Lila swallowed. “A man in the bathroom dropped the phone. When I tried to give it back, the video was open. Mom… he told me not to tell anyone.”
Fear stabbed through me.
“Where is he now?” I asked.
Her eyes flicked toward the shadowed catering corridor.
“Mom… he’s right there.”
I rose slowly, gripping her hand. My pulse hammered. Guests kept celebrating, unaware of the terror blooming inside me.
I guided Lila into the reception hall and found my cousin to keep her safe. Then I pulled the venue coordinator aside.
“There’s a man here who doesn’t belong. I need security now.”
Before he could respond, the lights flickered. The music cut. Static crackled through the speakers…
Then a man’s voice—calm, too calm—filled the room.
“Mrs. Caldwell… you have something of mine. Bring it back, and your daughter stays safe.”
Every guest turned toward me.
My blood turned to ice.
He wasn’t in the corridor anymore.
He was inside the building.
And he knew exactly who I was.
Security swept the venue while I rushed to Lila, holding her tight. Harper’s wedding disappeared behind the rising panic in my chest.
I headed toward the audio-visual control room.
The door was cracked open.