Chapter 7 - The Projection
Detective Miller stepped forward. Instead of pulling out a small phone, he carried a portable high-definition tablet synced directly to the massive outdoor audiovisual displays that Sutton had insisted on renting to show a romantic slideshow of her and Alden’s courtship.
The large LED screens flanking the altar suddenly flickered to life.
The crowd gasped.
It wasn't a montage of romantic sunset strolls or beachside vacations.
It was the raw, high-definition security footage from the staircase the night before.
The state-of-the-art outdoor sound system boomed Sutton’s voice across the entire courtyard, echoing against the stone walls of the resort:
*"I'm going to make sure she spends tomorrow watching my wedding from a hospital bed. Watch this clumsy bitch fall."*
The footage showed the shove in agonizing, high-resolution slow motion: Sutton planting both hands into my shoulder, the violent trip of my braced leg, the terrifying, cartwheeling drop down fourteen marble steps, and the sickening thud as my femur struck the stone ledge.
And then, the audio played Sutton’s hysterical, mocking laughter.
The courtyard erupted into absolute chaos.
Guests stood up from their chairs in horror. Several elderly women covered their mouths, gasping in utter revulsion. Business colleagues of my father stepped back into the aisles, their expressions shifting into pure disgust.
"Turn that off!" Stellin screamed, lunging toward the AV tech table near the back. "Turn it off right now! That’s private! That’s an invasion of privacy!"
Detective Miller caught Stellin firmly by the forearm, twisting it behind his back with practiced, effortless authority. "Sir, step back. You are interfering with an active felony investigation."
At that exact moment, the heavy oak doors at the top of the grand terrace terrace swung open.
Sutton stood there in her massive, sixty-thousand-dollar imported French lace ballgown, clutching her bouquet of white orchids. She had heard the commotion from the balcony and had rushed down, assuming the music had started.
May you like
Instead of an admiring, awe-struck crowd, every single pair of eyes in the courtyard was fixed on her with utter loathing.
"What... what is everyone looking at?" Sutton stammered, stepping onto the top of the aisle, her voice cracking as she looked around the silent, disgusted crowd. "Where is the music? Alden! Where is Alden?!"
