Chapter 2: The Wedding Tape
Chapter 2: The Wedding Tape
The hotel manager led everyone toward the security room in silence.
No one spoke.
Not the guests.
Not my parents.
Not even Preston.
The ballroom CCTV system was old but powerful—multiple angles, full coverage of the reception hall.
One technician loaded the footage.
“Starting from 7:42 PM,” he said.
The screen flickered.
And there it was.
Sophie sitting beside me.
Kicking her small feet under the chair.
Smiling.
Completely unaware of what was coming.
Then Preston appeared on screen.
Grabbing the microphone.
Announcing the missing phone.
Replaying every moment exactly as I had lived it.
My mother shifted uncomfortably.
My father frowned, but said nothing.
Then came the critical moment.
Preston walking straight toward our table.
Reaching into Sophie’s jacket.
Pulling out his phone.
The room in the footage erupted—just like reality.
But then the technician paused.
“Wait,” he said.
He rewound five seconds.
Zoomed in.
And froze the image.
A second hand.
Not Sophie’s.
Not mine.
Preston himself.
Sliding the phone into the pocket of Sophie’s jacket earlier that evening.
The room went dead silent.
Even the officers leaned closer.
My breath caught.
Preston didn’t move.
But his jaw tightened.
Just slightly.
May you like
Barely noticeable.
Except now everyone was watching him carefully.
