Chapter 2: The Woman in the Wedding Dress
The ambulance arrived eleven minutes later.
Marcus counted every second.
He stood barefoot on the stone terrace, his wedding shirt soaked, his hands trembling as paramedics worked over Claire.
Ava clung to his waist.
“Daddy, is Mommy going to wake up?””
Marcus crouched.
“She's going to the hospital, sweetheart.””
“But is she going to be okay?””
He swallowed.
“I promise we're going to do everything we can.””
Ava looked toward Vanessa.
“Is Aunt Vanessa coming?””
Marcus followed her gaze.
Vanessa was standing beside the floral arch, surrounded by guests who were trying to comfort her.
She had begun crying.
Perfect little tears.
Her hand rested against her chest.
“Oh, Marcus,” she whispered when he approached.
“I'm so frightened.””
He stopped in front of her.
“Who was that man?””
Vanessa blinked.
“What man?””
“The one standing beside you.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“He was holding a black bag.””
She shook her head.
“Marcus, I was trying to keep everyone calm.””
“Who was he?””
“I don't know!””
Her voice rose.
Several guests turned toward them.
Then she reached for his hand.
“Please. Don't do this here.””
Marcus pulled away.
“You were trying to stop me from getting into that pool.””
“I was trying to stop you from embarrassing yourself!””
He stared at her.
“My ex-wife was tied to the bottom of a swimming pool.””
Vanessa looked around.
“Lower your voice.””
“Someone attached a chain to her ankle.””
“Marcus, we don't know what happened.””
“I know what I saw.””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Claire has always been dramatic. You know that.””
He stepped closer.
“Don't you dare.””
For the first time since meeting her, Vanessa looked genuinely uncertain.
Then she changed tactics.
She began crying harder.
“I know you still have feelings for her. I always knew this would happen eventually. But using your daughter's imagination to destroy our wedding?””
Marcus stared at her.
“Stop talking.””
“She's six years old. She gets confused.””
“Stop.””
“She probably saw Claire fall and invented the rest.””
Ava suddenly stepped forward.
“I didn't invent anything!””
Vanessa turned toward her.
“Ava, sweetheart—”
“Don't call me sweetheart!””
The little girl's voice shook.
“You pushed Mommy!””
A murmur spread through the guests.
Vanessa's face hardened.
Then she crouched, reaching for Ava's shoulders.
“Listen carefully. You need to stop saying things you don't understand.””
Ava backed away.
“You told Mommy nobody would believe her.””
Vanessa froze.
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“What did you say, sweetheart?””
Ava's chin trembled.
“Mommy said Aunt Vanessa was being mean. She told me to hide.””
“Hide where?””
“Behind the big white flowers.””
Marcus looked toward the garden.
“What happened next?””
Ava pointed at Vanessa.
“She took Mommy to the pool.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“This is enough!””
Her sudden shout silenced the terrace.
Then she noticed everyone watching.
She forced a smile.
“I'm sorry. This is all very upsetting.””
Marcus no longer cared about the guests.
He wanted answers.
But the paramedics were preparing to move Claire.
One of them looked up.
“Sir, are you her husband?””
“Her ex-husband. I'm her daughter's father.””
“We need to get her to the hospital immediately. You can follow us.””
Marcus nodded.
He lifted Ava into his arms.
Then he looked back at Vanessa.
“Don't leave.””
Her eyes widened.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“Marcus, I'm your fiancée.””
“Not anymore.””
The words came out quietly.
But everyone heard them.
Vanessa's face went white.
“You cannot be serious.””
Marcus looked at the wedding arch.
The flowers.
The chairs.
The guests.
The diamond ring still sitting on Vanessa's finger.
Then he looked at the woman who had nearly become his wife.
“I don't know who you are.””
He turned away.
Vanessa called after him.
“Marcus! If you walk out of here, don't expect me to forgive you!””
He didn't answer.
He carried Ava toward his car.
Behind him, a glass shattered.
At Charleston Memorial Hospital, Claire was taken directly into emergency care.
Marcus sat in the corridor with Ava asleep against his chest.
Her little fingers were wrapped around the sleeve of his wet shirt.
A nurse brought them blankets.
“Would you like something to drink?””
“Water, please.””
She glanced at Ava.
“And perhaps some juice for her when she wakes up.””
“Thank you.””
The nurse hesitated.
“Your daughter's feet need attention, too.””
Marcus looked down.
He hadn't noticed how much blood was on the bottom of Ava's dress.
He felt sick.
“Of course. Please help her.””
Ava woke when another nurse gently cleaned the cuts.
“Daddy?””
“I'm right here.””
“Are you angry with me?””
Marcus stared at her.
“What?””
“Because I shouted at your wedding.””
His throat tightened.
He sat beside her.
“Sweetheart, you could have screamed a thousand times. You did the right thing.””
“But Aunt Vanessa said I would ruin everything.””
Marcus gently brushed her tangled hair away from her face.
“Listen to me. No wedding, no party, no expensive dress is more important than you or your mommy.””
Ava's eyes filled.
“Promise?””
“I promise.””
She leaned against him.
After a few minutes, she whispered something.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Mommy told me not to tell you something.””
Marcus went still.
“What was it?””
Ava looked toward the closed emergency-room doors.
“She said Aunt Vanessa wanted to take me away.””
His stomach tightened.
“Take you where?””
“I don't know.””
“When did Mommy say that?””
“Last night.””
Marcus's mind began racing.
Claire had never mentioned anything like this during their recent conversations.
“What else did she say?””
Ava rubbed her eyes.
“She said I shouldn't go anywhere with Aunt Vanessa. Even if Aunt Vanessa said you told her to take me.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Did Vanessa ever try to take you somewhere?””
Ava nodded.
“Yesterday.””
“Where?””
“To the car.””
“Why?””
“She said she had a surprise for me.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“What kind of surprise?””
Ava looked down at her bandaged feet.
“She wanted me to get inside, but Mommy came outside and shouted.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
He remembered Vanessa telling him she had spent the previous afternoon shopping for the wedding.
She had said she bought Ava a special gift.
He had never questioned it.
“Did you get inside the car?””
Ava shook her head.
“Mommy pulled me away.””
Then she looked up.
“Daddy, Aunt Vanessa told Mommy that if she didn't sign the papers, something bad would happen.””
“What papers?””
“I don't know. Mommy was crying.””
Before Marcus could ask another question, the emergency-room doors opened.
A doctor walked toward them.
“Mr. Reed?””
Marcus stood immediately.
“How is she?””
The doctor removed his glasses.
“Your former wife is alive. We managed to restore her breathing, and she's responding to treatment.””
Marcus nearly lost his balance.
“Can I see her?””
“Not yet. She's in critical condition, and we need to monitor her closely.””
“Will she survive?””
“We're cautiously optimistic. But I need to ask you something.””
“What?””
The doctor lowered his voice.
“When our team examined her ankle, we found deep pressure injuries consistent with a heavy object being attached to it for some time.””
Marcus clenched his jaw.
The doctor continued.
“This does not appear to have been a simple fall.””
“I know.””
“Has the police been informed?””
“I believe someone called them at the estate.””
“Good. They will need to speak with you.””
Marcus nodded.
Then he remembered the phone.
The phone beside Claire's hand.
The message.
“Doctor, did they bring her belongings?””
“I believe they were handed to hospital security.””
Marcus went to the reception desk.
A nurse checked the property inventory.
“There was a black smartphone,” she said.
“The police requested that we leave it untouched.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Evidence procedure.””
He nodded slowly.
Then his own phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
You should have let the wedding finish.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Now you've made this much harder than it needed to be.
He immediately called the number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Mr. Reed, if you want your daughter to stay alive, stop asking questions.””
The call ended.
Marcus looked down.
Ava was standing behind him.
Her face had gone completely pale.
“Daddy?””
He turned.
“What is it, sweetheart?””
She pointed toward the hospital entrance.
“The man from the pool.””
Marcus spun around.
A tall man in a gray jacket was walking through the automatic doors.
He looked directly at Marcus.
May you like
Then he smiled.
And raised one finger to his lips.
