Chapter 1: Get Out of My Wedding
“Get out of my wedding!””
Vanessa’s voice cracked across the ballroom like a champagne glass hitting marble.
Every conversation stopped.
Marcus turned just in time to see his bride standing beside the enormous white wedding cake, one hand gripping the skirt of her sparkling silver gown, the other pointing directly into the face of Maya, one of the waitresses.
Maya stood perfectly still.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You heard me,” Vanessa snapped.
“Get out.””
Maya didn’t move.
The crystal chandeliers above them threw white light across the ballroom, catching the tiny diamonds in Vanessa’s tiara and the silver beads stitched into her gown. Behind them, dozens of guests stared over their wine glasses and half-eaten plates.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Vanessa,” he said, walking toward her.
“What are you doing?””
“She knows exactly what she did.””
Maya looked at Marcus.
“I didn’t do anything.””
Vanessa laughed sharply.
“Don’t lie.””
“I’m not lying,” Maya said calmly.
Vanessa’s face hardened.
Then she shoved Maya’s shoulder.
A gasp rolled through the guests.
Marcus immediately grabbed Vanessa’s wrist.
“Enough.””
Vanessa jerked around.
“Let go of me.””
“Why are you attacking a waitress at our wedding?””
“She’s been following me all night.””
Maya shook her head.
“That’s not true.””
Vanessa pointed at her again.
“She has been watching me. She’s been listening to private conversations. She has no business being here.””
Maya glanced toward the cake.
Then back at Vanessa.
“I have every business being here.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Maya reached into the pocket of her green-and-white service uniform.
She pulled out a smartphone.
Vanessa’s expression changed.
It was small.
Almost invisible.
But Marcus saw it.
The confidence in her face disappeared for half a second.
Maya raised the phone.
“You should hear what she said first.””
Vanessa lunged.
“Give me that!””
Marcus caught Vanessa around the waist.
“Vanessa!””
“Marcus, move!””
“What’s on that phone?””
“Nothing!””
Maya took two steps backward.
Vanessa struggled against Marcus.
“Give it to me!””
Maya looked directly at Marcus.
“Do you want to hear it?””
Marcus hesitated.
The ballroom had become so quiet that he could hear the soft hum of the air conditioning.
“Yes,” he finally said.
Vanessa stopped fighting.
Her eyes widened.
“Marcus, don't.””
That single sentence changed everything.
Marcus stared at her.
“Why not?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“I’m telling you, she’s trying to ruin our wedding.””
Maya’s thumb hovered over the screen.
“She recorded herself,” Maya said.
Vanessa shook her head quickly.
“No.””
Marcus slowly released her.
Vanessa grabbed his hand.
“Please.””
“Please what?””
“She’s manipulating you.””
Maya pressed PLAY.
A woman’s voice came through the phone speaker.
Vanessa’s voice.
Clear.
Casual.
Cold.
“Once I marry Marcus, the money is mine.””
The room seemed to shrink.
Marcus stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
Another voice asked, “And if he finds out?””
Vanessa’s recorded voice answered with a quiet laugh.
“He won’t.””
Marcus slowly turned toward his bride.
Vanessa’s lips parted.
“Marcus…”
He stared at her.
“That’s your voice.””
Vanessa wiped at a tear that had suddenly appeared beneath one eye.
“It’s not what you think.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
Then at the phone.
Then back at Vanessa.
“What exactly am I supposed to think?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can.””
“Now.””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Behind them, someone whispered, “Oh my God.””
Vanessa suddenly looked toward the ballroom doors.
Marcus noticed.
“So you were planning something.””
“No.””
“You just said you weren't.””
“I panicked.””
“About what?””
Vanessa’s eyes flicked toward Maya.
Maya said nothing.
She simply held the phone tighter.
Vanessa’s breathing became faster.
Then she charged.
“Give me the phone!””
She grabbed Maya’s wrist.
Maya pulled back.
Vanessa clawed for the device.
“Stop!”” Marcus shouted.
But Vanessa kept fighting.
The phone slipped between their hands.
Maya caught it.
Vanessa stumbled forward.
Maya planted one hand against Vanessa’s shoulder and pushed.
Hard.
Vanessa pitched forward.
Her silver gown swept across the floor.
Her hands flew out.
And her face landed directly in the top of the wedding cake.
CRACK.
The entire upper tier collapsed.
White frosting exploded across Vanessa’s tiara, hair, eyelashes, and cheeks.
For one frozen second, nobody moved.
Then the ballroom erupted.
Guests gasped.
Someone screamed.
Marcus stood completely still.
Maya lowered her hand.
Vanessa slowly lifted her head.
Cream dripped from her nose.
Her eyes were wide with fury.
And underneath the frosting, she looked terrified.
Maya looked at Marcus.
Then she raised the phone again.
“That wasn’t the worst part.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
A paused video appeared.
Vanessa.
Meeting a man Marcus had never seen before.
His face was turned away from the camera.
Marcus’s voice came out barely above a whisper.
May you like
“Who is he?””
Vanessa went completely pale.
