Chapter 1 - The Hidden Phone
The bouquet vibrated inches from Victoria’s chest.
Several white petals fell onto the aisle as a distinctive ringtone echoed through the ballroom.
Ethan’s smile vanished.
“That’s Emma’s phone.”
He took the bouquet without touching Victoria and turned it away when she reached for it.
“Give it back!”
The urgency in her voice frightened him.
Ethan loosened the satin ribbon. An older black smartphone slid between the flower stems and landed safely on the carpet.
A recent voice recording began playing.
“Ethan, don’t marry her.”
Every guest turned toward Victoria.
Her face lost all color.
Ethan picked up the phone.
“Where is my sister?”
Victoria retreated toward the staff-corridor door.
“I don’t know.”
A small brass key slipped from a hidden loop inside her sleeve and landed near her dress.
The venue manager recognized it immediately.
“That opens the room below us.”
Ethan stared at the key.
Then Emma’s voice continued through the phone:
“I can hear the wedding above me.”
Three faint knocks sounded beneath the raised altar.
The ballroom fell silent.
Victoria looked toward the staff door before she could stop herself.
Ethan followed her gaze.
“You knew.”
“She was trying to ruin our wedding.”
“So you put her under it?”
Victoria shook her head.
“You don’t understand what she found.”
Another recording began automatically.
Emma sounded breathless but clear.
“The wedding is not the ceremony, Ethan.”
May you like
A pause.
“It’s the deadline.”
