Chapter 2 - Frozen Playback
A sickening stillness descended upon the grand hall. The faint hum of the air conditioning seemed violently loud against the backdrop of three hundred silent guests. Julian’s jaw clenched so hard the muscle ticked beneath his bronze skin. He refused to look back at the monitor, but the silence behind him was suffocating.
""What is the meaning of this nonsense?"" Eleanor snapped, stepping forward to block Clara’s view of the monitor. ""You think some parlor trick will excuse petty theft? Security, remove this woman and her brat immediately!""
""Wait,"" a voice trembled from behind Julian.
It was Sophia. The bride moved with slow, disbelieving steps, the train of her couture gown dragging across the spilled champagne and broken crystal. Her hazel eyes were glued to the glowing screen at the sound booth. The technician, petrified under the gaze of billionaires, hadn't paused the feed.
The screen looped the footage with brutal clarity. It showed the side corridor fifteen minutes before the processional. Julian stood near the floral displays, nervously looking around. When Lily had skipped past carrying her wicker basket, Julian had intercepted her, knelt down under the guise of straightening her silk ribbon, and slipped the heavy velvet box deep under the petals.
Sophia stopped beside her fiancé. The bouquet of white peonies slipped from her manicured hand, hitting the marble with a dull, wet thud.
""Julian?"" Sophia whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of utter betrayal. ""You planted it?""
Julian reached for Sophia’s arm, his eyes flashing with sudden panic. ""Sophia, darling, listen to me. It’s not what it looks like. Clara and her father have been bleeding the family trust dry. I had to ensure she wouldn't make a claim today—""
""Don't touch me,"" Sophia recoiled, backing away until she nearly tripped over her own hem.
Clara slowly rose to her feet, lifting Lily into her arms. The child buried her tear-streaked face into Clara’s neck. Clara stepped directly into Julian’s personal space, her brown eyes burning into his.
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""Don't you ever touch my child again,"" Clara said, her voice freezing the air between them. ""And don't bother covering your tracks. The local police precinct already has access to that cloud server.""
Julian’s face drained of color as the heavy oak doors at the back of the ballroom slammed open, revealing two uniformed officers flanked by a man in a dark trench coat.
