Chapter 2 — Blood on White Lace
For several seconds, no one moved.
Sophia looked down.
The red stain spread slowly across the front of her gown.
One guest screamed.
Another lifted a phone.
Richard shouted, “Put those cameras away!”
Lucas lowered Emily to the floor but kept one hand firmly on her shoulder.
“Sophia,” he said. “What is under your dress?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Sophia’s breathing became uneven.
Her maid of honor, Claire, hurried toward her.
“Sophia, we need to get you upstairs.”
But when Claire reached for the gown, Sophia slapped her hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
The entire room went quiet again.
Claire froze.
Lucas studied her face.
She looked terrified.
Not embarrassed.
Terrified.
Emily tugged his sleeve.
“She had a box.”
Lucas crouched beside her.
“What box?”
“The silver one.”
Sophia’s head snapped toward Emily.
The movement was so sudden that several guests noticed.
Lucas noticed too.
Emily continued, unaware of the danger in Sophia’s eyes.
“She told me not to tell you. She said it was for after the wedding.”
Lucas rose slowly.
“What was in the box?”
Emily shook her head.
“I didn’t see. She grabbed it when I came in.”
Sophia forced a laugh.
“This is insane. She wandered into the bridal suite and started touching things. I was trying to protect expensive jewelry.”
Emily’s eyes filled again.
“You pushed me.”
Lucas’s face hardened.
Sophia looked at him. “She tripped.”
“You said I would ruin everything,” Emily whispered.
Sophia opened her mouth.
Then Claire spoke.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Every head turned.
Sophia stared at her maid of honor.
Claire’s eyes were wet, but her voice was steady.
“I saw Sophia drag Emily into the hallway. I heard her say the child couldn’t be allowed near the ceremony.”
Richard stepped toward Claire.
“You need to think very carefully before you continue.”
Claire flinched.
Lucas moved between them.
“No. She needs to keep talking.”
Claire looked at Sophia.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore.”
Sophia’s face twisted.
“You ungrateful little liar.”
Claire reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small key.
“The silver box is still in the bridal suite.”
She placed the key in Lucas’s hand.
Sophia lunged forward.
Lucas stepped back.
And beneath Sophia’s gown, something heavy dropped against the marble floor.
A silver medical case slid out from under the dress.
May you like
The latch had broken open.
Inside were syringes, forged legal documents, and a passport bearing Emily’s photograph under a different last name.
