Chapter 2 - The Silver Purse
The sound of Amanda’s purse striking the marble floor was small.
But in that silent ballroom, it sounded like a confession.
Everyone turned.
Amanda froze.
Chloe’s expression went sharp.
“What are you doing?”
Amanda bent down too quickly.
The wedding planner stepped between her and the purse.
“Don’t touch it.”
Amanda looked up.
“What?”
The planner was shaking.
But she did not move.
“I saw you.”
Chloe’s face hardened.
“Saw her do what?”
The planner looked at me.
Then at my father.
“My name is Rachel Sims.”
she said.
“I coordinated the entire wedding.”
Dad nodded.
“Tell us what you saw.”
Rachel swallowed.
“About twenty minutes before Chloe screamed, Amanda went into the bridal lounge.”
Chloe interrupted.
“She’s my cousin.”
“She was allowed.”
Rachel continued.
“She came out carrying Chloe’s jewelry box.”
Amanda went pale.
“That is a lie.”
Rachel shook her head.
“I asked whether Chloe wanted the box moved.”
“Amanda said yes.”
“She told me Chloe wanted it placed near the family table.”
Chloe stared at her cousin.
“I never said that.”
Amanda’s breathing became shallow.
Hotel security picked up the silver purse.
Arthur looked toward Amanda.
“May we examine this with your consent?”
“No.”
That answer came so quickly that several guests gasped.
Amanda looked around.
Then forced a laugh.
“My personal belongings are private.”
Dad nodded.
“Fair.”
He looked toward security.
“Do not open it.”
Amanda relaxed slightly.
Then Dad continued.
“Call the police.”
Her relief disappeared.
“If the ring is inside, they can obtain whatever authority they need.”
Amanda’s face went white.
Chloe stepped toward her.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then open the purse.”
Amanda looked at Eleanor.
Not Chloe.
Eleanor stared back.
That caught my attention.
A silent exchange.
Too quick for most people.
Not for my father.
“Interesting.”
he said.
Eleanor snapped.
“What?”
Dad looked at Amanda.
“When you dropped the purse, you looked at Mrs. Cole.”
“So?”
“So people usually look at the person they fear disappointing.”
The ballroom became still again.
Eleanor’s jaw tightened.
Dominic stepped forward.
“Maybe everyone should calm down.”
I looked at him.
“Now you want calm?”
His face changed.
“Vivienne.”
“No.”
I pulled the torn fabric tighter around myself.
“You had your chance to say something.”
Dominic lowered his voice.
“I was trying not to make things worse.”
“They were searching your pregnant wife in front of two hundred people.”
“I thought it would prove you were innocent.”
“You could have proved you were my husband.”
He had no answer.
Police arrived eleven minutes later.
By then, nobody was laughing.
The officer asked Amanda to open the purse voluntarily.
She refused.
Then Rachel produced another fact.
The bridal lounge had its own internal camera.
Chloe stared at her.
“What?”
Rachel looked apologetic.
“It’s required because the hotel stores jewelry and wedding gifts there.”
Arthur ordered the footage displayed on a private monitor.
Dad allowed Chloe, Amanda, me, Dominic, Eleanor, and the police to watch.
Timestamp.
7:41 p.m.
Amanda entered the bridal lounge.
She looked around.
Then opened Chloe’s jewelry box.
Removed the ring.
And placed it inside her silver purse.
Chloe stopped breathing.
Amanda started crying.
“I can explain.”
Chloe turned on her.
“You stole my ring?”
Amanda shook her head violently.
“No.”
“I wasn’t keeping it.”
“Then what were you doing?”
Amanda looked toward Eleanor again.
This time everyone noticed.
Chloe slowly turned toward her mother.
“Mom?”
Eleanor’s face became completely still.
Amanda whispered.
“She told me to take it.”
The room froze.
May you like
Then Amanda pointed at me.
“She told me to put it in Vivienne’s purse.”
