Chapter 4: The Bride Tried to Run
“STOP HER!””
Nathan's voice thundered across the rooftop.
Victoria gathered the front of her wedding gown and sprinted toward the glass doors leading to the hotel lobby.
Two security guards moved immediately.
One blocked the exit.
The other caught her arm just before she reached the staircase.
“LET GO OF ME!”” Victoria screamed.
“Ma'am, you need to come with us.””
“DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?””
The guard didn't release her.
Victoria swung her bouquet at his face.
White roses scattered across the marble.
“You can't touch me! My father owns half the businesses in this city!””
Nathan stood beside Lily, holding his daughter tightly against his chest.
“Victoria, stop.””
She turned toward him.
For a brief moment, her expression changed.
The anger disappeared.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Nathan, please. Listen to me.””
He didn't move.
“I can explain.””
“You just admitted you pushed my daughter.””
“I didn't mean to!””
“You disabled the camera.””
“I was trying to protect our privacy!””
“You took emergency medical equipment from the first-aid station!””
Victoria shook her head.
“That isn't what happened!””
Nathan looked at Marcus.
“Have the police secure the building. Nobody touches that equipment until they arrive.””
Marcus nodded.
“Already done, sir.””
Victoria's face tightened.
Then she looked directly at Jada.
“This is your fault.””
Jada stood near the overturned champagne tray.
Her injured arm was wrapped in a clean towel someone had given her.
“My fault?””
“You should have stayed out of it!””
Jada stared at her.
“You pushed a six-year-old child over a rooftop.””
Victoria stepped forward despite the guard holding her.
“She was never supposed to fall that far!””
The words escaped her mouth.
Silence followed.
Nathan slowly lifted his head.
“What did you say?””
Victoria realized her mistake.
“I mean—”
“You said she wasn't supposed to fall that far.””
“I was upset!””
“Why?””
Victoria began crying again.
“I was trying to scare her. That's all!””
Jada felt sick.
“You thought pushing a child toward a rooftop edge was a harmless way to scare her?””
Victoria looked at Nathan.
“She kept interfering with everything!””
Nathan stared at her.
“She is six years old.””
“She hates me!””
“She is a child!””
“She never accepted me!””
Lily began shaking.
Nathan immediately covered her ears.
“Don't speak about her like that.””
Victoria's voice became shrill.
“I spent two years trying to make this family work. Two years, Nathan! I smiled through every tantrum, every birthday, every time she interrupted us!””
Jada stepped closer.
“She's your future stepdaughter. She's not supposed to compete with you.””
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You don't understand anything.””
“Then explain it.””
Victoria glared at her.
“You think you're some kind of hero because you pulled her off that ledge?””
“No. I think I did what any decent person should have done.””
Victoria looked at Nathan.
“And what about you? You think she's innocent? You think she didn't do this deliberately?””
Nathan's expression was unreadable.
“Who?””
Victoria pointed at Jada.
“She planned this! She wanted to ruin our wedding!””
Jada shook her head.
“You put your access card in my bag.””
“You have no proof!””
Caroline suddenly spoke from behind the guests.
“Yes, she does.””
Victoria spun around.
Caroline was standing beside the hotel manager.
Her hands were trembling, but she no longer looked away.
“I saw you put something in Jada's handbag.””
Victoria's mouth fell open.
Nathan turned.
“Caroline, what are you saying?””
Caroline wiped her cheeks.
“Before the ceremony, Victoria asked me to bring Jada a bottle of champagne from the bridal suite.””
Jada frowned.
“I never received any champagne.””
“You were arranging glasses near the service station,” Caroline explained.
“Victoria told me to leave it beside your handbag.””
Victoria shook her head violently.
“She's lying!””
Caroline continued.
“When I came back, the bottle was gone. But I saw Victoria standing near the bag.””
Jada remembered the bridesmaid bumping into her earlier.
The pieces were beginning to fit together.
Nathan looked at Caroline.
“Why didn't you say anything before?””
Caroline lowered her eyes.
“Because Victoria threatened me.””
“What did she threaten you with?””
“My brother.””
Victoria went pale.
Caroline pulled out her phone.
“She told me that if I ever embarrassed her, she'd make sure my brother lost his scholarship.””
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“Your brother attends Sterling University?””
Caroline nodded.
“He's in his second year. Victoria's father funds the scholarship program.””
Victoria shouted.
“That's enough!””
Caroline flinched.
But she kept going.
“I have messages.””
She unlocked her phone and passed it to Marcus.
There were several messages from Victoria.
One read:
Do exactly what I tell you. If Jada becomes a problem, make sure she is the one holding the card.
Another said:
Your brother's future depends on your cooperation.
Nathan read the messages twice.
His jaw tightened.
“Marcus, save everything.””
“Already doing that.””
Victoria looked around desperately.
Her eyes moved from Nathan to the guests, searching for someone willing to defend her.
But nobody stepped forward.
The musicians had stopped playing.
The wedding cake remained untouched.
Hundreds of white roses decorated the terrace.
Everything had been arranged to celebrate a perfect marriage.
Instead, the bride stood surrounded by security guards, with evidence of a crime appearing on everyone's phones.
Victoria's gaze finally settled on Lily.
“Sweetheart.””
Nathan immediately turned his body.
“Don't.””
Victoria ignored him.
“Lily, tell Daddy you misunderstood.””
Lily shook her head.
“You pushed me.””
Victoria forced a smile.
“I would never hurt you.””
“You did.””
“I love you.””
Lily began crying.
“No, you don't.””
Those four words seemed to hurt Victoria more than anything else.
Her face twisted.
“You little—”
Nathan stepped forward.
“Don't finish that sentence.””
Victoria stopped.
Then she looked at Nathan with an expression Jada had never seen before.
Pure hatred.
“You chose her over me.””
Nathan's voice was quiet.
“There was never a choice.””
Victoria laughed.
“You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you.””
Nathan looked at her.
“What exactly did you sacrifice?””
Victoria's lips parted.
Before she could answer, a police officer entered the terrace.
“Mr. Sterling?””
Nathan nodded.
“I'm here.””
The officer introduced herself as Detective Morgan.
She took in the broken glasses, the injured server, the crying child, and the bride surrounded by security.
“Can someone explain what happened?””
Nathan glanced at Jada.
Then at Lily.
“Someone tried to kill my daughter.””
Victoria immediately protested.
“That is ridiculous!””
Detective Morgan raised a hand.
“Ma'am, I haven't asked you anything yet.””
She spoke to Nathan first, then examined the video Daniel had recorded.
Her expression became serious.
“Who recorded this?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“I did.””
“Have you altered or deleted anything?””
“No.””
“Good. We'll need the original file.””
The detective then examined Jada's injured arm.
“Were you involved in the rescue?””
“Yes.””
“Did you witness the push?””
“Yes.””
“Are you willing to make a statement?””
Jada nodded.
“Absolutely.””
Detective Morgan turned toward Nathan.
“Where is the child now?””
“With me.””
“I'd like medical personnel to examine her immediately.””
Nathan nodded.
“Whatever she needs.””
Victoria suddenly started struggling again.
“I want my lawyer!””
Detective Morgan looked at the security guards.
“Keep her here until we've established exactly what happened. We have witnesses, video evidence, and a possible attempt to interfere with an investigation.””
Victoria's face went white.
Then she looked at Nathan.
“You can't let them take me.””
Nathan didn't answer.
“Nathan!””
He looked at her once.
“You should have thought about that before you touched my daughter.””
As the officers led Victoria toward the glass doors, she suddenly stopped.
Her eyes moved toward Jada.
“You think you've won?””
Jada said nothing.
Victoria leaned closer.
“You don't know who you're dealing with.””
The officer pulled her away.
But as she disappeared into the hotel, she shouted one final sentence.
“ASK YOUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER WHAT SHE FOUND IN MY ROOM!””
Nathan froze.
Jada looked at Lily.
The little girl had gone completely silent.
“Lily?”” Nathan whispered.
She tightened her arms around his neck.
Then she spoke.
“Daddy…”
“What is it?””
“I didn't tell you everything.””
Nathan's face changed.
“What else happened?””
Lily glanced toward the staircase where Victoria had disappeared.
Then she whispered:
May you like
“She showed me something before the wedding.””
And whatever it was, Lily seemed more frightened of it than she had been of the rooftop.
