Chapter 2 - The Groom's Secret
The reception hall erupted into sheer panic.
Guests screamed and scrambled toward the heavy wooden exit doors.
The officer threw the small metallic device into a silver champagne bucket.
He kicked the bucket behind a thick marble pillar just in time.
A loud pop echoed through the room as thick gray smoke poured from the bucket.
It was not a lethal explosive, but a high-grade military smoke grenade.
The smoke triggered the fire alarms and the sprinkler system.
Freezing water rained down on the screaming wedding guests.
Sarah stood completely still in her ruined, soaked wedding dress.
She stared at the woman who had brought a weapon to her reception.
The police officer grabbed the woman by her arms and slammed handcuffs onto her wrists.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Sarah demanded loudly over the alarms.
The woman just laughed maliciously as the water ruined her hair.
"You really do not know who I am, do you?" she taunted the bride.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed the police officer's shoulder.
David, the handsome groom, pushed his way through the smoke and water.
"Let her go right now," David ordered the police officer.
Sarah stared at her new husband in absolute shock.
"David, she just planted a device in our wedding cake," Sarah cried out.
David refused to look his bride in the eyes.
He pulled a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills from his tuxedo pocket.
He tried to press the bribe into the officer's hand.
"I said release her, this is a massive misunderstanding," David insisted nervously.
The officer pushed David away and tightened his grip on the woman.
"Bribery is a felony, son," the officer warned sternly.
The woman looked at David with a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Tell your little bride the truth, Davey," she purred.
David swallowed hard and finally looked at Sarah.
"Sarah, please calm down, this is Vanessa," David stammered.
Sarah felt her heart drop into her stomach.
She had never heard that name in the three years they had dated.
"Who is Vanessa?" Sarah asked, her voice trembling with cold rage.
Vanessa stepped forward, completely ignoring the handcuffs on her wrists.
"I am the mother of his child," Vanessa announced loudly to the silent room.
She pointed a long, manicured finger at the little boy who had ruined the cake.
"And he is not just a kid, he is the rightful heir to the family fortune," Vanessa sneered.
David buried his face in his hands as Sarah realized her entire marriage was a lie.
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Then, Vanessa looked directly at the police officer and smiled.
"You can arrest me, but you might want to check the bride's champagne glass first," Vanessa whispered.
