Chapter 2: When the Golden Child Fell
Chapter 2: When the Golden Child Fell
Word spread through the hotel faster than the wedding music ever had.
Guests gathered outside the security office.
Whispers became conversations.
Conversations became outrage.
"The little girl was innocent."
"He attacked his own niece."
"He planned the whole thing."
Phones appeared everywhere.
Someone had recorded Preston screaming.
Someone else had filmed Sophie covered in blood.
Within an hour...
The wedding that had been planned for eighteen months was exploding across social media.
Not as a celebration.
But as a scandal.
Police officers escorted Preston into a private conference room.
His expensive tuxedo suddenly looked like a costume.
He kept repeating the same sentence.
"You don't understand."
"My sister has always been jealous."
The detective folded his arms.
"So jealousy made you hide your own phone?"
Preston remained silent.
The detective continued.
"And jealousy forced you to strike an eight-year-old?"
Nothing.
Finally...
The handcuffs came out.
The metallic click echoed louder than the wedding orchestra ever had.
His new wife, Vanessa, burst into tears.
"You lied to me."
"You told me your sister was unstable."
"You told me Sophie was spoiled."
Preston reached toward her.
"Vanessa, listen—"
She stepped back.
"No."
"I married a monster."
She removed her wedding ring.
Placed it on the conference table.
Walked away.
Their marriage had lasted less than four hours.
Outside...
Guests quietly collected their coats.
No farewell speeches.
No dancing.
No cake.
Just silence.
One by one...
They left.
The grand ballroom that Preston had dreamed about for years became nothing more than an empty room filled with wilted flowers and abandoned champagne glasses.
At the hospital...
The doctor smiled gently.
"Sophie will recover."
"She'll need several stitches."
"But she'll be okay."
Those words finally allowed me to breathe.
Sophie looked up at me from the hospital bed.
"Mommy..."
"Am I still your flower girl?"
May you like
I kissed her forehead.
"You'll always be my flower girl."
