Chapter2
1699 Words
The sharp sound of breaking glass echoed across the ballroom .
For a moment the entire room froze . Music stopped . Conversations faded . Every eye turned toward the bride standing at the center of the floor .
Crystal fragments scattered across the marble beneath Clara’s feet while champagne spread across the polished surface .
Daniel looked down in surprise .
“Clara ?”
A waiter rushed forward with a cloth while another quickly began clearing the broken glass . Guests exchanged curious whispers .
Elena pushed through the crowd toward her sister .
Clara had not moved . Her gaze remained fixed toward the back of the ballroom . Her breathing looked uneven .
“Clara .” Daniel said with a polite smile toward the guests . “My wife must be overwhelmed . Today has been long .”
A few people laughed softly in understanding . But Elena stood close enough to see the truth .
Clara’s fingers trembled .
“Clara , are you alright ?” Daniel asked .
Elena placed a hand lightly on Clara’s arm .
“Clara . Look at me .”
Slowly Clara turned her head . Her expression had lost all color .
“I need some air .” Clara whispered .
Daniel frowned slightly .
“The dance only started . Everyone is waiting for us .”
Clara forced a small smile for the watching guests .
“I will be back in a minute . I promise .”
Daniel studied her for a second before nodding .
“Alright .”
Elena guided her sister toward the hallway again . The murmurs of the crowd followed them until the ballroom doors closed behind them .
Silence filled the corridor .
Clara leaned against the wall and released a shaky breath . Elena crossed her arms .
“Start explaining .”
Clara closed her eyes for a moment .
“He was here .”
“Who ?”
“The man I told you about .”
Elena felt a slow chill move across her spine .
“The visitor from your office ?”
Clara nodded .
“He was standing near the bar watching me .”
Elena frowned .
“Are you certain ?”
“Yes . I would recognize him anywhere .”
Elena looked toward the ballroom doors .
“Did Daniel see him ?”
“No .”
“Did anyone else react ?”
Clara shook her head .
“I do not think so .”
Elena considered the situation .
“If the man works with those accounts you mentioned , he might only want to watch you .”
Clara looked uneasy .
“No . His expression looked different today .”
“Different how ?”
“Like he was warning me .”
Elena studied her sister carefully .
“What exactly did he do ?”
“Nothing . He only stared .”
“That alone made you drop the glass ?”
Clara hesitated .
“There was something else .”
Elena waited .
Clara reached into her purse and removed her phone .
“I received this message a few minutes before the dance .”
She turned the screen toward Elena .
A single line appeared on the display .
‘Stop looking into things that do not concern you .’
Elena read the message twice .
“Unknown number ?”
“Yes .”
Elena’s jaw tightened .
“This is no coincidence .”
Clara lowered the phone slowly .
“I know .”
Elena looked directly at her .
“You should report this .”
“To who ?”
“The police .”
Clara shook her head immediately .
“No .”
“Why not ?”
Clara glanced toward the ballroom again .
“Elena , do you understand what would happen if the police started investigating financial crimes inside Vale Corporation ?”
Elena remained silent .
“This family controls banks , investment firms , shipping routes . Their reputation matters more than anything .”
“You married into them today .”
“Yes . Which means exposing this could destroy Daniel’s entire family .”
Elena crossed her arms again .
“And what if those financial transfers hide criminal activity ?”
Clara lowered her voice .
“That is what I am afraid of .”
Elena felt frustration building inside her chest .
“Clara , you cannot fight powerful criminals alone .”
“I am not alone .”
“You just said Daniel told you to stop investigating .”
Clara looked conflicted .
“I think he believes the board manages those accounts legally .”
“And if he is wrong ?”
Clara did not answer immediately .
A door opened at the far end of the corridor . Two waiters walked past carrying trays of drinks . Neither paid attention to the sisters standing near the wall .
When the hallway grew quiet again Clara spoke .
“Elena , promise me something .”
Elena sighed .
“You are asking many promises today .”
“Please .”
Elena studied her face .
“Fine . What is it ?”
“If anything happens to me , take the flash drive and go to the police .”
Elena felt a sharp stab of anger .
“Nothing is going to happen to you . Stop saying that .”
Clara reached for her hand .
“Just promise .”
Elena hesitated .
“I promise .”
Clara finally relaxed a little .
“Thank you .”
Footsteps approached from the ballroom entrance .
Adrian Vale appeared in the hallway , his expression remained calm but his eyes moved between the two sisters carefully .
“Your guests are beginning to worry .”
Clara straightened immediately .
“I apologize . I needed a moment .”
Adrian nodded once .
“A reasonable request on your wedding day .”
His gaze shifted toward Elena .
“Everything alright here ?”
Elena answered before Clara could speak .
“Yes .”
Adrian studied her for a brief moment , something in his expression suggested he did not fully believe the answer .
Daniel’s voice echoed from the ballroom .
“Clara ! Everyone is waiting for the cake cutting !”
Clara looked between Elena and Adrian .
“I should return .”
Elena nodded .
“I will join you in a minute .”
Clara gave her hand one last squeeze before walking back toward the ballroom . Adrian remained in the hallway .
Silence stretched between him and Elena .
Finally he spoke .
“Your sister seems distressed .”
Elena kept her voice neutral .
“Weddings can overwhelm people .”
Adrian watched her closely .
“Yes . They can .”
Elena turned toward the ballroom doors .
“I should go back before people begin asking questions .”
She took a step forward .
Adrian’s voice stopped her .
“Miss Hart .”
Elena turned again .
“If something troubles your sister , you should encourage her to speak openly .”
Elena raised an eyebrow .
“Why would you say that ?”
Adrian’s expression remained unreadable .
“Because secrets inside powerful families rarely stay hidden forever .”
Elena felt the words settle heavily in the quiet hallway .
“What makes you think there are secrets ?”
Adrian looked toward the ballroom for a moment before answering .
“Experience .”
Elena studied him carefully .
“Do you believe your family hides things ?”
Adrian’s eyes returned to her .
“I believe every powerful family hides something .”
Before Elena could respond the ballroom doors opened again . Music and laughter spilled into the corridor .
Daniel stepped into the hallway .
“There you are . We are about to start the cake ceremony .”
Clara appeared beside him , smiling politely for the guests watching through the doorway . Elena noticed the tension still hiding behind her sister’s eyes .
Daniel placed a hand around Clara’s waist and guided her toward the center of the room .
Guests gathered near the large wedding cake placed on a decorated table .
Several photographers raised their cameras .
Elena moved to the edge of the crowd while Adrian stood near the back watching quietly . Clara picked up the silver knife beside Daniel . Flashes of light filled the room as cameras captured the moment .
Daniel placed his hand over hers and together they began cutting the first slice .
Applause rose from the guests . Elena forced a small smile .
Everything looked normal again yet a heavy unease lingered in her chest .
A waiter moved through the crowd offering fresh glasses of champagne , one reached Elena and extended the tray .
She shook her head .
“No thank you .”
The waiter moved on .
Clara lifted a glass while laughing politely at something Daniel said . Guests raised their drinks in celebration .
Then Clara’s phone vibrated again in her hand . The sound was soft but Elena noticed it . Clara looked down at the screen .
Her smile vanished instantly .
The glass slipped from her fingers for the second time that evening . This time the champagne splashed across the table instead of the floor .
Clara stared at the message on her phone as if the words burned into the screen .
Elena pushed forward through the crowd .
“Clara ?”
Clara slowly lifted her eyes . Fear filled them completely now .
“Elena …”
Her voice dropped to a whisper .
“He knows about the flash drive .”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD