David: Press play, Sarah. Right now.
Amanda: David, don't look at that! She's making things up to get money out of us!
Sarah: I'm not making up anything! Just watch the screen!
My fingers trembled as I took the smartphone from Sarah's hands. The video was clear, shot from behind the white linen curtains near the prep kitchen. On the screen, Amanda was standing alone near the bar cart, holding two champagne glasses. She pulled a small glass bottle out of her garter belt, opened two blue pills, and crushed them directly into the glass meant for me. The video captured the clear liquid fizzing instantly as the powder dissolved.
David: My God... Amanda...
Amanda: That... that isn't what it looks like! Someone edited that video!
Sarah: I recorded everything she did. I was fixing the linen napkins in the pantry right behind her.
David: Explain why I was supposed to die today.
Amanda: David, please! It was just a supplement! A vitamin for your energy!
David: A vitamin? You crushed two pills into my drink right before we exchanged vows!
The crowd broke into loud, terrified murmurs. My father stood up from the front row, his face pale as he walked toward the altar.
Mr. Vance: David, what is going on up there? What did she put in your glass?
David: She tried to poison me, Dad. On our wedding day.
Amanda: No! Mr. Vance, don't listen to this maid! She's trying to ruin our family alliance!
Sarah: The bottle is still in her right dress pocket, Sir. Search her right now.
Amanda took three quick steps backward, her white heels clicking against the wet marble. Her mother rushed up the side stairs, trying to grab her hand.
Mrs. Sterling: Amanda, hand me your bag! Let’s leave right now!
David: Don't move a single inch, Mrs. Sterling!
Amanda: You can't search me! This is my personal property!
David: Security! Lock the main doors right now!
Two large venue security guards in black suits immediately closed the double mahogany doors at the back of the hall, blocking the exit completely.
Amanda: David, you're making a huge mistake! I love you!
David: You loved my family's estate, Amanda. That's what you loved.
Sarah: Look at the floor where the drink spilled, Sir. The marble is bubbling.
I looked down at the white stone floor where the champagne had landed. Small white foam was rising from the crack in the tile, reacting with the polished finish. That wasn't any vitamin. It was concentrated tasteless chemical poison.
David: You were going to let me drink this, collapse on stage, and claim my life insurance policy.
Amanda: That’s not true! I don't know anything about a life insurance policy!
David: You made me sign that ten-million-dollar policy last week during the prenup signing!
Amanda stood frozen on the altar, her wedding veil crooked, her smug smile completely gone as two hundred eyes stared at her in pure horror.