Chapter 2
The second video loaded slowly.
I stood in the ballroom clutching the torn shoulder of my dress while everyone stared at the enormous screen.
Bianca's new husband, Julian, pushed through the crowd.
"Bianca, what is happening?"
She grabbed his arm.
"Don't watch it."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"Please, Julian!"
The screen flickered.
Yesterday afternoon.
The private bridal suite.
Bianca stood beside Margaret.
They were alone.
At least, they believed they were.
The camera captured Margaret placing a dark jewelry box on the dressing table.
Bianca opened it.
Inside was a diamond ring.
The same ring she'd accused me of stealing.
Margaret spoke first.
"Tomorrow, we make sure Serena understands she doesn't belong here."
My stomach dropped.
Bianca laughed.
"She's going to cry in front of everybody."
Margaret smiled.
"Good. Maybe Adrian will finally realize what kind of woman he married."
The ballroom went completely silent.
I heard Adrian inhale sharply.
On the screen, Bianca lifted the ring.
"Where should I put it?"
Margaret answered.
"Somewhere that makes her look guilty."
Bianca grinned.
"Her coat?"
"Perfect."
Then Margaret said something worse.
"Once Adrian sees everyone turn against her, he'll have no choice but to put his mother first."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
This wasn't an impulsive accusation.
They had planned it.
Together.
The video ended.
Nobody moved.
Then Julian stepped away from Bianca.
"Tell me that's fake."
Bianca stared at him.
"Julian, baby—"
"Tell me!"
She began crying.
Margaret pointed toward the screen.
"That recording was taken without our permission!"
The lead security officer remained calm.
"The venue's management is preserving the recording for review."
I looked at Adrian.
He stood motionless.
His face was devastated.
"Mom?"
Margaret turned toward him.
"Adrian, don't let these people manipulate you."
He stared at her.
"You planned to humiliate my wife?"
She folded her arms.
"She's been manipulating you for years!"
I felt something inside me collapse.
Even after the evidence appeared, Margaret couldn't stop attacking me.
"Adrian," I whispered.
He looked at me.
Then his eyes dropped to my torn dress.
For the first time, he seemed to understand what had happened.
"Serena..."
I stepped backward.
"Don't."
His expression crumpled.
I wasn't ready to hear an apology.
Not after watching him hesitate while his mother tore my clothes.
My phone vibrated.
Dad.
I brought it to my ear.
"Sweetheart, an ambulance is waiting outside."
I closed my eyes.
"I don't think I'm hurt."
"You're pregnant and you've been through a frightening incident. Please let the medical team check you."
I looked down.
My daughter moved beneath my palm.
"Okay."
A female security officer approached with a long jacket.
"Mrs. Whitmore, may I help you?"
I nodded gratefully.
She draped it over my shoulders, covering the damaged gown.
Then she crouched and gathered my belongings.
She found the little pink socks beneath the table.
When she placed them in my hand, I started crying.
Bianca watched from the other side of the room.
Her face had lost every trace of arrogance.
Julian removed his wedding ring.
Bianca gasped.
"Julian!"
He looked at her with disbelief.
"We got married two hours ago."
She began sobbing.
"I can explain!"
"You spent the day trying to destroy a pregnant woman's reputation!"
Margaret stepped between them.
"Julian, don't overreact."
He stared at her.
"You helped her!"
For once, Margaret had nothing to say.
I turned toward the exit.
Adrian followed.
"Serena, wait."
I stopped.
He reached toward my arm.
I stepped away.
"Don't touch me."
He froze.
My voice shook.
"You watched your mother tear my dress."
Tears filled his eyes.
"I know."
"You watched her throw my private belongings on the floor."
He swallowed.
"I should've stopped her."
"Yes."
I looked directly at him.
"You should have."
His face crumpled.
"Please let me come with you."
I shook my head.
"Not right now."
"Serena, I'm your husband."
"And I'm your wife."
My voice broke.
"But you didn't remember that when I needed you."
The security officer opened the door.
I walked into the hallway.
My legs felt weak.
But I kept moving.
Outside, the night air was cool.
Two black SUVs waited near the entrance.
An ambulance stood beside them.
My father stepped out of the first SUV.
His name was Raymond Carter.
He was sixty-one, with closely cropped gray hair and the kind of quiet authority that never required shouting.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
"Baby girl."
I tried to smile.
Then I broke.
"Daddy..."
He opened his arms.
I fell against him.
He held me as though I were still the little girl who used to run into his office after a nightmare.
"I'm here."
I sobbed.
"They thought I stole something."
"I know."
"They tore my dress."
His arms tightened.
"I saw."
I looked up.
"How?"
His face hardened.
"That's something we need to discuss."
The paramedics approached.
Dad helped me into the ambulance.
They checked my blood pressure and asked whether I'd been struck in the abdomen.
I told them Margaret had pulled my gown and grabbed my arm, but hadn't hit my belly.
I mentioned feeling frightened and briefly dizzy.
They recommended hospital evaluation.
I agreed.
As the ambulance doors were closing, Adrian appeared.
"Serena!"
Dad stepped toward him.
My husband stopped.
"Mr. Carter, please."
Dad looked at him.
"Your wife needs medical attention."
"I know."
"Then let her receive it."
Adrian's eyes filled.
"I want to be there."
Dad glanced toward me.
The decision was mine.
I looked at Adrian.
For a moment, I remembered our wedding day.
How he'd promised to stand beside me.
How he'd cried when we learned we were having a daughter.
Then I remembered his silence in the ballroom.
"Not tonight," I whispered.
He lowered his head.
The doors closed.
As the ambulance pulled away, Dad sat beside me.
He held my hand.
"Serena, I need you to listen carefully."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"The recordings weren't the reason my security team was already at the venue."
My stomach tightened.
"Then why were they there?"
Dad's expression became serious.
"Because someone tried to use your identity to authorize a transfer from one of our family accounts."
I stared at him.
"What transfer?"
He paused.
"Eight hundred thousand dollars."
My mouth went dry.
"Who?"
Dad looked directly into my eyes.
"The request came from a device registered to Bianca."
I felt cold.
Then he added something that frightened me more.
May you like
"But the authorization code was sent to Adrian's phone."
And suddenly, I understood that the conspiracy might involve far more than a wedding ring.
