Chapter 3 - THE WEDDING COLLAPSES
Lucas scanned the ballroom.
Every face suddenly looked suspicious.
“Who is this?”
The caller hung up.
He immediately called the number back.
A recorded message said the line was unavailable.
Vanessa tried to pull away.
“Let me go.”
“You’re not leaving.”
Guests had begun whispering.
Vanessa’s mother, Diane Mercer, pushed through the crowd in a silver gown.
“What are you doing to my daughter?”
Lucas released Vanessa but blocked her path.
“The wedding is canceled.”
A wave of shock moved through the ballroom.
Diane’s mouth fell open.
“You can’t be serious.”
“My daughter was locked in a bathroom.”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“She was throwing a tantrum.”
“She found a letter from my dead wife.”
The room went silent.
Diane’s eyes flicked toward Vanessa.
It lasted less than a second.
Lucas still caught it.
“You know about the letter too,” he said.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lucas took out his phone and called the police.
Vanessa’s confidence finally cracked.
“You would bring police into our wedding?”
“You imprisoned my daughter.”
“I was protecting this family!”
“From what?”
“From Rachel!”
Lucas stared at her.
“Rachel is dead.”
Vanessa realized her mistake.
She tried to recover.
“I mean from the damage she left behind.”
Lily appeared at the top of the staircase, still holding the envelope and journal.
“Dad?”
Lucas rushed to her.
“I told you to stay upstairs.”
“I heard the phone ring.”
She handed him the envelope.
“You need to read it.”
Vanessa moved toward them.
Diane grabbed her elbow and whispered something.
The two women turned toward a side exit.
Lucas pointed at them.
“Security, close every door.”
The mansion’s head of security hesitated.
Vanessa had hired him.
Lucas saw the decision forming on the man’s face.
“Mr. Bennett,” the guard said, “perhaps everyone should calm down.”
“Lock the exits.”
The guard did not move.
Vanessa smiled.
That was all Lucas needed to see.
He took Lily’s hand and guided her toward the main entrance.
“We’re leaving.”
“You can’t,” Vanessa said.
Lucas stopped.
“Watch me.”
Before he reached the door, every light in the mansion went out.
Guests screamed.
Glass shattered.
Lucas pulled Lily against his chest.
“Stay with me.”
Emergency lights blinked on several seconds later.
The ballroom had fallen into chaos.
Vanessa and Diane were gone.
So was the security guard.
Lucas looked down.
The yellow envelope was still in his hand.
But it felt lighter.
He opened it.
Empty.
Someone had taken Rachel’s letter in the dark.
Lily touched his sleeve.
“Dad, don’t worry.”
He looked at her.
She reached inside her dress pocket and pulled out several folded pages.
May you like
“I switched the real letter before I came downstairs.”
Then a gunshot cracked through the mansion’s east wing.
