Chapter 2 — The Camera Never Blinked
For the first time that evening...
Preston's confidence vanished.
Only for a second.
Then he laughed.
A short, mocking laugh.
"CCTV?" he scoffed.
"You think anyone cares?"
He looked around the ballroom.
Every face remained frozen.
Some guests avoided my eyes.
Others stared at Sophie...
But no one stepped forward.
My mother folded her arms tighter.
"Security footage won't change the fact that the phone was found in her pocket."
My father nodded.
"Leave before you embarrass yourself even more."
The ambulance sirens grew louder.
Within moments...
Hotel security rushed through the ballroom doors.
Behind them came two paramedics.
They knelt beside Sophie immediately.
One of them peeled back the blood-soaked ribbon.
His expression changed.
"She needs stitches."
The room finally stirred.
Not because of Preston.
Because blood made denial impossible.
As the paramedics lifted Sophie onto a stretcher...
A tall man in a dark navy suit approached us.
His name tag read:
Daniel Brooks.
Head of Hotel Security.
"I'll need everyone to remain inside the ballroom."
Preston frowned.
"My reception is over."
Daniel didn't move.
"Actually...
it's now an assault investigation."
Silence.
Preston forced a smile.
"My niece attacked herself after stealing my phone."
Daniel simply pointed toward the ceiling.
"I've already secured every camera recording."
For the first time...
The color drained from Preston's face.
...
Forty minutes later...
I sat beside Sophie inside the emergency room.
She needed seven stitches.
She never complained.
She only asked one question.
"Mommy..."
"Did Uncle Preston stop being my family?"
I couldn't answer.
Because I realized...
He never truly had been.
My phone vibrated.
Daniel Brooks.
"I've watched the footage."
His voice was calm.
"Evelyn..."
"You were right."
My heart stopped.
"I've sent a copy to the police."
"And there's something else you need to see."
"What?"
A pause.
May you like
"Your brother didn't just plant the phone."
"He planned everything."
