Chapter 14: The Last Secret Of The Wedding Day
I couldn’t speak.
The document blurred in my hands.
Not because I couldn’t read it.
Because I didn’t want to.
Sometimes the truth hurts more when you understand it.
I looked at my aunt.
“You knew.””
She said nothing.
“You knew I wasn’t your sister’s son.””
Her silence answered.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your father adopted you.””
My breathing stopped.
“What?””
“He found you when you were a baby.””
I stared at him.
“No.””
Lily’s mother touched my arm.
“Marcus…”
I pulled away.
“No.””
I looked around the room.
“No more secrets.””
Everyone became quiet.
I looked at Daniel.
“Tell me everything.””
He nodded.
“Your father lost his family before he found you.””
I listened.
“He discovered that his brother was involved in illegal business deals.””
My eyes moved to my aunt.
“Your uncle.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father tried to expose him.””
“And?””
“He failed.””
The room felt colder.
“Because your uncle had people everywhere.””
I looked at the photo.
The one showing my uncle, Brielle, and the person who planned everything.
“So my uncle caused all this?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
That surprised me.
“He was part of it.””
“Who was in charge?””
Daniel looked at my aunt.
My heart sank.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your aunt.””
The words hurt more than I expected.
Because betrayal from strangers is expected.
Betrayal from family changes the way you see your entire life.
My aunt looked at me.
“I did what I had to do.””
I stepped forward.
“You destroyed my father.””
“I saved what was left.””
“You destroyed my marriage.””
“I saved you from the wrong people.””
“You kept me away from my daughter.””
Her face softened.
For a second.
Only a second.
“I didn’t know Lily would happen.””
The sentence made everyone freeze.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Lily’s mother.
“She wasn’t supposed to survive.””
The room went silent.
My wife covered her mouth.
Lily held onto her.
I felt something inside me break.
“You tried to kill her?””
My aunt looked away.
“I didn’t.””
“Then explain.””
She couldn’t.
Because there was nothing to explain.
A loud noise came from upstairs.
Then another.
Someone was approaching.
Daniel looked toward the stairs.
“We need to leave.””
I didn’t move.
“Not until I know everything.””
Lily’s mother looked at me.
“Marcus, please.””
I looked at her.
“What else?””
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her bag.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“This was for you.””
I took it.
My name was written on it.
My father’s handwriting.
I opened it.
Marcus,
If you are reading this, then you finally know the truth.
But there is one more thing.
A secret even I couldn’t reveal.
I continued.
Your aunt did not create this alone.
Someone helped her.
Someone close to you.
My heart sank.
I looked at Brielle.
She immediately shook her head.
“Marcus, no.””
The letter continued.
The person who helped her was the person you trusted most on your wedding day.
I looked around.
My aunt.
Daniel.
Lily’s mother.
Brielle.
Then I remembered.
The wedding.
The guests.
The people who had access.
The person who knew where Lily would enter.
The person who knew about the key.
My eyes widened.
“No.””
Lily’s mother looked at me.
“What?””
I slowly turned toward the stairs.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
The church doors.
The timing.
The missing key.
The perfect interruption.
The person who wanted the truth revealed.
But only when they were ready.
The person who had been guiding everything from the beginning.
The pastor.
The man who had stood beside me before my wedding started.
He appeared at the top of the stairs.
Everyone froze.
He looked down at us.
And smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take.””
My voice was cold.
“You.””
He walked down slowly.
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You were never supposed to be involved.””
The pastor smiled.
“Neither were you.””
I stared.
“How?””
He looked at me.
“Because your father trusted me.””
The words hit.
My father.
The church.
The wedding.
Everything connected.
The pastor stopped in front of me.
“You wanted the truth.””
He smiled.
“Now you’re going to hear all of it.””
May you like
Then he looked at Lily.
“And you’re finally going to learn why your mother was never meant to find Marcus.””
