Chapter 8 - The Mask Crumbles
“That's taken out of context!” Lauren screamed, her voice shrill and unhinged. “Daniel, don't listen to her! Your mother is trying to control you! She hired someone to fabricate that!”
Right on cue, the chapel doors swung open.
Evan Cole walked down the center aisle, holding a thick stack of printed receipts, texts, and bank default notices. Behind him were two uniformed sheriff’s deputies I had met with that morning to file formal reports for identity fraud and forgery.
Lauren turned toward the side exit, clutching her heavy gown, but the deputies blocked her path.
“Lauren Miller?” Deputy Hayes said, pulling a set of handcuffs from his belt. “We have a warrant for your arrest regarding felony bank fraud and forged electronic documents”.
May you like
Lauren looked around the room, desperately seeking an ally, but her own bridal party had stepped back in horror. Daniel stood at the altar, trembling violently, staring down at the gold band in his hand before letting it drop to the stone floor. It clattered and rolled away.
The police clicked the steel cuffs around Lauren's wrists, leading her down the aisle in front of two hundred frozen guests, her veil trailing in the dirt. Her parents sat frozen in shock, burying their faces in their hands as their daughter was marched out into the autumn sunlight.
