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Chapter 2 - The Red Light Above the Arch

The double mahogany doors of the Grand Crystal Ballroom swung wide as two Chicago Police Department patrol officers stepped into the room, followed by Senior Detective Marcus Vance (no relation) and the General Manager of The Grand Monarch, Mr. Alistair Finch.

Preston stepped forward immediately, his chest puffed out, clutching the titanium phone like a trophy.

“Thank you for the prompt response, Detective,” Preston said loudly, ensuring Julianna’s father—billionaire shipping magnate Richard Sterling—heard every word. “I am Preston Vance, Executive Vice President of Vance Enterprises. My niece here has just been caught red-handed with my corporate property. I want a formal police report filed and both her and her mother escorted off the premises immediately.”

Julianna, the bride, stood near the stage in her custom Vera Wang gown, her brow furrowed with growing embarrassment and discomfort. “Preston... can’t we just let them leave quietly? It’s our wedding.”

“No, darling!” my mother Victoria interjected sharply, smoothing down her diamond necklace. “A crime is a crime! Clara has harbored jealousy toward Preston for thirty years. She must learn that actions have legal consequences!”

Detective Vance looked at the sobbing eight-year-old child clinging to my waist, then looked at the arrogant young groom.

“Ma’am,” Detective Vance addressed me in a calm, professional tone. “Did you or your daughter take this device?”

“We did not, Detective,” I answered, holding my chin high and keeping my arm firmly around Sophie. “My daughter Sophie was sitting at this table coloring her book for forty-five minutes. My brother intentionally planted that phone in her cardigan pocket while I was briefly away from the table, intending to fabricate a criminal record to force my resignation from the family board.”

Preston let out a mocking laugh. “That is an absurd, desperate lie! Why would I plant my own phone on my wedding day?”

“Because of the red lens above your head, Preston,” I said calmly, pointing upward.

Every head in the ballroom turned toward the grand archway.

The miniature commercial surveillance dome gleamed under the chandeliers, its crimson indicator light pulsing steadily.

“Mr. Finch,” I turned toward the hotel general manager, who was holding an administrative master key card. “Under Illinois Commercial Code Section 42, as a paying guest and registered co-host of this private banquet hall, I demand an immediate forensic playback of the banquet room’s surveillance logs from 7:00 PM to the present moment.”

Mr. Finch glanced nervously at Preston, then looked at the police detective. “The Monarch’s security system utilizes multi-angle 4K optical feeds with synchronized audio. The footage is archived directly on our secure server.”

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Preston’s jaw twitched. A bead of sweat formed along his hairline. “That’s... that’s completely unnecessary! Detective, you have the stolen property in plain sight! Arrest them!”

“No, Mr. Vance,” Detective Vance stated firmly, stepping between Preston and my daughter. “When an allegation of framing involving a minor is raised, video verification is mandatory before any custodial action. Mr. Finch, link your feed to the presentation monitors.”

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