Chapter 1 - CONFESS
Claire Morgan drove the scissors straight through the front layer of her wedding dress.
Gasps tore across the wedding hall.
She cut again.
Ripped the satin apart.
Then tore the train free and threw it onto the polished floor.
“THIS WEDDING IS OVER!”
Her father, Robert Morgan, pushed through two relatives and stormed toward her.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He looked at the ruined dress.
Then slapped Claire across the face.
“ARE YOU INSANE?!”
Claire recoiled.
Her eyes burned.
She pointed past him.
“ASK HIM!”
Daniel Reed stepped forward in his dark tuxedo.
His face was pale.
“She’s losing it.”
He reached for Claire’s arm.
She ripped free and shoved him backward.
“DON’T TOUCH ME!”
Robert looked between them.
Daniel turned quickly toward him.
“She’s ruining everything!”
Claire pulled off her wedding ring and threw it into Daniel’s chest.
“YOU RUINED IT!”
Guests began turning.
Whispering.
Daniel stepped closer.
His voice dropped.
“Claire, shut up.”
That did it.
Claire’s expression became cold.
Robert saw Daniel’s face.
Not anger.
Fear.
Claire stepped into Daniel’s space and pointed at him.
“CONFESS.”
Daniel froze.
Claire pointed toward the guests.
“TELL EVERYONE EVERYTHING.”
No one moved.
Daniel swallowed.
Claire waited.
He said nothing.
So Claire reached into the torn dress, pulled out a folded document, and held it up.
“Tell them about the series.”
Daniel’s face collapsed.
Robert frowned.
“What series?”
Claire looked at the room full of family and friends.
“The one Daniel sold us to.”
Then the ballroom doors opened.
A woman in a black suit entered, carrying a binder.
Daniel whispered:
“Oh, God.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
She held his gaze.
“You don’t get to pray now.”
