Chapter 2 - The Arrest and the Unraveling
The metallic click of handcuffs echoing through the floral-decorated ballroom sounded like a gunshot.
Mason's arms were pulled roughly behind his back,
his immaculate navy jacket twisting unnaturally as the officers secured the steel restraints around his wrists.
"You can't do this!"
Eleanor shrieked,
rushing forward with her designer handbag swinging wildly.
"Do you know who my family is?
My brother is on the circuit court bench!"
"Ma'am,
step back immediately or you will be arrested for obstruction of justice,
"
the second officer warned,
placing a firm hand on his belt.
Mason struggled against the officer's grip,
his eyes wildly searching the room for an ally,
for someone to save him from the nightmare he had created for himself.
He looked at Claire,
his voice cracking into a desperate plea.
"Claire,
baby,
listen to me!
She framed me!
She’s setting me up with fake evidence because she wants my money!"
Claire stood frozen beside the arch of white roses,
her hands trembling violently as she slowly pulled the sparkling six-carat diamond ring off her finger.
She looked at the ring,
then at me,
and finally at the man she was supposed to marry in less than five minutes.
"You told me she abandoned you,
"
Claire said,
her voice barely above a whisper,
yet every word carried through the silent hall.
"You told me she took off to Europe with another man and left you heartbroken.
"
"She lied!"
Mason yelled as he was dragged down the center aisle,
his shoes scuffing against the polished wood floor.
"Claire,
look at me!
I love you!"
Claire let the ring drop from her fingers;
it hit the mahogany floor with a sharp metallic clink and rolled until it stopped right at my feet.
I didn't bother to pick it up;
that ring was cursed by the betrayal it was bought with.
As the officers paraded Mason past the pews,
the very guests who had minutes ago praised his business acumen now shrank away in disgust.
"Rachel,
please,
"
Mason pleaded as he was hauled past me,
his eyes bloodshot,
tears of self-pity finally streaming down his cheeks.
"Don't do this to me,
think about Lily,
she needs a father!"
"She needed a father six weeks ago on Independence Pass,
"
I said,
my voice devoid of any hatred,
filled only with an icy,
unshakeable certainty.
"You chose to leave her in the dark and the cold,
Mason.
"
"Now you get to experience what cold really feels like.
"
The heavy oak doors swung shut behind him,
leaving an eerie,
suffocating silence in the wake of his dramatic removal.
Eleanor collapsed into a nearby pew,
sobbing hysterically into her lace handkerchief,
cursing my name with every breath she could muster.
"You monster,
"
she wept,
glaring up at me with eyes full of venom.
"You destroyed my son's life!"
"Your son destroyed his own life the moment he decided a newborn's life was worth less than his new luxury lifestyle,
"
I answered coldly.
Julian,
the best man,
walked up to me slowly,
his face pale,
his hands tucked deeply into his pockets.
"Rachel,
"
he said softly,
"I swear to God,
I had no idea.
"
"He told all of us you moved back to California and cut off all contact.
"
"He hid everything.
"
"He hid it because he thought I was dead,
Julian,
"
I whispered,
adjusting the soft blanket around Lily's warm cheek.
"He left us on a closed mountain road in a blizzard with no cell service.
"
"He didn't think I would survive the night,
let alone walk out of those woods.
"
Julian closed his eyes,
shaking his head in absolute horror at the realization of what his best friend was truly capable of.
"If there's anything you need,
"
Julian said,
his voice tight with remorse,
"any records,
any financial documents from the firm.
.
.
I'll give you everything.
"
"I'll take everything,
"
I replied quietly.
"Not for me,
but for her.
"
Claire walked down the altar steps,
her heavy wedding train dragging behind her like a shroud of dead dreams.
She stood before me,
looking down at the tiny baby fast asleep against my chest,
completely oblivious to the storm that had just shattered lives around her.
"Is she.
.
.
is she okay?"
Claire asked,
a stray tear carving a path through her flawless wedding makeup.
"She's strong,
"
I said softly.
"Stronger than her father ever was.
"
Claire looked into my eyes,
finding no anger directed toward her,
only the shared pain of two women who had been manipulated by the same sociopath.
"I'm so sorry,
"
Claire choked out,
covering her face with her hands.
"I gave him everything.
.
.
my trust,
my family's investments.
.
.
"
"Get your money back,
Claire,
"
I advised her firmly.
"Get your money back before his lawyers try to hide what's left.
"
Without another word,
I turned my back on the ruined wedding,
holding my daughter close,
May you like
and walked out into the crisp afternoon air,
ready to face the next battle in the war to reclaim our lives.
