But no laughter followed. No explanation came. Clara’s mother rose from her seat, her hand pressed to her chest. “This isn’t right,” she whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. Her father stood beside her, his voice booming through the stunned silence. “Enough of this! Stephanie, stop this madness!”
For a fleeting moment, Clara felt a flicker of hope. Her parents would put an end to it. But Stephanie spun toward them, her smile curdling into rage. “Don’t you dare ruin this for me!” she shrieked, her voice ringing through the garden. “This is my special moment, and you will not take it away!”