Chapter 5 - THE GREAT WEDDING DOWNGRADE
📉 DEL LUJO A LA BASURA: EL HERMANO CANCELÓ EL BANQUETE DE $250,000 Y SIRVIÓ COMIDA DE 5 PESOS! 📉The chapel fell into absolute chaos. Emiliano’s family immediately began to walk out, refusing to be associated with a criminal fraudster. Don Humberto looked at Gabriel, giving him a curt, respectful nod.
"Mr. Ramírez, you have my apologies for my family's involvement in this circus," Don Humberto said coldly before turning to his son. "Emiliano, we are leaving. The wedding is off."
"No! Emiliano, please don't leave me!" Ximena screamed, grabbing at his legs, but Emiliano kicked himself free, looking at her with nothing but pure contempt before rushing out of the chapel behind his father.
Marta and Don Julián rushed to Ximena’s side, trying to pull her up. Marta glared at Gabriel with venomous hatred. "Are you happy now, Gabriel?! You destroyed your sister's future! You humiliated our entire family in front of the richest people in the city! You are a monster!"
"No, Marta," Gabriel said, refusing to call her mother anymore. "The monster is the woman who allowed her daughter to rob her son blind. But don't worry... the night isn't over yet. Since the venue contract is non-refundable for cancellation within 48 hours, I decided not to cancel the reception. We are still going to have a party."
Gabriel turned around and walked toward the grand reception hall.
When the Remaining guests—mostly Ximena’s superficial friends and distant relatives—entered the ballroom, they gasped in horror.
The $50,000 imported floral arrangements were gone. In their place were cheap, neon-green and orange plastic balloons—the exact leftovers from Nicolás’s ruined birthday party.
The luxury five-course catering of lobster and prime rib had been completely cancelled by Gabriel 48 hours prior. Instead, the high-end waitstaff were forced to serve cheap, cold store-bought hot dogs and instant noodle cups on plastic plates.
The $10,000 live symphony orchestra had been replaced by a single, cheap bluetooth speaker playing children's birthday songs on a loop.
Gabriel sat at the center VIP table, enjoying a glass of water, while Nicolás happily munched on a hot dog, laughing at the silly music.
Ximena burst into the ballroom, her makeup ruined by tears, her expensive veil torn. She looked at the cheap plastic decorations and the plates of hot dogs in utter disbelief.
"What... what is this nightmare?!" she shrieked.
"This is the 70% refund I collected from downgrading your luxury services," Gabriel explained smoothly, tapping a notification on his phone. "Uncle Alejandro successfully recovered $160,000 in cash from the venue and catering adjustments, which has already been deposited back into my secure savings account. The remaining balance was used to pay for this beautiful reception... and to cover the legal fees to put you in prison."
Don Julián finally spoke up, his voice trembling with shame. "Gabriel, please... your sister has learned her lesson. Don't press charges. We will find a way to pay you the rest. Don't destroy our family name."
Gabriel stood up, looking at his father, then at his mother, and finally at Ximena.
"You never considered me family," Gabriel said coldly. "You considered me an ATM. You considered my son an inconvenience. You threw his happiness in the trash, and today, the law is going to throw your freedom in the trash."
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Just then, the grand doors of the reception hall opened once more. Two uniformed officers from the state police walked in, accompanied by a representative from the federal prosecutor's office.
Uncle Alejandro pointed directly at Ximena. "Officers, that is Ximena Ramírez. She is the primary suspect in the $250,000 financial identity theft and bank fraud case."
