Chapter 2 - THE WEDDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Within ten minutes, the Grand Whitmore's bridal suite had become the center of a family disaster.
Victoria followed Daniel into the corridor, clutching the front of her wedding dress.
"Daniel, stop walking!"
He didn't turn around.
Lily held his hand tightly. Her cheek still hurt, but she was more frightened by the thought of what might happen next.
Would her father leave Victoria?
Would Victoria hate her forever?
Would Daniel eventually decide that marrying someone else was easier than raising a daughter who could never stop missing her mother?
Children often blamed themselves for things adults did.
Lily was no exception.
"Daddy," she whispered, "I'm sorry."
Daniel stopped immediately.
He turned and knelt before her.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"I shouldn't have brought the paper."
His expression crumpled.
"Oh, sweetheart."
He brushed a tear from her face.
"You could bring every photograph of your mother into this hotel, and you would still be doing nothing wrong."
Lily looked uncertain.
"But Victoria was angry."
"Victoria chose to be angry. You didn't make that choice for her."
He hugged his daughter until her trembling began to ease.
Behind them, Victoria let out an incredulous laugh.
"This is unbelievable. You're actually choosing her over me?"
Daniel rose slowly.
"She's my child."
"And I'm supposed to be your wife!"
"Not anymore."
Victoria's face changed.
For months, she had imagined herself entering Daniel's wealthy social circle as his wife. The Bennett family owned a successful property development company, and Daniel had recently become the majority shareholder following his father's retirement.
Their marriage would have transformed Victoria's position in the city.
She wasn't prepared to lose that future because of a little girl and a sentimental trinket.
"You are making a permanent decision while you're emotional," she said, forcing herself to sound reasonable. "Let's talk privately."
"There will be no private discussion."
"Daniel, people are watching!"
He glanced toward the open ballroom doors, where several guests had begun gathering.
"Good."
The single word frightened her more than shouting would have.
Vanessa hurried out of the bridal suite.
"Daniel, you need to understand something," she said. "Victoria was under incredible pressure. Lily came in carrying something connected to her dead mother. It was inappropriate."
Daniel turned toward her.
"You watched Victoria hit a child."
"I was trying to document what happened."
"You filmed it instead of stopping it."
Vanessa lowered her phone.
"That isn't fair."
"Neither was what you did."
A hotel employee approached, visibly uncomfortable.
"Mr. Bennett, would you like us to arrange transportation?"
"Yes. And please inform the guests that the ceremony has been canceled."
Victoria gasped.
"You can't announce that!"
"I can, and I just did."
He carried Lily toward the elevators.
As the doors closed, she looked back at Victoria.
The bride stood beneath the chandelier, surrounded by white flowers and expensive decorations, looking less like a princess than a stranger who had lost control of everything.
For the first time, Lily didn't feel jealous of the woman wearing the beautiful dress.
She felt sorry for her.
Then the elevator doors shut.
Downstairs, Daniel's phone began vibrating continuously.
His sister, Rachel, had heard that something had happened. His business partner wanted to know whether the ceremony was delayed. Guests were sending confused messages.
Daniel ignored them all until one notification appeared from an unknown number.
It contained a screenshot of a text conversation.
Victoria: Once we're married, Lily will have to accept that I'm the woman of the house.
Vanessa: What if she doesn't?
Victoria: Then Daniel will finally see how impossible she is.
Daniel read it twice.
He looked at Lily, who had fallen silent against his shoulder.
The slap had ended the wedding.
May you like
But the messages suggested that Victoria had been planning something long before that morning.
And Daniel suddenly wondered how much of his relationship had been built on a lie.
