Chapter 14 - The Wedding TrapSeven days later, the aisle became a battlefield.
The church was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
White flowers.
Gold candles.
A hundred carefully chosen guests.
No press.
No cameras.
Security hidden everywhere.
Isa stood in the bridal room wearing a simple ivory gown.
Maya fixed her veil.
"You can still run."
Isa smiled.
"So can you."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The door opened.
Declan stood there.
Black tuxedo.
Green eyes.
For one second they forgot about the ledger.
The bloodlines.
Victor.
The danger.
He looked at her exactly the way he had on the rooftop.
Like she was the only person in the room.
"You look..."
"Don't say beautiful."
"I wasn't going to."
"Good."
"I was going to say terrifying."
She laughed.
"Better."
He reached for her hand.
"Ready?"
"No."
"Good."
They walked down the aisle.
Halfway through the ceremony, Isa noticed something.
Declan's cufflink.
A tiny Harrow crest.
She looked at him.
He nodded once.
He had planned something.
The priest spoke.
The final vows approached.
Then the church doors exploded open.
Security moved instantly.
Victor walked inside.
Not alone.
Dozens of armed men entered behind him.
Guests screamed.
Isa grabbed Declan's hand.
Victor smiled.
"End this."
Declan stepped forward.
"No."
Victor pulled out a document.
"The trust transfer."
He held it up.
"One signature."
Declan stared.
Isa looked at the papers.
"What's that?"
"The contract your grandfather created."
Victor smiled.
"Refuse, and everyone in this church dies."
Silence.
Then Declan took the pen.
Isa whispered:
"Don't."
He looked at her.
Trust me.
He signed.
Victor smiled.
"Thank you."
Then Declan dropped the pen.
The church doors slammed shut.
Security appeared from every side.
The armed men were surrounded.
Victor's smile vanished.
Declan leaned toward Isa.
"Remember the cufflink."
She understood.
The Harrow crest.
The final encryption.
She reached beneath her dress and pulled out the key they'd found in the old house.
It fit the cufflink.
The tiny compartment opened.
Inside was a microchip.
Isa stared.
"My father."
Declan nodded.
"He knew."
The priest stepped forward.
"Continue the ceremony."
Victor shouted:
"No!"
But it was too late.
Declan took Isa's hands.
"I choose you."
She swallowed.
"I choose you."
The room changed.
A hidden panel beneath the altar opened.
A light activated.
The ledger appeared on the screen.
Names.
Accounts.
Payments.
Evidence.
Everything Victor had spent decades hiding.
His face collapsed.
Police entered.
Federal agents followed.
Victor was arrested.
But as he was taken away, he looked at Isa.
"You still don't understand."
She stared.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Your father wasn't protecting you from me."
A pause.
"He was protecting you from Declan."
Isa froze.
Declan looked at Victor.
"Shut up."
Victor laughed.
"Ask him what happened the night your father died."
Then he was gone.
The church fell silent.
Isa turned toward Declan.
"What happened?"
Declan said nothing.
Her heart sank.
"You promised."
He closed his eyes.
"I didn't kill him."
"That's not what I asked."
He looked at her.
"I was there."
The world seemed to stop.
"You were there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because my grandfather sent me."
"How old were you?"
"Nine."
Isa stepped backward.
"You knew my father."
Declan's eyes filled.
"He saved my life."
She stared.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid you'd look at me and only see my family's sins."
Isa's voice broke.
"You should have told me."
"I know."
She removed the ring.
Placed it in his hand.
"Then maybe our real marriage should never happen."
She walked away.
Declan didn't stop her.
May you like
For the first time since they met...
He let her go.
