Chapter 2
The heavy silence in the grand ballroom felt almost physical, pressing down upon the shoulders of every guest who sat paralyzed in their gilt-edged chairs. Helena’s chest rose and fell rapidly beneath the heavy silk of her wedding dress, the expensive diamonds at her throat vibrating with her shallow breath. She refused to look at the envelope, keeping her fierce, narrowed gaze locked onto Elena’s bruised and battered face.
“Get security,” Helena whispered, her voice tight and trembling with suppressed rage. “Remove this woman from the premises immediately. She is unstable, look at her face. She’s clearly capable of anything.”
None of the hired security guards moved. They stood near the towering mahogany doors, their eyes darting nervously toward Arthur. The elderly groom remained frozen, his silver hair gleaming under the harsh chandeliers. He stared at the thick red wax seal on the envelope as if it were a venomous snake coiled and ready to strike. He knew that crest. It belonged to a chapter of his life he had spent the last ten years trying to bury under layers of wealth, philanthropy, and social prominence.
“Helena, wait,” Arthur finally spoke, his voice hoarse and stripped of its usual commanding authority. The words surprised his new bride, who turned her head sharply to look at him, her eyes wide with betrayal and disbelief.
“Wait?” Helena echoed, her voice rising in pitch. “Arthur, she is disrupting our reception with wild accusations. Look at her! She’s a vagrant, a criminal, a stranger!”
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“She is not a stranger,” Arthur said quietly, the admission costing him visible effort. He slowly turned his gaze back to Elena, who stood her ground without a single sign of intimidation. The cuts on Elena’s cheekbone seemed to pulse under the warm light, a physical reminder of whatever violence had preceded her arrival tonight.
Elena stepped closer, ignoring the collective gasp from the front row of guests. She extended her hand, offering the sealed envelope directly to the groom. “The police wouldn’t listen to me, Arthur. They said a girl from the district without resources has no case against a man with your foundation. But I figured you’d want to read the coroner’s final addendum before the press gets ahold of it tomorrow morning.”
