Chapter 3 - The Empty Altar
The two towering men crossed their muscular arms, completely blocking my only path to the alleyway.
They wore professional earpieces and moved with the disciplined, lethal stillness of trained mercenaries.
I instantly recognized one of them as the private security contractor Evelyn had personally hired for the wedding.
He politely but firmly told me that the bride had specifically requested I head directly to the altar.
I knew that if I caused a violent scene right now, Toby would be in immediate, life-threatening danger.
I nodded calmly, taking Toby by the hand and walking slowly back down the hallway toward the ballroom.
The grand oak doors swung open, revealing the smiling, oblivious faces of my wealthy guests.
Evelyn stood at the end of the flower-lined aisle, looking like a flawless, perfect bride waiting for her true love.
I walked slowly down the white carpet, every single step feeling like a heavy march toward my own execution.
When I reached the altar, the priest began to speak, but the blood rushing in my ears drowned out his words.
I looked down at Toby, who was clutching my leg in sheer terror, and I knew I had to act immediately.
I casually leaned against the decorative stone pillar holding a massive arrangement of lit ceremonial candles.
With a swift, calculated push, I knocked the heavy candelabra directly into the dry silk drapes framing the altar.
Flames erupted instantly, racing up the fabric and triggering the hotel's massive fire suppression system.
The fire alarm shrieked to life, filling the elegant ballroom with deafening noise and blinding strobe lights.
Guests screamed in panic, shoving each other out of the way as they scrambled blindly toward the emergency exits.
I scooped Toby up in the absolute chaos and sprinted out the side door before anyone could stop me.
I drove recklessly across the city, breaking every speed limit to reach the trauma hospital.
When I arrived at the intensive care unit, a grim-faced doctor approached me with a somber expression.
He told me that my daughter was in a deep, unresponsive coma from a massive chemical overdose.
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He handed me a clear plastic evidence bag containing Genevieve's personal belongings, including a cheap burner phone.
The unfamiliar phone suddenly began to ring loudly, displaying an unknown, blocked caller ID on the cracked screen.
