Chapter 4 - The Search
Vivienne thought Chloe was joking.
Then Eleanor grabbed her wrist.
“Open your bag.”
Vivienne pulled her arm away.
“No.”
Guests began whispering.
Chloe stepped closer.
“You were seen near the bridal suite. You have always been jealous of me.”
“Jealous of what?”
“My wedding. My family. My ring.”
Vivienne stared at her.
“I gave you this ballroom.”
“Your father gave us the ballroom.”
“Search the footage,” Vivienne told Marcus. “No one touches me or my belongings.”
Marcus nodded.
“That is the correct procedure.”
Chloe blocked him.
“You work for my family tonight.”
“No,” Marcus replied. “I work for the venue.”
Eleanor turned toward Dominic.
“Tell your wife to cooperate.”
Dominic approached slowly.
“Vivienne, let them look inside the bag.”
She looked into her husband’s eyes.
“Do you believe I stole the ring?”
“No, but if you have nothing to hide—”
“Do not finish that sentence.”
“This could end quickly.”
“It could end immediately if your sister reviews the security footage.”
Chloe suddenly reached for the bag.
Vivienne stepped backward, protecting her stomach.
The loose seam of her silver gown caught beneath Chloe’s jeweled bracelet.
Fabric tore.
The sound was loud enough to silence the people nearest them.
Chloe looked down at the torn gown.
Then, instead of releasing it, she pulled harder.
A long section ripped from Vivienne’s left side.
Eleanor grabbed the opposite side, claiming she saw something hidden beneath the material.
Within seconds, the carefully chosen silver gown had been shredded from the waist downward.
Vivienne’s gray maternity support outfit remained fully in place, but the humiliation was immediate.
Dozens of guests lifted their phones.
Vivienne placed one hand over her stomach and looked toward Dominic.
“Say something.”
He stood behind Chloe and Eleanor, frozen.
“Dominic.”
He avoided her eyes.
“Just let them search you,” he said. “We’ll handle this later.”
Something inside Vivienne became completely still.
It was not heartbreak.
Heartbreak was loud and chaotic.
This feeling was quieter.
It was the moment a door closed.
She remembered every dinner where Dominic had told her to ignore an insult.
Every holiday where he had asked her to apologize for reacting to cruelty.
Every promise that he would protect her next time.
There would always be a next time.
Unless she ended it.
Chloe continued accusing her.
“You thought no one would search a pregnant woman.”
Vivienne looked beyond her toward the ballroom entrance.
Above the doors, a small security camera blinked.
She knew Marcus would preserve the recording.
She also knew exactly who had access to every room, every security log and every contract connected to the building.
Vivienne reached into her damaged evening bag and removed her phone.
Chloe smiled.
“Calling a lawyer?”
Vivienne selected her father’s number.
He answered immediately.
“Vivienne?”
“Dad,” she said. “It’s time.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Gabriel’s voice changed.
“Are you safe?”
“I am standing in the center of the ballroom. Chloe and Eleanor tore my gown while trying to search me. They accused me of stealing the ring.”
“Where is Dominic?”
“He is watching.”
Gabriel did not ask another question.
“Stay exactly where you are. They’re already on their way.”
Chloe laughed when she heard him.
But Marcus was no longer looking at her.
May you like
He was studying a message on his tablet.
Then he quietly instructed the guards to close the service exits.
