CHAPTER 4 — The Security Footage Nobody Expected
CHAPTER 4 — The Security Footage Nobody Expected
Within fifteen minutes, the ballroom was emptying.
Luxury cars lined the circular driveway.
Guests whispered into phones before they even reached the valet.
No one discussed Ethan's birthday.
Everyone discussed Brooke.
The child.
The letter.
The canceled party.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere had changed completely.
The music had stopped.
Candles still burned.
Champagne sat untouched.
The mansion suddenly felt enormous and cold.
Grace was preparing to leave for the hospital with Lily when Ethan returned from speaking with the family physician.
"Nothing appears broken," he said quietly.
"The doctor still wants X-rays."
Grace nodded.
"I'll take her."
"I'll have my driver—"
"No."
She wasn't angry with Ethan.
But tonight had reminded her exactly where she belonged.
"I can manage."
"You shouldn't have to."
Before she could answer—
Brooke entered the hallway.
Her makeup remained flawless.
Only her eyes betrayed irritation.
"Ethan."
"Not now."
"Actually, now."
She glanced briefly toward Grace.
"Alone."
"No."
"This concerns us."
"It concerns all of us."
She inhaled sharply.
"Fine."
She folded her hands.
"If we're doing this publicly, then let's be reasonable."
Reasonable.
Grace almost laughed.
Brooke continued.
"I've apologized."
"No, you haven't," Grace said.
"I said it was an accident."
"That's an explanation."
"Exactly."
"It's not an apology."
Brooke ignored her.
"Ethan, you're allowing emotions to cloud your judgment."
"My judgment?"
"You're humiliating your fiancée because of a misunderstanding involving household staff."
Ethan stared at her for several long seconds.
Then he asked a question so unexpected that Brooke hesitated.
"How many security cameras are in this house?"
She frowned.
"What?"
"Answer."
"I don't know."
"You supervised the renovation."
"There are dozens."
"Good."
He looked toward the security director standing nearby.
"Mr. Harris."
The gray-haired man stepped forward immediately.
"Sir."
"I want every camera recording from the ballroom."
Brooke's heartbeat quickened.
"Ethan..."
"Every angle."
"There is no need."
"There is every need."
"It was crowded."
"I know."
"People blocked the view."
"We'll see."
Brooke forced a laugh.
"You honestly think surveillance footage matters?"
"I think truth matters."
She felt the first genuine flicker of fear.
Because she suddenly remembered something.
The decorative columns.
The chandelier cameras.
The wide-angle lens installed above the piano during last year's security upgrade.
She had forgotten about those.
Completely.
"Ethan," she said more softly, "must we embarrass each other?"
He looked at her with an expression she had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
Recognition.
As though he were seeing someone clearly for the very first time.
"If it was an accident," he said calmly, "the cameras will protect you."
"And if it wasn't?"
The question came from behind them.
Everyone turned.
Standing in the doorway was an elderly woman in a navy coat, clutching an empty cardboard box.
Grace gasped.
"Mrs. Donnelly..."
The director of St. Mary's Outreach Center had arrived.
Breathless.
Holding a second envelope in her trembling hands.
May you like
"I believe," she said quietly, looking directly at Ethan, "there's something else your mother wanted you to know."
The entire hallway fell silent once again.
