Chapter 2: The Name on the Screen
While officers surrounded Vanessa, Julian pulled Elena into the corridor.
His hands were shaking.
"How did you know to record her?" he asked.
Elena hesitated.
"I didn't.
I was filming a short video to send my father.
She walked into the frame."
Julian went quiet for a long moment.
Then he said, "She told me you had a history of making false accusations against employers.
She showed me a file.
A whole file, Elena.
With your name on it."
Elena stared at him.
"She showed you that before the wedding?"
"Three days ago."
That meant Vanessa had prepared for this.
She had built a case against Elena before Elena had ever done anything wrong.
Someone had helped her.
Someone who knew Elena's work history, her father's condition, and exactly which catering company would be staffing the reception.
Before Elena could speak, one of the officers stepped into the corridor holding an evidence bag.
Inside it was Vanessa's phone, screen still lit.
"Mr.
Vance," the officer said carefully.
"There's a message here you need to see."
Julian looked at the screen.
His face changed completely.
Elena watched him read it twice.
When he looked up, something behind his eyes had gone very still.
"She wasn't working alone," he said quietly.
The name on that message was someone Julian trusted.
Someone who had been standing in that ballroom all evening, watching everything unfold.
---
What was in that message — and whose name did Elena see over Julian's shoulder?
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The full truth is darker than anyone in that ballroom realized.
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