CHAPTER 2: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK
CHAPTER 2: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK
The detective wasn't finished.
"There are three more videos."
The room fell silent again.
The next recording appeared.
It showed the man earlier that evening, arguing with the wedding planner in a private hallway.
"I'll ruin this reception if I have to."
Another clip.
He secretly unplugged security equipment near the entrance.
Another.
He bribed a waiter to falsely claim he saw Emma stealing.
The waiter lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
"I lied."
"He paid me."
Shock rippled through the ballroom.
The groom slowly turned toward the accused man.
"You've been my business partner for twelve years."
"Why?"
The man laughed bitterly.
"Because your company chose you."
"They should've chosen me."
"So I decided to destroy your wedding..."
"...and blame the little girl."
The confession hit harder than the evidence.
He hadn't attacked Emma because of anger.
He had planned everything.
Using an innocent child as the perfect scapegoat.
Police officers stepped forward.
The detective nodded.
"You're under arrest for filing a false police report, assaulting a child, conspiracy, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice."
Cold steel handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
For the first time all night...
...he had nothing left to say.
As officers escorted him through the ballroom, not a single guest looked away.
They wanted him to remember every face.
May you like
Every witness.
Every person who now knew exactly who he really was.
