Chapter 2 - THE PHONE CALL
Chloe noticed my expression.
“What are you smiling about?”
I looked down and picked up my phone.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Are you calling the police?”
Eleanor laughed.
“Please do. Save us the trouble.”
I ignored them.
My fingers moved across the screen.
One name.
A number I almost never used.
My father.
The phone rang once.
Then immediately connected.
“Vivienne?”
The sound of his voice almost broke me.
For three years, I had avoided telling him everything.
Every insult.
Every humiliation.
Every time Dominic asked me to stay quiet.
I always told myself I could handle it.
But tonight?
Tonight was different.
“Dad…”
My voice dropped.
The entire ballroom disappeared around me.
“I need you.”
There was a pause.
Not panic.
Not confusion.
My father knew me too well.
“What happened?”
I looked around.
At Chloe.
At Eleanor.
At Dominic.
Then I whispered:
“It’s time.”
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
The calm voice that always made people nervous.
“Stay exactly where you are.”
I swallowed.
“Dad—”
“No.”
His answer was firm.
“Do not leave that room.”
I looked toward the ballroom entrance.
“Why?”
His reply was quiet.
“Because I’m already coming.”
The call ended.
I lowered my phone.
Chloe crossed her arms.
“Was that supposed to scare us?”
I looked at her.
“No.”
“Then what was it?”
I slowly pulled my torn dress together.
“A warning.”
Everyone laughed.
Except Dominic.
He wasn’t laughing.
Because he finally realized something.
There were parts of my life he never asked about.
Parts I never shared.
Dominic approached me slowly.
“Vivienne.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
His voice softened.
“Why did you call your father?”
I almost smiled.
After three years…
he finally wanted to know.
“You never asked.”
His face changed.
“That’s not fair.”
I stared at him.
“Fair?”
My voice shook slightly.
“Your mother tore my dress apart.”
He looked away.
“Vivienne…”
“No.”
I stepped back.
“You don’t get to say my name like you’re the victim.”
The words hit him.
Good.
Because I had spent three years swallowing every word.
Tonight, I was finally speaking.
Twenty minutes later, the wedding planner approached me.
Her hands were trembling.
“Mrs. Carter…”
I looked at her.
“Yes?”
She glanced around.
Then whispered:
“I need to tell you something before they find out.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
She looked toward Chloe.
Then toward Amanda.
“The ring was never missing.”
I froze.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“Chloe gave it to Amanda before the ceremony.”
My heartbeat changed.
“Why?”
The planner looked terrified.
“Because they wanted proof.”
“Proof of what?”
May you like
She looked directly into my eyes.
“That you would steal it.”
