“The Bride Slapped a Waiter in Front of Everyone. The Groom’s Next Move Ended the Wedding.”

Daniel heard the shot before he reached the front door.

He stopped breathing.

Marcus hit the entrance with his shoulder. Police flooded the unfinished house.

"Vivian!"

Daniel found her on the floor.

Blood spread across her sleeve.

Claire was screaming behind her.

The bullet had passed through Vivian's upper arm after she shoved Claire's chair aside.

Celia was gone.

A rear window stood open.

"She ran," Vivian gasped.

Daniel pressed a cloth to the wound. "Stay still."

"Claire?"

"She's okay."

Vivian closed her eyes in relief.

Daniel looked at her, confused by the feeling in his chest. The wedding was over. His trust was shattered. None of that changed what she had just done.

She had taken a bullet meant for his sister.

At the hospital, doctors said the injury was painful but not life-threatening.

Claire sat beside Daniel in the waiting room.

"You don't have to forgive her," Claire said.

"I know."

"But she saved me."

"I know."

Noah arrived with Detective Sloan.

"They found Celia's car," Sloan said. "Abandoned near the marina."

"And Celia?"

"No."

Marcus handed Daniel a recovered phone from the unfinished house.

"This belonged to one of Celia's people."

On it were messages about the wedding, the forged proxy, the kidnapping, and one final plan.

If Daniel refuses ceremony, initiate public collapse.

Attached was a folder containing fake emails, edited photographs, and fabricated financial records designed to make Daniel appear responsible for stealing from his own foundation.

Claire whispered, "She was going to destroy you."

Daniel scrolled farther.

A scheduled email was set to send to reporters at 8:00 the next morning.

Marcus checked the time.

6:47 a.m.

"Can we stop it?" Daniel asked.

Marcus frowned.

"Maybe. But the account isn't local."

Noah leaned closer to the screen.

Then he pointed at a contact name in the message history.

"I know that guy."

Daniel looked at him.