Chapter 1 - The Missing Person
Robert stared at the dark bruises forming on our daughter’s pale skin.
The coldness in his eyes was something I had not seen since the ruthless corporate takeovers that made him a billionaire.
He did not yell or break anything in my living room.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and began taking high-resolution photographs of every single injury on Chloe’s body.
"We are documenting everything before the swelling changes," he said in a voice that left no room for argument.
Chloe flinched as the camera flash illuminated the torn lace of her ruined wedding dress.
"Dad, they said they would kill me if I told anyone," she whispered, fresh tears spilling down her swollen cheeks.
Robert gently placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder.
"They are going to wish they were dead by the time I am finished with them," he promised.
He dialed a private number, barking orders to his head of security to dispatch a medical team to my apartment immediately.
I went into the kitchen to grab an ice pack, my hands shaking with a mixture of terror and boiling rage.
I could not stop thinking about Victoria Dudley’s smug face at the wedding reception.
She had kissed my cheek, acting like the perfect mother-in-law, knowing exactly what she was planning to do to my child.
The sound of a heavy fist pounding on my front door pulled me out of my thoughts.
I froze, glancing at the wall clock that read three-forty in the morning.
"Sarah, open the door!" a man’s voice yelled from the hallway.
It was Lewis.
Chloe let out a terrified gasp and curled into a tight ball on the couch.
Robert stepped in front of her, sliding a heavy brass fire poker from the hearth into his right hand.
I walked to the door and looked through the peephole.
Lewis was not alone.
Two uniformed Miami police officers were standing right behind him in the hallway.
"Open up, Mrs. Miller," one of the officers demanded firmly.
I unbolted the lock and opened the door just a few inches.
"What is the meaning of this?" I asked, keeping my body blocking the entrance.
Lewis looked at me with red, fake tears welling in his eyes.
"Sarah, please tell me Chloe is here," he cried, playing the part of a frantic groom flawlessly.
"She had a psychotic break at the hotel, assaulted my mother, and stole half a million dollars in wedding gifts before vanishing."
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I stared at him in absolute shock as the officer held up a piece of paper.
"Ma'am, we have a warrant for your daughter's arrest for grand larceny and aggravated assault."
