The Wedding Party

Part 44: A Card

Ashleigh Lewis and Alanna entered the dimly lit bar, the clink of glasses and low hum of conversation surrounding them. The engaged couple they were seeking swayed on the dance floor, lost in their own world. Ashleigh's heart raced as she glanced at Alanna, who gave her a reassuring nod.

"Alright," Ashleigh whispered, "let's do this."

Taking a deep breath, she approached the couple, feigning tear-streaked cheeks and a trembling voice. "How could you?!" she cried, drawing the attention of the dancers around them. "You have a baby, and you're getting engaged to someone else?"

The man's face turned pale, his eyes darting between Ashleigh and his bewildered fiancée. The woman's eyes narrowed, her grip on him tightening before she ripped the sparkling diamond ring from her finger and hurled it across the room.

"Take your damn ring and get out of my life!" she shouted, storming off the dance floor.

Seizing the opportunity, Alanna lunged forward, snatching the ring mid-air with an expert precision that left Ashleigh in awe. They exchanged a triumphant grin before quickly making their exit.

"Wow, that was intense," Ashleigh admitted, breathing heavily as they hurried away from the bar.

"Sometimes you have to take drastic measures," Alanna replied, clutching the reclaimed ring. "Now let's get back to the Manor."

---

At the Manor, Jaylee Pruitt paced restlessly, her fingers tapping against her phone screen as she attempted to contact Dax. Her breath caught when Kyan Paul approached, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Hey, Jaylee," he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know you're worried about Dax, but I just heard that Angela had to go home. Something came up."

Jaylee's eyes widened as she processed the information, her fingers stilling on the screen. "Oh... Okay," she murmured, torn between relief and fresh concern for Angela.

"Everyone's on edge right now," Kyan reassured her. "But we have to trust that everything will work out."

---

Upstairs, Macey questioned Amelia over a game of War, using the simple card game to put the young girl at ease. Amelia hesitated before answering each question, her thoughts racing as she considered the implications of her words.

"Amelia, you can trust me," Macey urged, her voice gentle but firm. "I need to know everything you can tell me about that morning."

"I... I was with papa Darrell," Amelia whispered, her voice trembling. "He'll be proud of me, right? For telling the truth?"

"Of course," Macey assured her, offering a small smile. "You did the right thing."

As Amelia left the room, she found Jairo waiting in the hall, his eyes red-rimmed from tears. She hesitated, then asked him the same question about her father's pride. He pulled her into a tight embrace, whispering assurances in her ear, though his own heart ached with uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Helena led Preston and Ash through the shadowy halls, up to Macey's attic. The air was thick with dust, and memories seemed to cling to the very walls. Helena's heart pounded as she uncovered postcards addressed to her sister, each bearing the same chilling word: "LIAR." Ash, meanwhile, scoured the room, unearthing evidence that suggested Brandt may not be as dead as they had believed.

"Helena," Ash called out, her voice unsteady. "I think you need to see this..."

As the trio huddled together, studying the disturbing discovery, their resolve to uncover the truth only grew stronger. Each knew that they had no choice but to face whatever secrets the Manor still held, or risk losing everything they held dear.