Chapter 3 - The Backup
Claire’s voice went cold.
“Who sent that?”
Ethan looked at the phone. “A work message.”
“Your work messages tell you to delete backups?”
His jaw tightened.
“Claire, not now.”
“Then when?”
A knock interrupted them.
The wedding coordinator slipped inside with two assistants carrying towels, sparkling water, and a garment bag.
“We can fix more than it looks like,” she said. “The ceremony can be delayed twenty minutes.”
Claire almost laughed.
Twenty minutes.
As if the problem was a stain.
While the assistants worked on the gown, Claire watched Ethan in the mirror. He kept checking the door. He looked less like a groom worried about his bride and more like a man waiting for someone to arrive.
Mia noticed too.
She leaned close to Claire. “Do you trust him?”
Claire did not answer.
Ten minutes later, the security manager, Daniel Ruiz, entered. He was a broad-shouldered man in his fifties with a tablet tucked under one arm.
“I found the login,” he said.
Ethan straightened.
Claire asked, “Whose?”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“The credentials belonged to Mr. Richard Cole.”
Ethan’s father.
Claire stared at him.
“That’s impossible,” Ethan said quickly. “Dad doesn’t know how to access the security system.”
Daniel nodded. “He may not. Someone could have used his credentials.”
“Where is Richard?” Claire asked.
“At the reception hall.”
Daniel tapped the screen.
“There’s something else. The main recording stopped, but this property has a secondary emergency archive. It uploads short clips when the system detects unusual motion or sound.”
Claire felt her pulse jump.
“So there is a backup.”
“Possibly.”
Ethan stepped forward. “Daniel, don’t open anything until we talk to my father.”
Claire turned to him.
“Why?”
“Because this is his property.”
“It’s my wedding.”
“And my family.”
The words landed harder than he intended.
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel glanced between them. “The emergency archive is stored in a separate account. I need the master recovery code.”
“Who has it?” Mia asked.
Daniel hesitated.
“Mrs. Cole.”
Ethan’s mother.
Before anyone could speak, Claire’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
DON’T ASK FOR THE BACKUP. LEAVE THE VENUE BEFORE THE CEREMONY.
Claire read it twice.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
IF YOU MARRY ETHAN TODAY, YOU WILL LOSE MORE THAN A DRESS.
