Chapter 8 - The Bouquet That Was Never on the Order)
Wedding morning arrived beneath perfect blue skies.
The ballroom glittered.
White marble.
Gold chairs.
Thousands of candles.
Crystal chandeliers.
Soft pink roses.
Daniel hated every flower he saw.
Marcus's team inspected the building before guests arrived.
The official flower girl bouquet was artificial.
Daniel personally checked it.
Silk petals.
Plastic stems.
Safe.
Sophie arrived with Rachel at two thirty.
She looked like a tiny fairy.
When Daniel saw her, his throat tightened.
Sophie ran into his arms.
"Daddy."
He lifted her.
"You look beautiful."
She touched his bow tie.
"Daddy marry Mommy Claire?"
Daniel looked toward the ballroom.
"Maybe."
Sophie frowned.
"Maybe?"
He kissed her forehead.
"Whatever happens today, you stay with Aunt Rachel."
"Okay."
"And you don't take food, drinks, presents, or flowers from anyone unless Aunt Rachel says it's okay."
Sophie nodded solemnly.
"Okay, Daddy."
The ceremony began at four.
Claire entered beneath the chandeliers.
For one dangerous moment, Daniel remembered why he had fallen in love with her.
She looked radiant.
Her eyes met his.
She smiled.
And Daniel almost wished the last three weeks had been a nightmare.
Then Victor took his seat in the front row.
Reality returned.
The ceremony proceeded.
Marcus stood near the back disguised as a family friend.
Two investigators sat near Rachel.
Everything was controlled.
Until the flower girl entrance.
Rachel handed Sophie the artificial bouquet.
Sophie walked slowly down the marble aisle.
Guests smiled.
Phones appeared.
Halfway to the altar, a wedding coordinator approached her.
Daniel recognized the woman as one of Claire's hires.
She crouched and whispered something.
Then she exchanged Sophie's bouquet.
Daniel's blood turned cold.
The new bouquet looked nearly identical.
Soft pink roses.
Baby's breath.
But the petals moved differently.
Real flowers.
Daniel took one step forward.
The coordinator disappeared behind the guests.
Sophie continued walking.
Marcus noticed Daniel's expression.
He started moving.
Sophie reached Claire.
She smiled innocently.
"Mommy, these flowers are for you."
Claire looked down.
And Daniel saw recognition in her eyes.
She knew exactly which bouquet Sophie held.
Claire bent.
"Oh, thank you, darling."
She took the bouquet.
For one second, Daniel thought she might drop it.
Instead, Claire looked past Sophie.
Toward Victor.
Victor gave the smallest nod.
Then Claire pressed the bouquet against Sophie's face.
Daniel moved.
Too late.
Sophie recoiled.
Claire held the flowers there.
One second.
Two.
Then released her.
Sophie gasped.
Her hands went to her throat.
She collapsed.
The ballroom erupted.
Daniel reached her first.
"Sophie."
She coughed violently.
Claire spread her hands.
"I'm sorry. I was just joking."
Daniel stared up at her.
The line was absurd.
Cruel.
Prepared.
He lifted Sophie into his arms.
"She's allergic to flowers. You knew that."
Claire's eyes widened.
Around them, every phone captured the moment.
Daniel stood.
"The wedding is off."
"Daniel."
"You will never be a mother to my daughter."
He turned and carried Sophie toward the doors.
Rachel followed.
Marcus moved through the crowd.
Emergency medical personnel were already waiting outside because Daniel had insisted they remain nearby.
Sophie's reaction was frightening but controlled quickly.
Within minutes, her breathing improved.
Daniel stayed beside her in the ambulance.
Before the doors closed, Marcus appeared.
"We have Claire."
Daniel exhaled.
"And Victor?"
Marcus looked back toward the ballroom.
"Gone."
Daniel stared at him.
"What?"
"He disappeared during the panic."
The ambulance doors closed.
As Sophie was taken to the hospital, Marcus returned to the ballroom.
Claire stood in a side room with two investigators.
Her perfect wedding makeup was streaked with tears.
"I didn't know those flowers were real."
Marcus placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Claire accepting the bouquet.
"You inspected them."
"I was confused."
"You pressed them into the child's face."
"I was playing."
"For two seconds."
Claire started crying harder.
"I made a terrible mistake."
Marcus leaned forward.
"No."
His voice became cold.
"You followed instructions."
Claire looked up.
Her crying stopped.
Marcus placed a second photograph on the table.
Victor's empty chair.
"Where is your father?"
Claire said nothing.
Marcus smiled without warmth.
"That's what I thought."
Then an investigator entered.
"We found something."
He placed a white envelope on the table.
It had been taped beneath Victor's chair.
Inside was a memory card.
May you like
And a handwritten note.
Daniel Bennett should have listened to his first wife.
