Chapter 14 - THE TRUTH THAT BROKE THE WEDDING
Nobody spoke.
The ballroom felt smaller.
Heavier.
The officer held the DNA report.
“The results confirm a biological connection.”
The bride looked at Sofia.
“Who is your father?”
Sofia did not answer.
Because she did not know.
Clara looked at Eleanor.
“Tell them.”
Eleanor remained silent.
“Tell them who you took away from Sofia.”
The guests watched.
Waiting.
Eleanor finally spoke.
“Her father died.”
Sofia looked shocked.
Clara immediately shook her head.
“No.”
The room reacted.
Eleanor looked at her.
“You know nothing.”
Clara stepped closer.
“I know you told everyone he was gone.”
A pause.
“But he wasn’t.”
The bride whispered.
“Where is he?”
Nobody answered.
Sofia looked between them.
“Is my dad alive?”
That question changed everything.
Because even Eleanor looked away.
And that was enough.
Sofia’s eyes filled with tears.
“You knew?”
Eleanor said nothing.
The little girl took a step back.
“You knew where he was?”
The woman who had controlled the entire room suddenly had no answer.
Clara gently placed a hand on Sofia’s shoulder.
“Your mother spent years searching.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted him to find you.”
The bride looked at Eleanor.
“What did you do?”
Eleanor’s voice became quiet.
“I protected this family.”
The bride shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at the screen.
The documents.
The photos.
“You protected yourself.”
The sentence destroyed the last piece of Eleanor’s image.
Then suddenly…
A phone rang.
Everyone turned.
The officer answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What?”
A pause.
“Are you sure?”
He looked directly at Sofia.
Then at Eleanor.
“We found him.”
Sofia stopped breathing.
Clara whispered.
“After fifteen years…”
The officer slowly lowered the phone.
“Your father is alive.”
The entire room froze.
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And Eleanor knew.
Her biggest secret was no longer hidden.
