. CHAPTER 4 — The Camera in the Corridor
The ballroom lights dimmed. A screen meant for wedding memories lowered behind the altar. At first, the image showed only the hotel’s side corridor: white walls, gold sconces, polished marble, the small service entrance away from the cameras.
Then Lena appeared onscreen, holding Ava’s hand and a paper bag with the princess dress folded inside. She looked nervous but calm. She spoke to a guard. He blocked her. Ava pointed toward the ballroom doors.
Seconds later, Celeste entered the corridor in her wedding robe.
A gasp moved through the guests.
The onscreen Celeste smiled with her real face, not the face she wore beneath chandeliers. She stepped close to Lena. Audio crackled through the speakers.
“You should have stayed buried,” Celeste said.
Lena’s voice shook. “I only need Daniel to read the file.”
Celeste grabbed the clipboard and threw it to the floor. Ava bent to pick it up. Celeste seized the child’s wrist and yanked her back.
Daniel stood so fast his chair fell behind him.
Onscreen, Lena pushed Celeste’s hand away from Ava. Celeste slapped Lena hard. Lena stumbled against the wall, shielding her daughter with her body. The paper bag tore open. The princess dress spilled onto the marble. Ava lunged for it, crying.
The ballroom became so quiet the projector’s hum sounded loud.
Then Marjorie appeared in the corridor footage. She said, “If Daniel sees that child, my daughter’s merger dies.”
Celeste answered, “Then make sure he never sees her.”
Daniel looked at Celeste slowly.
She shook her head, color gone. “It’s edited.”
The footage continued.
A security guard shoved Lena toward the service door. Ava screamed. The dress dragged across the wet floor, catching under the doorframe, tearing one sleeve. Lena fell to her knees to pull it free.
Daniel turned away, unable to watch another second, but Ava’s small voice stopped him.
“That’s when Mommy got hurt.”
He looked down. Ava was crying quietly, not dramatically, not for attention. She was simply tired of adults pretending pain did not count.
Daniel walked to her, removed his white boutonniere, and placed it gently in her hand.
“No one is taking you out again,” he said.
May you like
Then he faced the room.
“This wedding is over.”
