Liam: Vanessa! Did you really just throw a drink in her face?!
Vanessa: She was trying to ruin our moment, Liam! She grabbed your arm like a lunatic!
Liam: That doesn't give you the right to attack her in front of two hundred guests!
Clara wiped her wet eyes with the back of her sleeve, her white dress ruined and sticking to her skin. Red blotches formed on her freckled cheeks as she sobbed loudly.
Clara: You hit me... You actually threw champagne at me!
Vanessa: And I'll do it again if you don't leave this ballroom right now! Security, get this girl out of here!
Liam: Wait! Stop right there, nobody is touching her yet.
Liam stepped between Vanessa and Clara, looking down at his childhood friend with a mix of shock and utter horror. The quiet murmurs from the banquet tables died down, replaced by a tense silence.
Liam: Clara, why did you do that?! Why are you causing a massive scene at my wedding?!
Clara: Because I'm trying to save your life, you idiot!
Liam: Save my life? From what?! It’s a glass of water!
Clara: Look at the screen! Just look at what your precious bride did two minutes before you walked up to the head table!
Clara thrust her phone forward, her fingers trembling so badly she nearly dropped the device onto the polished oak floor.
Vanessa: Don't look at that, Liam! She edited something! She's trying to manipulate you!
Liam: Shut up for a second, Vanessa. Let me see this.
Liam leaned down, his forehead creased with deep anger as his eyes scanned the high-definition video playing on the screen. The clip showed the head table from a clear side angle, right near the elaborate floral arrangements.
Liam: What is this? Is that... the head table?
Clara: Keep watching. Watch her right hand!
On the screen, Vanessa stood alone by Liam's designated seat. She looked left, then right, checking to see if any caterers were paying attention. Then, she pulled a small clear vial from the inner pocket of her designer robe.
Clara: Look! The bride put poison in your drink!
Liam: What... what did she just drop in there?
Vanessa: That's fake! That is a deepfake video! I never touched your glass!
Clara: It's a clear white pill! It dissolved in under three seconds into your water glass!
The entire grand banquet table fell dead silent as the guests in the front row leaned forward, catching a glimpse of the glowing phone screen. Gasps rippled through the room like a wave.
Guest 1: Is that real? Did she actually put something in his drink?
Guest 2: Look at the tiara in the video, it's the exact same custom piece she's wearing right now!
Liam: Vanessa... answer me right now. What was that pill?
Vanessa’s face drained of all color. Her mouth opened, but no words came out as she took a slow step backward, her eyes wide with absolute panic.