Chapter 11

Victoria Montgomery's fingertips turned icy as the USB drive was handed to her on the altar.

She slowly inserted it into the laptop. The entire banquet hall held its breath, anticipating the sweet wedding video.

"Does he even deserve this?"

Lucas Whitmore's venomous voice suddenly exploded through the speakers.

Victoria froze mid-motion.

"Wait till I drain his blood and turn him into ashes..."

Every word from the recording stabbed into Victoria's eardrums like knives.

She'd never heard Lucas speak with such malice before.

"Turn it off! Now!"

Lucas charged toward the stage but was restrained by security.

Victoria's gaze grew colder by the second.

The recording continued, revealing Lucas boasting about exploiting the Montgomery family's influence.

"What's wrong with climbing the social ladder?"

An unfamiliar female voice cut in: "Does Victoria know we slept together last night?"

Crack!

The USB drive shattered against the marble floor.

"Explain." Victoria's voice could freeze hell.

Lucas turned ghostly pale. "It's fabricated! Ethan Sinclair framed me!"

"Ethan?" Mrs. Montgomery stood abruptly. "I always said he was trouble!"

Hearing Ethan's name, Lucas erupted. "That worthless bastard!"

Boom!

The banquet doors burst open.

Sophia Reynolds stormed in with red roses. "Lucas, come with me!"

Camera flashes erupted like fireworks.

"I don't know her!" Lucas shoved Sophia away.

"What was last night then?" Sophia sneered.

Victoria finally snapped. "Security!"

Chaos engulfed the venue.

The butler rushed in. "Sir! Madam! Emergency!"

Mrs. Montgomery collapsed upon seeing the trending hashtag #MontgomeryWeddingScandal.

"Call an ambulance!"

Lucas tried to follow but was pinned by Victoria's glacial stare.

Rose petals clung to his disheveled suit like bloodstains.

The guests' whispers coiled around him like venomous snakes.

This was all Ethan's doing.

Lucas bit through his lip, eyes burning with hatred.