Chapter 2 - The Screen Behind HerThe ballroom went silent.
Three hundred people stopped talking.
The music faded.
Every conversation disappeared.
Cassandra stared at the enormous screen behind the stage.
The video continued.
Lily was kneeling on the kitchen floor.
Cassandra stood over her.
The audience watched.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody moved.
Then Cassandra's voice came through the speakers.
“Trash like you only deserves to eat down here.”
A woman near the front gasped.
Someone whispered,
“Oh my God.”
Cassandra turned toward me.
“What is this?”
I didn't answer.
She rushed toward the control booth.
“Turn it off!”
My security chief blocked her path.
“Mr. Hale instructed us to continue.”
Cassandra looked at me.
“You recorded me?”
I stared at her.
“I recorded my daughter.”
“You've violated my privacy!”
“No.”
My voice was calm.
“You violated my daughter's safety.”
The footage showed Cassandra forcing Lily to eat from the bowl.
Then another clip appeared.
Lily cleaning the kitchen floor.
Then another.
Cassandra telling her she was “spoiled.”
Another.
Cassandra locking Lily outside on the terrace.
Another.
Cassandra threatening to throw away her mother's belongings.
The audience was horrified.
Cassandra began crying.
“It's edited!”
I looked at her.
“No.”
She turned to the crowd.
“He's grieving. He's unstable.”
Nobody responded.
She looked toward my mother.
“Please.”
My mother stood frozen.
She had believed Cassandra.
Everyone had.
Then my attorney walked onto the stage.
He carried a folder.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's event will not be proceeding as planned.”
Cassandra stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
He opened the folder.
“The engagement is terminated.”
She laughed nervously.
“You can't do that.”
I looked at her.
“I already did.”
She stepped toward me.
“You love me.”
“No.”
The word landed harder than a slap.
“I loved the woman you pretended to be.”
Cassandra's face changed.
She whispered,
“You're destroying me.”
“No.”
I looked at Lily.
“You did that yourself.”
The attorney handed Cassandra a document.
She stared at it.
“What is this?”
“A termination of the prenuptial agreement process.”
She laughed.
“You think this is about money?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“It's about my daughter.”
She suddenly turned toward Lily.
“You little liar.”
I stepped between them.
“Don't.”
My security team moved closer.
Cassandra looked at the room.
Everyone was watching her.
The perfect image was gone.
The angel was gone.
Only the truth remained.
Then a police officer entered.
Cassandra stared at him.
“Why are the police here?”
I answered.
“Because some things aren't family matters.”
The officer approached.
“Cassandra Vale?”
“Yes?”
“You need to come with us.”
She looked at me.
“You called the police?”
“Yes.”
“You're serious?”
“I have never been more serious in my life.”
As they escorted her away, she turned one last time.
“You'll regret this.”
I looked at Lily.
“No.”
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I kissed my daughter's forehead.
“This is the first decision I've made that I don't regret.”
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