Victoria: Security! Take this girl away from the stage immediately!
Julian: Nobody touches my daughter!
Victoria: Julian, she’s just a child throwing a tantrum! Get her out!
Julian: Look at the floor, Victoria! There is a syringe inside our wedding cake!
Victoria: It must have been an accident by the catering staff!
Julian dropped to his knees on the cold marble floor beside his daughter. Lily was shaking, her small hands clutching her velvet frock as she looked at her father with wide, tearful eyes.
Julian: Lily, baby, look at me. How did you know that was in there?
Lily: I saw her, Daddy!
Julian: You saw who?
Lily lifted a shaking hand and pointed her finger directly at Victoria's face.
Lily: I saw her put it inside!
Victoria: She’s lying! She’s making up stories because she doesn't want me to be her stepmother!
Lily: I’m not lying! I saw her in the kitchen pantry ten minutes ago!
Victoria: Julian, don't listen to a seven-year-old over your own wife!
Julian stood up slowly from the floor, his tall frame looming over Victoria. His face turned deathly pale, his jaw clenched tight with sudden, dark fury.
Julian: Where did you go right before the cake cutting, Victoria?
Victoria: I went to touch up my makeup in the bridal suite!
Julian: The catering manager said he saw you in the kitchen alcove!
Victoria: He’s mistaken! I was upstairs!
Julian: You tried to feed me the first bite of this cake!
Victoria: Because it’s a tradition! You’re being paranoid!
Overcome with sudden rage, Julian stepped forward and delivered a sharp, heavy slap straight across Victoria's face. The force of the blow snapped her head sideways, her hand flying to her reddened cheek as the entire room let out a massive collective gasp.
Victoria: Julian! You hit me in front of everyone?!
Julian: Lock the doors!
Victoria: What?!
Julian: Security! Lock every single exit in this building right now!
Security Guard: Yes, Mr. Sterling!
Heavy brass locks clicked shut across the grand double doors of the ballroom. Two hundred guests began whispering in utter shock as Julian stood over his bride with cold, unforgiving eyes.
Victoria: You can't lock people in here! This is illegal!
Julian: Attempted murder is illegal, Victoria. And nobody leaves until the police examine that needle.
Victoria: You’re making a huge mistake, Julian!
Julian: We’ll see about that when the lab tests come back.
Julian turned to his personal assistant standing near the stage rail.
Julian: Marcus, call Detective Vance directly. Tell him I have a crime scene sealed in the main hall.
Marcus: Right away, Mr. Sterling.
Victoria backed away toward the stage curtains, her lace gown rustling against the floor, her eyes darting frantically around the locked room.
Julian: Don't move an inch, Victoria. Your wedding night is just beginning.