If she creates a scene, remove her before Noah sees her.
Noah looked up.
“Why are you showing me this now?”
Lucia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I should have shown you sooner.”
She took a breath.
“Your mother arrived at the front gate almost an hour ago. She asked for you very politely. She showed us your invitation.”
Margaret stared at her lap.
“Claire came outside and ordered her to leave. When your mother explained how far she’d traveled, Claire became angry.”
Lucia’s voice trembled.
“She took the hose from the gardener.”
Noah looked toward the window.
Through the glass, he could see guests gathering in confused clusters beneath the chandeliers.
“Was the water an accident?”
Lucia shook her head.
“No, sir.”
He closed his eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he asked, “Did anyone record it?”
“The videographer did. Several guests did too.”
Noah nodded slowly.
“Please preserve the original recordings.”
Lucia hesitated.
“Are you going to cancel the wedding?”
Noah looked at Margaret.
His mother had begun carefully smoothing her wet dress, as though she still believed she might be allowed to attend the ceremony.
That small gesture made his decision painfully clear.
“Yes,” he answered.
“The wedding is canceled.”
Lucia left to inform the staff.
