CHAPTER 2 — The Wedding That Never Happened
The silver key struck the marble floor with a sharp metallic clang.
No one moved.
Julien stared at Vivienne as if he were seeing a stranger for the first time.
Then he looked down at Leo.
The little boy's hands were still trembling as he buried his face against Camille's shoulder.
"Leo," Julien said softly.
The child slowly looked up.
"Why did she lock you inside?"
Leo swallowed hard.
"She said..."
His voice cracked.
"She said I wasn't supposed to ruin her perfect day."
Camille closed her eyes.
She already knew where this was going.
Julien knelt until he was eye level with the boy.
"Did she hurt you?"
Leo hesitated.
Then he nodded once.
"She grabbed my arm."
A faint red mark circled the child's wrist.
Julien's breathing slowed.
Not because he was calming down.
Because he was trying not to lose control.
Vivienne stepped forward.
"It wasn't like that."
"You've misunderstood."
"I only wanted him out of the hallway for a few minutes."
"You locked him in a storage room," Camille said quietly.
"He was screaming."
Vivienne's carefully rehearsed smile disappeared.
"He exaggerates."
Julien stood.
"So you're calling a six-year-old a liar?"
The hallway filled with guests.
Whispers spread faster than music.
The wedding planner looked helpless.
The violinists inside the ballroom continued playing, unaware that the ceremony had already collapsed.
Julien removed the boutonniere from his tuxedo.
Then the wedding ring from his pocket.
He placed both into Vivienne's hand.
"This wedding is over."
Her face turned pale.
"You can't humiliate me like this."
He shook his head.
"No."
"You humiliated yourself."
Without another word, Julien took Leo's hand.
His other hand found Camille's.
The three of them walked away together.
May you like
Behind them...
The wedding orchestra slowly stopped playing.
