Chapter 7: The Signature That Wasn’t Mine
I stared at the cancellation form in the officer’s hand.
My name was written at the bottom.
My signature.
My decision.
My life.
Except I had never touched that paper.
The room suddenly felt colder.
“Someone canceled my wedding?”” I whispered.
The officer nodded.
“The venue received the request electronically this morning.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who submitted it?””
The officer looked at the documents.
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.””
My eyes moved to Chloe.
Then Natalie.
Then back to Daniel.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone had something to hide.
And somehow, I was the only person who had no idea what was happening.
“I didn’t do this,” I said.
The words came out automatically.
Not because I thought anyone blamed me.
Because I needed to hear myself say them.
The officer studied my face.
“We believe you. That’s why we’re investigating.””
Daniel looked at the form.
“Can we see the submission details?””
The officer handed him the paper.
Daniel read it carefully.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I walked closer.
“What is it?””
He pointed to the bottom.
“The IP address.””
I looked confused.
“What about it?””
“It came from a device registered to the wedding venue.””
Rachel’s face went pale.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Who has access to the venue system?””
Rachel swallowed.
“Only senior staff.””
The officer turned toward her.
“Can you provide a list?””
“Yes.””
Her voice shook.
“But I don’t understand.””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone understood one thing.
This wasn’t random.
Someone had planned this.
Someone wanted my wedding canceled.
Someone wanted me humiliated.
Someone wanted Daniel and me separated.
I looked at Chloe.
“Was this you?””
Her eyes widened.
“No.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
She looked at Natalie.
That tiny glance told me everything.
“You knew.””
Chloe shook her head.
“Emma—”
“You knew someone was going to cancel my wedding.””
“No.””
“Then why did you look at her?””
Chloe opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Natalie sighed.
“This is becoming unnecessarily emotional.””
I turned toward her.
“Emotional?””
My voice rose.
“You walked into my wedding with my sister, brought documents about my fiancé, and somehow my wedding was canceled before I even walked down the aisle.””
I stepped closer.
“And you’re calling me emotional?””
For the first time, Natalie looked uncomfortable.
Daniel moved beside me.
“Answer the question.””
Natalie looked at him.
“You really want the truth?””
“Yes.””
She smiled sadly.
“You always did prefer difficult truths.””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Say it.””
Natalie looked at me.
“I knew Chloe was going to confront you.””
My stomach dropped.
“But the cancellation?””
She paused.
“I didn’t know she would go that far.””
Everyone looked at Chloe.
My sister shook her head.
“No.””
Her voice became desperate.
“No, I didn’t cancel it.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Then who did?””
Chloe looked terrified.
“I don’t know.””
The officer stepped forward.
“We need everyone to remain here until we sort this out.””
A bitter laugh escaped me.
My wedding day.
My dream.
And now I couldn’t even leave my own dressing room.
I sat down.
The ruined gown spread around me.
Black stains against white fabric.
A perfect picture of everything that had happened.
A beautiful thing destroyed by people who claimed they cared about me.
Daniel crouched in front of me.
“Emma.””
I looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
I wanted to stay angry.
I wanted to blame him for hiding Natalie.
For keeping secrets.
But seeing him there, looking completely broken, I realized something.
He was also trapped in this.
“Did you know about the money?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know Chloe hated you?””
“No.””
“Did you know Natalie was coming here?””
“No.””
Each answer hurt less than I expected.
Because they sounded honest.
I looked away.
“I don’t know who to trust anymore.””
Daniel’s expression softened.
“Trust what you know.””
I looked at him.
“And what do I know?””
He took my hand carefully.
“You know I love you.””
My eyes filled.
But before I could answer, Rachel suddenly gasped.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
She was looking at the computer tablet near the vanity.
“What?””
She picked it up.
“The cancellation request.””
The officer walked over.
“What about it?””
Rachel pointed at the screen.
“This wasn’t submitted from the venue system.””
Everyone froze.
The officer frowned.
“But the IP address—”
“It’s a remote login.””
Rachel’s fingers moved quickly.
“Someone accessed our system from outside, then routed it through the venue network.””
Daniel looked at her.
“So someone wanted it to look like an employee did it.””
Rachel nodded.
“Yes.””
My heart started pounding.
A person who knew technology.
A person who knew the venue.
A person who knew my wedding schedule.
The list became smaller.
The officer asked:
“Who knew the exact timing of the ceremony?””
I thought.
Family.
Wedding staff.
Close friends.
Then I remembered.
Chloe had asked for my full wedding schedule.
She said she wanted to help.
Natalie somehow knew where I would be.
And Daniel’s former company had employees with technical skills.
Before anyone could speak, the tablet made a sound.
A new notification appeared.
Rachel looked at it.
Her face drained.
“What?””
She turned the screen toward us.
“A message.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“What message?””
Rachel whispered.
“It says…”
She swallowed.
“‘You’re looking in the wrong direction.’”
The room went silent.
Then another line appeared.
A name.
Not Chloe.
Not Natalie.
Not Daniel.
A name none of us expected.
May you like
*Marcus Laurent.*
The boutique representative.
