Chapter 10 - The Lawyer at Table Seven.
The four-tier wedding cake stood beneath the chandelier like a monument to a marriage already collapsing.
Guests had been moved away from it while Marcus's team checked the ballroom.
Celeste watched from across the room with two security officers beside her.
Her expression changed when she saw Claire approach the cake.
That was enough.
Claire looked at Marcus.
"It's here."
Celeste laughed.
"You are all insane."
Victor turned toward her.
"Then you won't mind us cutting the cake early."
"Don't touch it."
The words came too fast.
A hush spread through the nearest tables.
Claire picked up the ceremonial knife.
Celeste moved forward.
The security officers stopped her.
"That cake cost twelve thousand dollars."
Claire stared at her.
"You've had an expensive evening."
She cut into the lowest tier.
White frosting collapsed onto the silver tablecloth.
Nothing.
She cut again.
Still nothing.
Celeste's smile returned.
"Satisfied?"
Claire moved to the decorative base beneath the cake.
She tapped the mirrored platform.
One corner sounded hollow.
Marcus crouched and pried at the trim.
A magnetic panel opened.
Inside was a small black hard drive wrapped in plastic.
The ballroom erupted in whispers.
Celeste's face went blank.
Victor held out his hand.
Marcus gave him the drive.
"Samuel says this contains the camera archive."
Celeste's eyes narrowed.
"Samuel says many things when he's frightened."
Victor looked toward the production-room stairs.
"He's currently explaining them to my security team."
"Your security team has no authority to detain anyone."
"Correct."
Victor glanced at Marcus.
"Which is why the signal jammer is now offline and the police are on their way."
For the first time, Celeste truly looked afraid.
She covered it quickly.
"Fine."
She lifted her chin.
"Let them come."
Claire watched her carefully.
"You're still too calm."
Celeste smiled.
"Maybe because the drive doesn't prove what you think it proves."
Marcus connected it to a laptop.
The archive opened with hundreds of time-stamped files.
Bridal suite.
Service hall.
Ballroom.
Lounge.
Victor pointed to the bridal-suite footage.
Marcus clicked.
The video showed Claire entering.
It showed Celeste locking the door.
It showed the confrontation.
Then the image froze three seconds before the first shove.
The file jumped ahead eleven minutes.
Claire was suddenly alone, injured, and reaching for her phone.
The assault itself was missing.
Celeste laughed softly.
"Technical problems happen."
Claire's hope vanished.
Marcus opened the service-hall footage.
Owen appeared approaching Tessa.
The image froze.
Another gap.
Victor looked at Samuel, who had been brought downstairs.
"You edited it."
Samuel shook his head.
"I didn't."
"Who did?"
Celeste answered.
"Nobody who will be testifying."
Claire turned sharply.
"Owen."
Celeste shrugged.
"You said his name, not me."
The ballroom doors finally unlocked.
Two police officers entered with additional venue security.
Relief moved through the guests.
Then Marcus leaned close to Victor.
"Sir."
"What?"
"We found something else on the drive."
He rotated the laptop.
A folder was labeled PRENUP_FINAL.
Inside was a scanned agreement carrying Adrian's signature.
Adrian stared at it.
"I never signed that."
Victor read the first page.
His face darkened.
The document stated that in the event of separation within five years, Celeste would receive half of Adrian's voting shares immediately.
Claire looked at Samuel.
"Did you draft this?"
Samuel said nothing.
Victor slammed the laptop shut.
"Officer."
One of the police officers stepped forward.
Victor pointed at Samuel.
"Start with my lawyer."
Samuel suddenly laughed.
Everyone stared at him.
"Victor, you still don't understand."
"Understand what?"
Samuel looked at the bride.
Celeste was smiling again.
"The prenup doesn't matter."
May you like
He turned back to Victor.
"Because the marriage itself was never the real transaction."
