Chapter 10 - The Rehearsal Dinner Illusion
Despite the escalating tension, the machinery of the impending wedding continued to grind forward. Vanessa was a master of manipulation, sensing she had pushed too far and immediately retreating into a performance of overly affectionate apologies. She spent the next two weeks acting like the perfect stepmother, buying Lily expensive toys and speaking in a sickeningly sweet voice when Lucas was in the room.
But Lucas was no longer blinded. He was watching her every move with the calculated, analytical precision that made him a ruthless CEO.
The turning point occurred at a private, pre-wedding dinner hosted by Lucas’s oldest friends and business partners. The restaurant was exclusive, bathed in soft candlelight and the hum of quiet, wealthy conversations. Lily was seated between Lucas and Vanessa, quietly coloring in a small book Lucas had brought.
Halfway through the evening, Lucas’s business partner, Marcus, raised a glass. "To Lucas and Vanessa. And to little Lily, who is gaining a wonderful new mother."
Vanessa smiled graciously, reaching over to pat Lily’s head. But as the conversation shifted to business, Lily accidentally knocked over her glass of water. The ice and water spilled across the crisp white tablecloth, splashing onto the edge of Vanessa’s silk dress.
Vanessa’s reaction was instantaneous and vicious. She didn't check to see if Lily was okay. She grabbed the little girl’s wrist beneath the table, her perfectly manicured nails digging into Lily’s skin with bruising force.
"You clumsy little brat," Vanessa hissed under her breath, her face twisting into a mask of pure venom, completely unaware that Lucas had turned his head to check on the spill.
Lily whimpered, shrinking back in her chair, tears springing to her eyes.
Lucas saw the grip. He saw the sheer, unadulterated hatred in Vanessa’s eyes.
"Let go of her," Lucas commanded, his voice so quiet and terrifyingly cold that the entire table instantly fell silent.
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Vanessa snapped her head up, releasing Lily's wrist as if she had been burned. "Lucas, darling, she ruined my dress. I was just—"
"I saw exactly what you were doing," Lucas interrupted, standing up from the table. He reached down and gently picked up his trembling daughter, pulling her into his chest. He looked at his friends, then down at the woman he had almost married. "We are leaving."
