Chapter 2 - THE CAMERA NEVER STOPPED
The videographer’s name was Noah Grant.
Daniel had barely spoken to him before that day.
Now Noah looked like the most important man in the room.
Vanessa stepped between him and the aisle.
“No.”
Noah blinked.
“No?”
“This is my wedding,” she said. “You are not turning it into some kind of circus.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Our wedding?”
Vanessa looked back.
“You know what I mean.”
“No. Actually, I don’t.”
Eric walked toward Noah.
“Give me the camera.”
Noah stepped backward.
“Why?”
“Because this family is dealing with a private matter.”
Mia grabbed Daniel’s hand.
“Dad.”
He looked down.
She whispered, “Don’t let him take it.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Eric.”
His brother stopped.
“Back away from the camera.”
Eric gave him a look of disbelief.
“Danny, come on.”
“I said back away.”
For the first time all morning, Eric obeyed.
Noah connected his camera to a large television mounted near the chapel’s music area. It had been intended to display childhood photos during the reception.
Instead, it was about to destroy a family.
Vanessa walked toward Daniel.
“You really believe this?”
“I don’t know what I believe.”
She touched his chest.
“Then believe me.”
He looked at her hand.
Then removed it.
“Play the video.”
Noah pressed a button.
The screen came alive.
The image shook.
Empty chapel.
Flowers.
Workers moving chairs.
Then the camera turned toward a side hallway.
Noah explained, “I set it down while I adjusted the lights.”
Onscreen, Vanessa entered the hallway.
She wasn’t wearing her wedding dress yet.
She wore a robe.
Eric followed.
Nobody in the chapel moved.
The audio was faint.
Noah raised the volume.
Vanessa’s recorded voice filled the room.
“Did he sign?”
Eric answered.
“Not yet.”
Daniel looked at Eric.
Eric stared at the floor.
Onscreen, Vanessa hissed, “You said he would sign before the ceremony.”
“He changed the meeting.”
“We don’t have time for that.”
Daniel’s pulse hammered.
Vanessa stepped closer to Eric on the video.
“What exactly are they talking about?” Rachel whispered.
Noah raised the volume again.
Eric’s recorded voice became clearer.
“Once the marriage is official, I’ll handle Daniel. You handle the kid.”
Mia stopped breathing.
Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
She was pale.
Onscreen, Vanessa said, “I’m not dealing with Mia forever.”
“She won’t be around forever.”
Daniel felt something inside him turn to ice.
“What does that mean?” he demanded.
Vanessa shook her head.
“It’s out of context.”
“Keep playing.”
On the recording, Vanessa crossed her arms.
“And the company?”
Eric smiled.
“Daniel signs the transfer, you become his wife, we restructure ownership, and by the time he realizes what happened, it won’t matter.”
Daniel’s mother gasped from the front row.
Someone whispered, “Oh my God.”
Vanessa suddenly lunged for the television.
Daniel caught her.
“Don’t.”
She struggled.
“You have no idea what you’re watching!”
“I think I do.”
“No, you don’t!”
Onscreen, Vanessa’s recorded voice continued.
“What about the old husband?”
Daniel stared at the screen.
Eric replied, “Handled.”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“And if he shows up?”
“He won’t.”
Noah paused the video.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel turned slowly toward Vanessa.
“Old husband?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel—”
“No.”
“I can explain.”
“You better.”
Eric suddenly laughed.
Not nervously.
Coldly.
Daniel looked at him.
“What’s funny?”
Eric slipped his hands into his pockets.
“You’re still asking for explanations.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“What does that mean?”
Eric looked toward the chapel doors.
Then back at Daniel.
“It means this wedding is already way bigger than you understand.”
At that exact moment, someone pounded on the outside doors.
Three hard knocks.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Vanessa’s face went white.
May you like
Eric whispered one word.
“Damn.”
