Chapter 2: The Shattered Vows
The silence that followed was deafening. Vanessa’s face drained of color. She reached out a manicured hand toward me, her voice suddenly sweet and pleading. "Julian, darling, he’s just confused. He was throwing a tantrum—"
"Don't you dare speak," I snarled, my voice dangerously low.
I scooped Leo into my arms, pressing his tear-stained face into my shoulder. He buried his face in my neck, clinging to me for dear life. I looked at Vanessa, taking in the exquisite designer dress, the perfect makeup, the illusion of the woman I thought I knew.
"The wedding is off," I stated, the finality of the words ringing clear.
"Julian, you can't be serious! There are two hundred guests down there!" she shrieked, the mask slipping to reveal the ugly, desperate panic underneath.
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"Tell them to enjoy the open bar and go home," I said, turning my back on her. "Pack your things, Vanessa. If you are still in my house when I return, I will have you arrested for child endangerment."
Carrying my son, I walked down the back staircase, out the servant's entrance, and into my car. We drove away from the sprawling estate, leaving the string quartet, the guests, and the monster in the white dress far behind us.
