Mark grabbed the smartphone out of Clara's hand to watch the high-definition video recording a second time. Every frame showed Evelyn looking left and right nervously before dropping the lethal pill into his crystal glass. The crowd around them began to murmur loudly, with family members standing up from their dining tables in shock. Mark felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead as he realized how close he came to death. If Clara had not jumped across the room to splash the glass away, he would be dead. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs while he glared at the woman he almost called his wife.
Mark: Tell me this video is fake, Evelyn! Tell me right now!
Evelyn: Mark, please! You have to listen to me! She edited that video to trick you!
Clara: It is raw footage from the venue cameras! I paid the security guard to check the feeds!
Mark: Shut up, Evelyn! Why did you do this to me?! Call 911 right now!
Evelyn stepped backward, her expensive white heels catching on the soft edge of her long bridal train. Her face was pale, devoid of all the joyful color it had carried just twenty minutes before. She reached out her hand toward Mark, but he slapped her fingers away with total disgust and anger. Two large groomsmen stepped between Mark and Evelyn, preventing her from moving any closer to the shaken groom. Mark turned to his older brother, who was already holding a phone to his ear, dialing emergency services. The loud music in the background stopped abruptly as the DJ pulled the plug on the sound system.
Mark's Brother: Yes, operator? We need police officers at the grand ballroom immediately! A man was almost poisoned!
Evelyn: Stop! Do not call the police! We can fix this quietly between our families!
Clara: She wanted your life insurance policy, Mark! She signed a multi-million dollar policy last week!
The revelation hit the gathered room like a heavy physical blow, causing more guests to shout in outrage. Evelyn looked around the room like a trapped animal searching for an escape route from the bright hall. Her maid of honor moved away from her, leaving Evelyn standing completely alone near the decorated center stage. Mark walked over to Clara, his hands still shaking as he looked into her red, tear-filled eyes. He remembered how he had almost ruined Clara's family business after her brother died in a tragic accident. Yet here she was, risking public humiliation just to save his life from a greedy killer. Mark swallowed hard, feeling an intense mixture of deep gratitude and crushing heartbreak all at once.