Chapter 4

The guests below stirred.

Eugenia's eyes fixed on me, precise as a needle.

She stroked her belly, her voice pitiful.

"Sandra, I know you're bitter that Otto chose me."

"But everyone's here today. You can't drag all these people into a scene with you."

Two short lines, and she had me pinned in front of the whole room.

I stood and emptied every pocket I had.

I laid each thing out in plain sight.

"It wasn't me. I didn't take it."

Otto helped Eugenia down from the stage.

When they reached me, her legs buckled as if she meant to kneel.

Otto caught her before she could.

"Stand. She isn't worth it."

"Just because you're soft doesn't give her the right to bully you."

Once she was steady, Eugenia took hold of my hand.

"If you'd really hidden something, why would you ever bring it out yourself?"

"You were the one who cheated first. Why are you the one making trouble for Otto at his wedding now?"

The words landed, and the whole room drew a sharp breath.

I looked at Eugenia. She lowered her head and twisted the glove in her hands.

"You can check the security footage instead of standing here threatening me."

She bit her lip and added, "The cameras have been down for maintenance these past few days. They're not running."

I let out a cold laugh.

"How convenient."

Otto shot me a glance.

"Whether you took it or not, one test and we'll know."

That lie detector was set in front of me again.

This time I put my hand on it without hesitating.

"I didn't take the ring."

The red light flashed a few times.

"Lie!"

"I didn't cheat."

The red light flashed again.

"Lie!"

I lifted my head and looked at Otto.

"Eugenia is the one who told me to come to this wedding."

"Lie!"

"I'm leaving. My flight's tonight. We won't see each other again."

"Lie!"

The disgust in Otto's eyes was so full it nearly spilled over.

"Sandra Matthews, is there a single true word left in your mouth?"

"Hand over the ring. Stop wasting everyone's time dragging this out."

Eugenia knocked the bracelet on her wrist against the table.

"Sandra, stop clinging to this delusion."

Under the current's repeated strikes, blood ran down my palm and dripped to the floor, drop by drop.

A few people crowded in, grinning cruelly.

"Otto, hand her to us. We'll straighten her out nice and quiet and get the ring's whereabouts out of her."

Through the crowd, Otto stood where he was and said nothing.

He gave a nod. Consent enough.

As they pinned my arms and dragged me off, he was steadying Eugenia by the waist, asking if she was in pain.

To keep the ceremony on schedule, the host invited the couple back onto the stage.

He smiled and asked Otto.

"Mr. Delgado, do you take Miss Henson to be your wife?"

"I do."

A cold mechanical voice sounded under his hand.

"Lie!"

"I'm not lying."

"Lie!"

The current jumped. Otto flinched at the pain and flung the thing to the floor.

The lie detector rolled a few times and came to rest in the corner, but the voice didn't stop.

"Lie, lie……"

Below the stage, a server came running with a tray held up.

"The ring's been found."

"No one took it. It was wedged in the crack between the table and the corner."

On the stage, Otto's hands shook, and all at once the color drained from his face.