Chapter 3
The videographer’s name was Owen.
I knew because Clara had said it earlier when she fixed my hair.
Now he stood near the screen with his camera pointed straight at Eric.
Eric noticed too late.
“Turn that off,” he barked.
Owen did not move.
“I’m under contract to record the wedding.”
“The wedding is over.”
“Then I’m recording evidence.”
Eric started toward him.
Dad stepped into his path.
“Touch him and you make this worse.”
Eric laughed.
“Worse? You have no idea what worse looks like.”
Vanessa grabbed Eric’s arm.
“Stop acting crazy.”
He jerked away.
“You don’t get to say that after letting Adrian walk in.”
“You were supposed to handle him.”
“I did. He was supposed to be on a plane.”
Adrian held up his phone.
“Your man at the airport made a mistake. He threatened me in front of a federal security camera.”
Eric’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Dad saw it.
So did I.
Clara leaned down near my ear.
“Mia, your father needs time.”
I wiped my face.
“What do we do?”
“Stay close. Stay quiet. Watch.”
But I could not stay quiet.
The torn pieces of my red envelope were still on the floor near Vanessa’s dress.
I slipped from behind Dad and dropped to my knees.
“Mia,” Dad warned.
“I need the pieces.”
Vanessa reached for me.
Clara caught her wrist.
“Do not touch her.”
Vanessa slapped Clara.
The sound made me scream.
Dad spun around.
Owen’s camera caught everything.
Clara held her cheek but did not step back.
“She’s a child,” she said.
Vanessa shook with rage.
“She is a spoiled little obstacle.”
Dad’s face went white.
Not pale.
White.
I had seen my father angry before.
Never like this.
He looked at Vanessa as if every memory of her had turned rotten at once.
“You were going to send my daughter away.”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“For her own good.”
“No,” Dad said. “For your profit.”
Eric shoved the papers toward him again.
“You can fight about feelings later. Sign.”
I gathered the torn papers with shaking hands.
Then I saw something under the first pew.
A small black device with a blinking red light.
I crawled closer.
Clara saw it.
Her eyes widened.
“Mia, don’t touch that.”
Dad followed her gaze.
Eric did too.
He lunged.
Adrian got there first.
He picked up the device.
May you like
His voice went low.
“A signal jammer.”
