Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO TRIED TO TAKE THE DRIVE
Diane moved faster than anyone expected.
She reached across the DJ table and grabbed for the flash drive.
Ava cried out.
Rachel pulled her daughter backward.
Ethan caught Diane’s wrist before she reached the computer.
“Let go of me,” Diane snapped.
“You are attempting to destroy evidence.”
“This is my daughter’s wedding.”
“This was my wedding too.”
Hotel security entered the ballroom.
Ethan ordered them to lock the exits until police arrived.
Lucas tried to slip through a service corridor.
One of the hotel managers stopped him.
Vanessa began crying.
Not quietly.
Not with shame.
With rage.
She accused Rachel of planning the entire scene because she was jealous.
“She came here wearing red to humiliate me!”
Rachel looked down at her dress.
“You told me to wear red.”
“She manipulated Ava!”
The DJ shook his head.
“The file was created during the fitting. The metadata is still attached.”
Diane changed tactics.
Her voice became soft.
“Rachel, think about what an investigation will do to the family.”
“What family?”
“I am your mother.”
“You stopped being my mother when you listened to me thank you for saving us while spending the money Daniel left.”
Diane’s face hardened.
“You would have wasted it.”
“On what? Food? Therapy? A safe home?”
“You were broken.”
“I was grieving.”
“You could barely stand.”
“So you robbed me while I was down.”
Police entered through the main doors.
Detectives separated the family members.
When an officer approached Ava, the child lost her voice again.
Rachel knelt beside her.
“You do not have to speak.”
Ava pointed toward the tablet inside her small bag.
The original recording remained there.
The flash drive was only the second copy.
Important things need two homes.
A detective smiled gently.
“That was very smart.”
Diane heard him.
For the first time that evening, she looked afraid.
The officers recovered the forged documents, the planted bracelet, and the complete video.
Then one detective examined the old account number mentioned in the recording.
His expression changed.
“This account is still active.”
Rachel stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone transferred money through it yesterday.”
The destination was a company owned by Lucas.
May you like
The amount was $2.3 million.
👉 The wedding scheme was not a future plan—the theft had already begun before Ava reached the microphone.
