Chapter 5 - THE FIRST TOAST
The ceremony was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
That was the word that kept coming to me.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Artificial.
Julian and Victoria stood beneath an enormous floral arch.
Everyone applauded.
Everyone smiled.
Everyone photographed them.
No one knew what was inside the little USB drive in my son's pocket.
Except Julian.
And whoever had sent it.
During the reception, Noah and I sat at a table near the back of the ballroom.
The wedding coordinator came by twice to ask whether Noah wanted to join the children at another table.
He refused.
"I'm staying with Mom."
I squeezed his hand.
Across the room, Julian laughed with his law partners.
Victoria stood beside him.
Champagne flowed.
Music played.
People danced.
For almost an hour, nothing happened.
I started wondering if I had made a mistake.
Maybe the drive contained nothing.
Maybe the mysterious messages were a cruel prank.
Maybe Evelyn had been manipulating us.
Then Julian took the microphone.
The ballroom slowly became quiet.
He raised his champagne glass.
"I'd like to thank everyone for being here."
Applause.
He smiled.
"I've spent a lot of years learning that life doesn't always go according to plan."
People laughed.
Victoria touched his arm.
Julian continued.
"But sometimes the things you think are disasters turn out to be blessings."
My stomach tightened.
He looked toward our table.
Directly at me.
Then he smiled.
"Leaving the wrong person was the best decision of my life."
Silence.
Then laughter.
Not everyone.
But enough.
Victoria laughed.
Several of Julian's colleagues laughed.
Someone at the next table whispered something.
My face burned.
Noah's hand tightened around mine.
I pushed my chair backward.
I was leaving.
I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of watching me break.
Then Noah spoke.
"It's okay, Mom."
I looked at him.
He was calm.
Too calm.
He reached into his jacket.
Pulled out the little brown box.
And stood.
My heart stopped.
"Noah."
He looked at me.
"I brought Dad a wedding gift."
"Sit down."
"It's okay."
"Noah."
He walked toward the stage.
People began whispering.
Julian smiled.
At first, he seemed amused.
Then he saw the box.
His smile disappeared.
Noah climbed the small stairs to the stage.
Julian bent down.
"What is that?"
"A present."
"For me?"
"Yes."
Julian glanced at me.
Then back at Noah.
He laughed.
"Well, thank you."
Noah handed him the box.
Julian opened the clasp.
Inside was a USB drive.
His face went completely white.
Noah looked at him.
"The man said you would know what it is."
Julian stopped breathing.
Victoria stepped closer.
"What man?"
Noah looked at her.
"The one Dad is afraid of."
The ballroom fell silent.
Julian grabbed the USB.
"Where did you get this?"
Noah didn't answer.
Julian's hand began shaking.
I had never seen him shake before.
Not in twelve years.
Not during our divorce.
Not when I discovered the affair.
Not when he moved out.
Not once.
But now he was shaking.
Noah looked at the microphone.
"Can I play it?"
Julian stepped backward.
"No."
The word came out almost as a shout.
Everyone heard it.
People began whispering.
One of Julian's partners stood.
"Julian?"
Julian looked around the ballroom.
His eyes searched for someone.
Then he saw Evelyn.
She was standing near the back entrance.
Julian's face collapsed.
"You."
Evelyn didn't move.
Victoria looked between them.
"What is happening?"
Julian ignored her.
He turned toward the sound technician.
"Turn the system off."
The technician hesitated.
Noah was still holding the microphone.
Then he looked at me.
"Mom?"
I nodded.
Noah pressed the button.
The ballroom speakers crackled.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice came through.
Julian's voice.
Recorded.
Clear.
Cold.
Everyone heard it.
"I don't care what happens to Claire."
A murmur moved through the crowd.
Julian went pale.
The recording continued.
"Once the divorce is final, she gets nothing."
Victoria's face changed.
Then another voice appeared.
Victoria's.
"We have to make sure she doesn't find the account."
The ballroom went completely silent.
My heart stopped.
Julian lunged toward the microphone.
"Noah!"
But the recording continued.
Julian's recorded voice said:
"The account is in the boy's name. She doesn't know."
I looked at Noah.
He looked at me.
Then the recording revealed one final sentence.
"Once I marry Victoria, we'll transfer everything."
The speakers went silent.
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Then the ballroom exploded.
Questions.
Shouts.
Chairs scraping.
Phones coming out.
Victoria turned toward Julian.
"What account?"
Julian stared at her.
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the ballroom.
"You lied to me."
Julian grabbed her wrist.
"Victoria, listen."
"How much?"
"What?"
"How much money?"
He didn't answer.
She slapped him again.
Behind them, two of Julian's law partners were already on their phones.
One whispered:
"Call the managing partners."
The other said:
"Tell them to get every file off the server."
My hands were trembling.
I turned to Noah.
"Where did you get this?"
He looked at me.
"I told you."
"Who gave it to you?"
Noah hesitated.
Then he leaned closer.
"It was Grandpa."
I froze.
"My father is dead."
Noah shook his head.
"No."
He reached into his other pocket.
And pulled out a photograph.
I looked at it.
My breath stopped.
It showed Julian standing outside a bank.
Beside him was a man I had not seen in six years.
A man everyone believed was dead.
My former father-in-law.
Noah whispered:
"Grandpa told me to give Dad the box tonight."
I stared at the photograph.
On the back were six words.
ASK YOUR EX-HUSBAND WHERE HE HID HER.
I looked at Julian.
His face had lost every trace of arrogance.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked terrified.
And then I understood something.
May you like
The wedding wasn't the revenge.
It was only the beginning.
