Chapter 2: The Doors Don't Open for Everyone
The heavy ballroom doors sealed shut with a deep, mechanical thud.
Every exit.
Simultaneously.
A ripple of confused murmurs spread through the crowd.
Chloe spun toward the nearest door and grabbed the handle.
It didn't move.
"What is happening?" she demanded.
"Someone open these doors right now!"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody could.
Three men in dark suits appeared from the service corridor.
They didn't rush.
They didn't shout.
They simply positioned themselves at each sealed entrance and stood perfectly still.
Eleanor's face shifted.
For the first time all evening, her composure cracked.
"Daniel." Her voice dropped to a sharp hiss.
"Who did she call?"
Daniel said nothing.
But his face had gone the color of ash.
One of the suited men approached Chloe directly.
He held out a small evidence bag.
"Ma'am.
We'll need to speak with you about the ring."
"I'm the bride!" Chloe shrieked.
"It's MY ring — it was st0len from ME!"
The man's expression didn't change.
"We're aware.
We also have footage from the table camera.
Forty-seven minutes ago."
Chloe's hand flew to her throat.
Eleanor grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
"Fix this.
Right now."
But Daniel was staring at me.
And for the first time in three years, I saw something in his eyes I had never seen before.
Fear.
May you like
Not of them.
Of what he had just done to me.
