Chapter 1 - The Breaking Point
The pristine courtyard of St. Jude’s estate smelled faintly of burnt sugar and crushed white roses, a scent meant to signify purity that now hung heavy with betrayal. Julian stood squarely between his new wife and his daughter, his body rigid inside his custom black tuxedo. His chest heaved with suppressed fury, his dark eyes locking onto the woman he had foolishly trusted for three years.
"Get your hands off my daughter," Julian growled, his voice dropping an octave into a dangerous, gravelly register that silenced the string quartet tuning their instruments near the fountain.
Victoria's face twisted beneath her high lace collar, her pristine white updo vibrating as she jerked her manicured fingers away from Lily's purple ruffled dress. The young girl stood trembling slightly, her knuckles white as she gripped the foam pads of her aluminum crutches, her dark curly hair framing a face wide with shock.
"She's not ruining my wedding!" Victoria shrieked, her voice cracking with hysterical venom as she tried to lunge past Julian's broad shoulder to reach the child.
Off to the side, Naomi lowered her professional video camera, the red tally light blinking steadily. She shifted her weight in her black blazer, her expression cold and unimpressed.
"The nana ordered me to erase Lily from every picture," Naomi announced, her tone entirely clinical as she documented the unfolding disaster.
Victoria spun toward her, her face contorted with rage, and violently knocked the camera sideways, sending the heavy equipment crashing against the stone pavers. Glass shattered, and the red light blinked out.
Julian stepped forward, looming over Victoria as they stood face to face, the air between them thick with hostility.
"You planned to erase my own daughter?" Julian asked, his voice shaking with a terrifying, quiet disbelief.
Victoria sneered, showing no remorse whatsoever. "She’s a permanent reminder of your past life, and she doesn't belong in my future."
Julian didn't hesitate. He turned his back on her, his sharp gaze sweeping across the stunned crowd of guests before landing on his terrified child.
"This wedding is over," Julian declared.
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He dropped his boutonnière onto the ground, walking past Victoria without a backward glance, and knelt down to lift Lily into his arms.
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