Chapter 2 - The Trusted Traitor
The name glaring back at me from the screen was Julian Vance.
Julian was my fiercely loyal divorce attorney and the only person who knew I was hiding in Chicago.
He was the man who had supposedly helped me track down the stolen inheritance money.
A sickening wave of betrayal washed over my entire body.
Julian had deliberately guided me away from the truth to protect Ryan and the shell company.
I realized with absolute horror that I was entirely alone in this dangerous game.
I carefully picked up my newborn daughter and held her against my chest.
I promised her that absolutely nobody was going to hurt us.
I packed my hospital bag and requested an immediate, early discharge against medical advice.
I needed to disappear from this hospital before Julian realized I had uncovered his massive lie.
I dressed my baby in a soft pink onesie and placed her securely in a covered car seat.
I hailed a cash-only taxi outside the hospital to avoid leaving a digital footprint.
I directed the driver to a cheap motel on the outskirts of the city.
Once we were safely inside the dingy room, I pulled out a burner phone I had purchased months ago.
I needed a new ally who operated entirely outside the boundaries of the law.
I dialed the number of a disgraced private investigator named Marcus whom Julian had once warned me to avoid.
Marcus answered on the second ring with a gruff, exhausted voice.
I quickly explained the situation and offered him ten thousand dollars in cash to help me crash the wedding.
Marcus laughed darkly and said he loved ruining the lives of arrogant billionaires.
He arrived at the motel an hour later carrying a briefcase full of encrypted surveillance gear.
I showed him the financial documents and the explosive DNA test.
Marcus examined the Vanguard Holdings paperwork and let out a low whistle.
He explained that Vanguard was not just a shell company for embezzlement.
It was a massive money-laundering front for a violent international crime syndicate.
He warned me that exposing Ryan at this wedding could easily get me killed.
I looked down at my sleeping daughter and felt an overwhelming surge of maternal courage.
I told Marcus I was willing to risk everything to burn Ryan's empire to the ground.
Marcus smirked and handed me a tiny, high-tech earpiece.
He told me he would be monitoring the wedding security cameras from a van outside.
I purchased a stunning, emerald green designer dress from a vintage boutique.
I wanted to look absolutely flawless when I walked into the lion's den.
We drove to the sprawling luxury estate where the wedding was taking place.
The venue was heavily guarded by men wearing dark suits and tactical earpieces.
Marcus hacked into the guest list and successfully bypassed the digital security checkpoint for me.
I pushed my luxurious, fully covered baby stroller onto the manicured lawn.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the grand foyer of the estate.
The extravagant crystal chandeliers sparkled above the wealthy, oblivious guests.
I walked toward the bridal suite to find Lauren before the ceremony began.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a familiar voice echoing from a slightly open door.
It was Lauren speaking in a hushed, frantic tone to someone inside the room.
She angrily stated that her fake pregnancy bump was slipping and she needed tape.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run ice cold.
She told the person in the room that the hitman had already located Mia at the Chicago hospital.
