Derek settled into his chair, looking satisfied.
He raised his champagne.
“Finally.”
I looked directly at my new husband.
“Actually,” I said, “I have one last wedding announcement.”
Derek smiled lazily.
“Make it quick.”
I kept the microphone steady.
“My husband thinks what happened with the cake was funny.”
The ballroom quieted.
Derek’s smile tightened.
“Claire.”
“I’d like everyone to hear what happened afterward.”
Lena connected her phone to the sound system.
Derek stood.
“What are you doing?”
His recorded voice echoed through the ballroom.
Smile, Claire. Don’t embarrass me.
Then:
Good girl.
Then the hallway recording.
If she thinks she can ruin today, remind her whose house she’s coming home to tonight.
No one laughed.
Patricia’s face drained of color.
Derek rushed toward the DJ booth.
“Turn that off!”
Two uniformed officers entered through the ballroom doors.
Behind them was my attorney, Melissa Grant.
