Chapter 4: The Trap Snaps Shut
"The authorities have been waiting for me to reveal this," Julian announced. As if on cue, the double doors at the back of the ballroom swung open. Two federal agents in tactical gear walked in, their presence stripping the glamour away from the room instantly.
Panic finally took hold. Serena grabbed her dress, intending to bolt toward the side exit, but two security guards—hired by Julian, not the wedding planner—blocked her path.
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"You aren't leaving, Serena," one of the agents said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You’re under arrest for wire fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering."
Serena’s collapse was total. She fell to her knees, the expensive lace of her gown dragging in a puddle of spilled champagne. The camera flashes were blinding now—the same paparazzi who had been hired to capture her "best day" were now capturing her worst. She looked up at Julian, who stood over her with an expressionless mask. She had been so busy building a house of cards that she never realized he was the one holding the lighter.
