"Exposure"

As they stepped out of the car, James and Victoria were immediately greeted by the flashes of cameras and the murmur of excited voices. A photographer, dressed in a sleek black suit, approached them with a bright smile. "Congratulations, you two! I'm here to capture some special moments for tonight's event. May I take a couple's photo?" James and Victoria exchanged a glance, and James nodded, smiling. The photographer positioned them in front of a backdrop of glittering gold and silver balloons, and Victoria leaned into James, her hand on his chest. The photographer snapped several shots, and James could feel Victoria's warmth against him, her breath on his skin. The photographer reviewed the shots on his camera, his eyes scanning the images with a mix of professionalism and concern. As he looked at the pictures, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he thought to himself, "What happened to her neck?" He had captured a few shots where Victoria's neck was clearly visible, and the cut was more prominent than he had expected. He made a mental note to mention it to someone, but for now, he pushed the thought aside and focused on getting the perfect shot. "Perfect, perfect," the photographer muttered to himself, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "Just a few more..." He took a few more shots, and then nodded, satisfied. "That's it, you two. You look amazing." As they walked towards the entrance, James and Victoria were oblivious to the photographer's worried glance. They were too caught up in the excitement of the night, and the attention was making Victoria glow. James couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked, her dress shimmering in the light, her eyes sparkling with happiness. But as they entered the venue, James couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He glanced at Victoria's neck, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw that the cut was more visible than ever. It was starting to swell, and there was a faint smudge of blood on her skin. James's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. What had happened to her? And why wasn't she saying anything about it? As they made their way through the crowds, James and Victoria were stopped by well-wishers and fans, all clamoring for their attention. James smiled and laughed, playing the part of the happy boyfriend, but his eyes kept drifting back to Victoria's neck. He was starting to feel a growing sense of unease, a feeling that something was seriously wrong. But Victoria seemed to be enjoying herself, her smile never faltering as she chatted with their fans. She was radiant, a vision in her stunning dress, and James couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and admiration for her. He pushed his concerns aside, telling himself that he was just being paranoid. After all, Victoria seemed fine, and she wasn't showing any signs of distress. As they continued to mingle, James couldn't shake off the feeling that he was missing something, that there was more to Victoria's story than met the eye. He made a mental note to ask her about the cut later, when they were alone, but for now, he was determined to enjoy the night and make it special for her. Little did he know, the night was just getting started, and it would reveal secrets that would change everything.