Chapter 2 - The Trap
Mark pressed a button on the remote.
The heavy wooden doors of the banquet hall slammed shut with a deafening thud.
The sharp sound of electronic locks engaging echoed through the room.
Panic immediately rippled through the crowd.
People started murmuring, and a few guests rushed toward the exits.
"Nobody is leaving," Mark announced, his voice booming over the venue's speakers.
I stared at Mark, completely bewildered.
He had been Grant's best friend since college.
Vanessa didn't look surprised at all.
In fact, she stopped trying to grab the papers and crossed her arms.
"You really thought you could just embarrass me and walk away?" Vanessa sneered.
Grant stood tall, his jaw clenched tight.
"I know about you and Mark, Vanessa."
Another wave of loud gasps swept through the seated guests.
Diane marched up to the head table, her face twisted in rage.
"You listen to me, you ungrateful little boy," Diane spat.
"My family invested two million dollars into your tech startup."
"If you don't marry my daughter right now, I will ruin you."
Grant actually let out a dry, bitter laugh.
"You didn't invest your money, Diane."
He pulled out his phone and swiped the screen.
"You embezzled it from your own husband's charity foundation."
Diane's face drained of all color in an instant.
Vanessa's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"Mom, what is he talking about?" Vanessa asked, her confident facade cracking.
Grant held up his phone.
"I have the bank records right here."
"I was going to hand them over to the police tomorrow."
Mark stepped forward, his eyes narrowing menacingly.
"That's exactly why we couldn't let you leave today, Grant."
He signaled to two large men standing near the kitchen entrance.
They began walking slowly toward the head table.
My motherly instincts took over.
I grabbed a heavy silver candlestick from the center of my table.
I rushed forward and stood directly in front of my son.
"Stay away from him," I warned, my voice shaking but loud.
Mark just laughed and pointed toward the massive projector screen behind the altar.
The screen flickered to life.
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A live video feed appeared, showing the inside of my own house.
And sitting on my living room couch, bound and gagged, was my husband.
