Victoria stared at the man she was about to marry, her bouquet trembling. “Attempted what?”
Julian reached out, trying to grab her arm. “Victoria, don’t do this here. Let’s go to the back room—”
She ripped her arm free, her perfectly manicured nails flashing. “Did you leave her and the baby in that storm? The blizzard you told me was just an unfortunate accident?”
“It wasn’t like that, I swear—”
“Did you leave them to die?!” she screamed, the sound echoing off the marble.
Julian looked at me, not her. The raw terror in his eyes was answer enough.
Richard Sterling took one step forward. His face was carved from absolute ruin, but his authority was undeniable.
“You used my family’s trust,” Richard’s voice boomed, deep and lethal. “You used my name to disable security cameras and stage a murder? You used my daughter to wash your stolen assets?”
Julian swallowed hard, taking a step backward. “Richard, please, I can explain everything. Just let me—”
“You will explain nothing to me,” Richard snarled. He didn’t look at Julian anymore; he looked at the massive double doors at the back of the hall. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers at his private security detail.
“Lock the doors,” Richard ordered, his voice echoing with brutal finality. “Bar the exits. Nobody leaves. Catch this rat.”