Elena: What did you just say, Mia? Who told you that?
Mia: The pretty lady in the big dress. She said I was a mistake.
Elena: She said what to you?
Mia: She told me to crawl under the table and stay quiet. She said if Daddy's rich friends saw me, I would ruin their special night.
My blood turned to pure ice. I reached into the dark space and carefully pulled my daughter out, lifting her small, trembling body into my arms. She buried her face into the crook of my neck, sobbing softly as her small hands clutched my gold sequin dress.
Sarah: Elena, oh my God. Did she really hide her under there?
Elena: Hold my purse, Sarah. Hold my purse right now.
Sarah: Elena, please don't make a scene here. Look at all these wealthy business executives. Carter’s boss is sitting at table one!
Elena: I don't give a damn about his boss or his trust fund!
I shifted Mia securely onto my hip and marched straight down the center aisle of the ballroom. The heavy, gold-trimmed curtains and brass fixtures blurred past me as rage surged through my veins. Guests turned their heads, whispers rippling through the crowds as they saw me carrying a crying toddler straight toward the elevated stage where the bride and groom were standing.
Carter: Elena? What are you doing walking up here right now?
Elena: Look at your daughter, Carter!
Evelyn: Elena, this is extremely inappropriate. We are about to do our first dance.
Elena: You let her hide your own daughter under a table?!
Carter: What are you talking about? Mia was supposed to be in the kids' playroom with the nanny.
Elena: The nanny you hired quit two hours ago because Evelyn refused to pay her rate! You didn't even notice your three-year-old was missing!
Evelyn: She was sticky and crying! She was going to ruin the professional wedding photography!
Elena: So you locked a toddler under a tablecloth like trash?!
Evelyn: I JUST WANTED ONE PERFECT NIGHT!
Carter: Evelyn... did you actually tell Mia to crawl under there?
Evelyn: Carter, don't look at me like that! Your ex-wife's child doesn't fit the aesthetic of this estate! My parents paid two hundred thousand dollars for this reception!
Elena: Aesthetic?! She is a child!
A loud gasp echoed across the grand hall. The music abruptly cut out as the DJ stopped the record. Hundreds of eyes were now locked onto the three of us on the stage. Evelyn’s face turned bright red beneath her heavy wedding makeup, her delicate lace veil shaking with anger.
Carter: Evelyn, you shouldn't have done that to my child...
Elena: Don't act innocent, Carter! You knew she hated Mia from the day you signed the engagement papers!
Carter: Elena, calm down, we can talk about the custody agreement in private later.
Elena: There is no 'later'!
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