He Knew His Father Was With the Bride

Chapter 3: The Bride Who Knew Too Much

The wedding guests rose when Adrian entered the chapel.

He wore his gray suit and white rose as though nothing had happened. Isabella walked beside him, pale beneath her veil.

No one saw the terror between them.

At the altar stood Richard.

He was smiling.

Eleanor was nowhere in sight.

Adrian's phone felt heavy inside his pocket. The recording device was hidden beneath Isabella's bouquet.

"Where is she?" Adrian whispered as they passed Richard.

"Safe for now," Richard replied.

The priest began the ceremony.

Every word sounded unreal.

Love.

Trust.

Faithfulness.

Richard sat in the front row, watching them like a man enjoying a private joke.

Isabella's hands shook.

When the priest asked if anyone objected, the chapel fell silent.

Adrian looked toward Richard.

Nothing.

Then a woman stood in the final row.

She wore black and held a thick envelope.

"My sister would object."

Isabella gasped.

It was Camille.

Alive.

Richard stood sharply.

"Impossible."

Camille walked down the aisle.

Three years earlier, she had survived the staged accident. A private investigator loyal to Adrian's grandmother had hidden her while she recovered. Only Adrian and Isabella knew she was alive.

Until now.

Richard's face changed.

"You should have stayed buried."

The guests erupted in whispers.

Camille reached the altar and handed the envelope to the priest.

"These are copies of every payment Richard Vale made to silence witnesses."

Richard looked at Adrian.

"So this is your trap."

Adrian said nothing.

Richard smiled coldly.

"Then you forgot one thing."

He raised his phone.

On the chapel screen appeared live footage of Eleanor in a locked room. A man stood behind her holding a gun.

Richard addressed the guests.

"My son will give me the original recording. Then this unfortunate family argument ends."

Isabella tightened her grip on Adrian's hand.

Camille whispered, "Don't do it."

Adrian stepped toward his father.

Then the chapel doors slammed shut.

A deep voice came through the speakers.

"Richard Vale, remain where you are."

Police filled the aisles.

Richard looked shocked.

But the screen showing Eleanor suddenly went black.

Then a gunshot echoed through the speakers.

Adrian stopped breathing.