, who was standing right behind me like an immovable wall of stone. “You know how brothers are. But look at you now! We are so, so proud of you, Jenna. Writing for Stewart Global! Isn't that wonderful, Arthur?”
“Proud?” I let out a short, quiet laugh. “You didn't even ask what I did for a living when I bought my apartment. You told me I was wasting my life writing ‘little online articles’ while Nicholas was making real moves.”
Dad’s face flushed. “Now see here, Jenna, don't be disrespectful in front of company—"
“She isn't being disrespectful, Mr. Vance,” Emmett interrupted, stepping forward. His posture was commanding, his gaze dropping onto my father with crushing weight. “She is stating facts. Your daughter earns more per speech than your son makes in a quarter. She operates at the highest levels of global business, while you treat her like a disgraced relative.”
Dad choked on his own words. “Mr. Stewart... this is a private family matter—”
“No, it isn't,” Emmett said coldly. “Jenna is under exclusive contract with my firm starting next month. And as part of her executive agreement, her time is far too valuable to be wasted on people who only appreciate her when she’s standing next to a billionaire.”
Nicholas came running up then, his suit jacket unbuttoned, looking disheveled and desperate.
“Jenna!” Nicholas breathed, grabbing my hands before I could pull away. “Jenna, please! Mr. Stewart’s team just called my firm’s managing partner. They cancelled our software contract! They said my leadership was a ‘reputational liability’! You have to tell him to fix it! You have to tell him I’m your brother!”
I looked at my brother’s frantic, sweating face. I looked into the eyes of the boy who had spent his entire life pushing me down so he could feel tall.
I slowly pulled my hands out of his grip.
May you like
“You’re right, Nicholas,” I whispered, leaning in so only he could hear me. “I don't match your atmosphere. I’m just going to stay in the back, eat my dinner, and not embarrass you.”
I turned on my heel, took Emmett’s arm, and walked out of the ballroom into the cool Vermont night air, leaving my shattered family standing under the glittering chandeliers.
