Chapter 2 - The Red Carpet and the Black Heart
“A hundred billion dollars looks beautiful until it starts to bleed.”The heavy double doors of the Whitmore Grand Ballroom swung open.
The crowd of seven hundred billionaires, politicians, and media moguls rose in a synchronized wave of diamonds and tuxedos. Flashbulbs from approved media outlets exploded like silent fireworks.
At the end of the long marble aisle, framed by a massive archway of white orchids and gold leaf, stood Nathaniel West.
He looked magnificent. His black tuxedo was flawless, his dark hair perfectly styled, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. When his eyes met Ava’s, his face softened into an expression of pure, breathless adoration. It was a masterclass in acting. It was a performance worth a hundred billion dollars.
Ava walked down the aisle alone. She had no father to give her away—because the man at the altar had stolen him.
With every step she took on the polished marble, her mind worked at a furious, calculated pace. If she ran away now, Nathaniel’s PR machine would paint her as an unstable, hysterical girl who couldn't handle the pressure. He would lock down the Ohio land through legal loopholes, tie her up in court until she was bankrupt, and win.
To destroy a man who built skyscrapers, you don't throw pebbles at his windows. You undermine the foundation until the entire structure collapses on top of him.
She reached the altar. Nathaniel stepped forward, taking her hands. His palms were warm. A year ago, that warmth comforted her. Today, it felt like the touch of a reptile.
“You take my breath away,” he whispered, his eyes shining with simulated tears.
“You take mine away too, Nathaniel,” she replied, her voice steady and sweet. More than you know.
The priest, an archbishop flown in from Europe to satisfy the West family ego, cleared his throat and began the ancient, solemn liturgy. The words about honor, cherishing, and holy matrimony echoed ironically off the high ceilings.
Beside her, Lauren was watching Ava with sharp, defensive eyes. Lauren knew her best friend; she could see the subtle rigidity in Ava’s shoulders. She knew something had broken inside the bridal suite.
“Do you, Nathaniel West, take Ava Bennett to be your lawfully wedded wife...”
“I do,” Nathaniel said instantly, his voice ringing with powerful conviction. He looked out at the crowd, letting them feel the weight of his commitment. The stock price of West Holdings was practically ticking upward in real-time.
The archbishop turned to Ava. “Do you, Ava Bennett, take Nathaniel West to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, so long as you both shall live?”
The ballroom went dead silent.
Ava looked directly into Nathaniel’s eyes. She saw the absolute confidence in them. The supreme arrogance of a man who believed he had won before the game even started.
Ava smiled. It was a terrifyingly beautiful smile.
“I do,” Ava said clearly.
Nathaniel’s shoulders visibly relaxed. The legal trap was sprung.
“The rings, please,” the archbishop said.
The best man handed over the platinum bands. But as Nathaniel reached out to slide the ring onto Ava’s finger, she didn't offer her hand. Instead, she reached into the hidden pocket of her ivory satin dress and pulled out her father’s voice recorder.
She didn't look at Nathaniel. She looked directly at the master audio technician standing at the back of the room, who was managing the surround-sound system for the global live-stream of the wedding.
“Julian!” Ava called out, her voice cutting through the sacred silence of the room. She pointed at the technician. “Play track one on the auxiliary channel. It’s the media package Nathaniel requested for the guests.”
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed in sudden confusion. “Ava? What are you doing? Sweetheart, this isn't part of the program.”
“Oh, it’s the only part that matters, Nathaniel,” Ava said softly.
May you like
Before Julian Vance or Nathaniel’s security team could react, the audio technician, assuming this was a surprise romantic gesture from the bride, hit the master play button on his console.
The state-of-the-art surround-sound speakers of the Whitmore Grand Hotel came alive.
