Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Screen
I had imagined my wedding day a thousand times.
In every version, there was laughter.
There were tears.
There were people I loved surrounding me.
But I never imagined standing in the middle of a ballroom while my future wife reached for a phone like it contained a secret that could end us.
“Darius, give me the phone.””
Simone’s voice was lower now.
Controlled.
Almost calm.
That scared me more than her panic.
I held the phone against my chest.
“No.””
Her eyes widened.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
The guests were no longer pretending not to watch.
Every person in that ballroom was waiting for the next explosion.
My mother stepped beside me.
“She knows what’s on that phone.””
Simone looked at Loretta.
“Stop pretending you know me.””
Loretta’s face tightened.
“I know enough.””
Simone shook her head.
“No, you don’t.””
Then she looked around the room.
At the guests.
At the decorations.
At the flowers we had spent months choosing.
“This is my wedding day too.””
Her voice cracked.
And for one second, I saw the woman I thought I knew.
The woman who cried when we picked our first dance song.
The woman who held my hand when I lost my job.
The woman who stayed awake with me during the nights I couldn’t sleep after my father’s funeral.
But then I looked at the phone.
And I remembered her reaching for it.
“Darius,” she whispered, “please trust me.””
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it hurt.
“Trust you?””
The words came out before I could stop them.
“Simone, my mother just walked into our wedding saying you sent her something. Then you tried to take the phone before I could hear it.””
“That’s not what happened.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
My mother looked at me.
“Play it.””
Simone immediately turned.
“No.””
Loretta stepped forward.
“Yes.””
“Loretta, you have no idea what you’re doing.””
My mother’s eyes hardened.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.””
The room went quiet.
I had never heard my mother speak like that.
Not even when she fought my father about his drinking.
Not even when she fought doctors during his final days.
She was terrified.
But she was standing.
I looked down at the phone.
The recording was still paused.
One sentence.
That was all I had heard.
“Once Darius signs the marriage papers…”
My stomach twisted.
“What happens after I sign?””
Simone looked away.
That was the answer.
A person can lie with words.
But not always with their eyes.
I walked away from the altar.
Slowly.
The distance between us felt impossible.
“Darius,” Simone said.
I stopped.
“What?””
Her voice became softer.
“Can we talk privately?””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because this doesn’t belong in front of everyone.””
I looked around.
The guests.
The family.
The friends.
The people who had come to celebrate us.
“You’re right,” I said.
“It doesn’t.””
Her expression changed.
“Then let’s talk.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
She froze.
“Why?””
“Because whatever is on this phone happened before everyone got here.””
I lifted it.
“And my mother heard it alone.””
Loretta looked down.
“She called me last night.””
I turned.
“What?””
My mother hesitated.
Simone went completely still.
“You called Mom?””
Loretta nodded.
“I was going to come here this morning.””
“Why didn’t you?””
My mother looked at the floor.
“Because I was hoping I was wrong.””
Those words hit harder than anything else.
She had spent the morning hoping the woman I loved wasn’t hiding something.
Hoping she wouldn’t have to destroy my wedding.
Hoping she could stay silent.
But she couldn’t.
I looked at Simone.
“What did you send her?””
She whispered, “I didn’t.””
“Then why are you scared?””
“I’m not.””
“You are.””
Her eyes filled.
“I’m scared because everyone is looking at me like I’m a monster.””
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody knew if that was true.
And that was the worst part.
I pressed play again.
Simone moved immediately.
“Darius!””
But this time, I didn’t stop.
The recording started.
A faint breath.
Then Simone’s voice.
“Once Darius signs the marriage papers…”
The entire room leaned closer.
Then the audio glitched.
A second voice appeared.
Not Simone.
Someone else.
My eyebrows pulled together.
I looked at my mother.
She looked just as confused.
The recording continued.
But before the next words became clear, the ballroom doors opened again.
A man stood there.
A man I had never invited.
He looked directly at Simone.
And said my name.
“Darius…”
My blood went cold.
May you like
Because Simone didn’t look surprised to see him.
She looked afraid.
