Her bouquet sat on a table.
The room smelled of perfume and roses.
“Emily!”
A tiny voice answered immediately.
“Daddy!”
Nathan reached the service door.
It was locked.
“Move away from the door, sweetheart.”
He hit it with his shoulder.
Nothing.
Again.
The frame cracked.
His brother arrived and helped.
On the third hit, the latch tore loose.
Nathan pushed inside.
Emily sat on the floor beside a stack of folded tablecloths.
Her face was wet with tears.
A red mark spread across her left cheek.
Her flower basket lay upside down beside her.
Petals covered the floor.
Nathan dropped to his knees.
“Emily.”
She threw herself at him.
“Daddy!”
He wrapped both arms around her.
“I’m here.”
She buried her face against his shoulder.
“I was good.”
Those three words destroyed him.
“What?”
“I was good.”
She was shaking.
“I didn't ruin it.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“You didn't ruin anything.”
“She said you’d be mad.”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“She said after you get married, I have to listen to her because you picked her.”
Nathan pulled back and looked at his daughter.
“What else did she say?”
Emily immediately looked toward the doorway.
Fear crossed her face.
Nathan followed her gaze.
Vanessa was standing there.
Beautiful white dress.
Perfect hair.
Perfect makeup.
Her father beside her.
Her expression was not guilt.
It was anger.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Nathan stared at her.
Vanessa looked at the broken door.
“You destroyed the venue.”
Nathan slowly stood.
Emily clung to him.
“You locked my daughter in a closet.”
Vanessa glanced at Lucas.
Then she saw the camera.
Everything changed.
“Nathan, I can explain.”
“You hit her.”
“She was having a tantrum.”
“You hit my six-year-old daughter.”
“I barely touched her.”
Emily pressed herself tighter against Nathan.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Please don't do this here.”
“Do what?”
“Create a scene.”
Nathan actually laughed.
“You locked my child in a room ten minutes before our wedding.”
“She was screaming.”
“Because you took her mother's necklace.”
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
Nathan noticed something beside the makeup table.