Chapter 5
Dominic lunged again, but the officer blocked him with one arm.
“Do not move toward her,” the officer warned.
Dominic’s face reddened.
“This is my wedding.”
Audrey looked around at the flowers, the sea, the stunned guests, the cake waiting under a glass cover.
“No,” she said. “It was supposed to be ours.”
Then she tapped the phone.
Dominic’s voice played through the yacht speakers because the MC, finally choosing a side, had connected the audio when Audrey handed him the device.
Victoria’s voice filled the deck.
She’ll fold tomorrow. She won’t walk away in front of everyone.
Guests went still.
Dominic’s laugh followed.
She cares too much about appearances.
Victoria gripped the table.
“Turn that off.”
No one moved.
Then came the line that destroyed everything.
After the honeymoon, I’ll start replacing her people.
The Crestwood employees attending the wedding stared at Dominic like he had become a stranger in front of them.
Audrey’s chief operations officer, a woman who had worked for her father for twenty years, covered her mouth.
Dominic looked around wildly.
“That was taken out of context.”
Audrey’s voice was steady.
“You were planning to take my company before you ever said your vows.”
Victoria snapped, “A company needs leadership.”
“It has leadership,” Audrey said.
“You’re emotional.”
Audrey almost smiled.
There it was again.
The word they used when they had no argument left.
“No,” Audrey said. “I’m prepared.”
Elliot removed another document from the folder.
“There is also evidence of attempted corporate interference, including improper contact with two board members and draft agreements prepared without Ms. Crestwood’s authorization.”
The board member in the second row looked furious.
Dominic’s face changed again.
Not angry now.
Calculating.
“Audrey,” he said softly, “let’s talk privately.”
The same voice he used the first night they met.
Warm.
Controlled.
False.
Audrey looked at him and felt the last thread break.
May you like
“There is nothing private left between us.”
👉 Dominic tried to sound loving again — but Audrey had already heard the voice he used when he thought she was asleep.
