Chapter 4 - The Box Inside the Frosting

The pastry chef nearly fainted when Ethan demanded a knife.

“I didn’t put anything in that cake,” she said. “I swear.”

Claire moved toward the service doors.

Noah blocked her path.

“Move.”

“Ethan?” Noah asked.

Ethan never took his eyes off Claire. “Nobody leaves yet.”

The chef cut carefully around the damaged frosting. Beneath the buttercream and sponge was a thin hollow space built into the decorative base of the lowest tier.

Inside sat a black metal case the size of a paperback book.

Claire whispered, “That isn’t mine.”

Nobody had accused her yet.

Margaret looked at Ethan.

He opened the case.

Inside were three flash drives, a hotel key card, and a small digital recorder.

Jenna hugged Lily tighter.

“What is this?” Ethan asked.

Claire’s mother, Diane Donovan, finally rose from her table. “This is absurd. Someone planted it.”

“Who?” Margaret asked.

Diane’s gaze flicked toward Jenna.

Jenna laughed in disbelief. “I arrived forty minutes before the ceremony. The cake has been here since noon.”

The pastry chef nodded. “Security signed for it at twelve thirteen.”

Ethan picked up the recorder.

Claire lunged.

Margaret caught her wrist.

For a seventy-year-old woman, her grip was surprisingly strong.

“Sit down,” Margaret said.

“Let go of me.”

“Stop behaving like you know what’s on it.”

Ethan pressed PLAY.

Static filled the ballroom speakers because Noah had connected the recorder to the DJ’s system.

Then a man’s voice came through.

“Claire, if Ethan sees the transfer logs, the wedding is over.”

Claire’s face drained of color.

Another voice answered.

Hers.

“He won’t see them. By tomorrow morning, I’ll have legal access to everything.”

Ethan turned slowly toward his new wife.

The recording continued.

“And the child?” the man asked.

Claire’s reply was clear.

“Jenna’s almost out of money. She’ll stop fighting eventually.”

Jenna covered her mouth.

Ethan looked ready to break something.

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Then the male voice on the recording said one last sentence.

“Good. Because if Margaret finds out what happened to Daniel, we’re all finished.”