Chapter 2 - THE NAME SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO SAY
The ballroom fell into complete silence.
The music stopped.
The conversations ended.
Every guest looked between the little girl and Eleanor.
Nobody understood what was happening.
But everyone could feel something had changed.
Eleanor forced a small smile.
A fake smile.
The kind she used whenever cameras were watching.
“You are confused, sweetheart.”
The girl shook her head.
“No.”
Eleanor bent slightly closer.
“What is your name?”
The girl hesitated.
Then she answered.
“Sofia.”
A strange expression crossed Eleanor’s face.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
Fear.
Only for a second.
But several guests noticed.
The bride noticed too.
Her fingers tightened around her bouquet.
Eleanor quickly recovered.
“Sofia, who brought you here?”
The girl looked toward the entrance.
Nobody stood there.
“I came alone.”
A wave of shock moved through the crowd.
A seven-year-old girl had entered the most exclusive wedding in the city alone.
Impossible.
Security immediately moved closer.
But Sofia looked at them and spoke.
“Please don’t take me away.”
Her voice was quiet.
But desperate.
“I only need five minutes.”
Eleanor stared at her.
“Five minutes for what?”
Sofia looked at the giant screen behind the bride.
That screen had been prepared for wedding photos and romantic videos.
The perfect symbol of the perfect couple.
But Sofia was looking at it like it was a weapon.
“The truth.”
The bride suddenly stepped forward.
“Eleanor.”
Everyone turned.
The bride’s voice was nervous.
“Who is this child?”
Eleanor did not answer.
That silence was more frightening than any words.
Sofia noticed.
She slowly walked toward the stage.
The security guards looked at Eleanor.
Waiting for permission.
Eleanor raised her hand.
“Stop.”
Everyone froze.
The guests watched carefully.
Because Eleanor Whitmore never hesitated.
But now she was hesitating.
Sofia reached the edge of the stage.
She looked directly at the bride.
“You know my mother.”
The bride’s face turned pale.
“I don’t know you.”
Sofia opened her hand slightly.
Inside was an old photograph.
The bride saw it.
And all color disappeared from her face.
“What is that?”
Sofia looked down at the photo.
“My mother kept this.”
The bride whispered.
“Where did you get that?”
Sofia answered.
“She told me if anything happened to her…”
The girl paused.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“…I had to find Eleanor.”
The room erupted with whispers.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“What did your mother tell you?”
Sofia looked at her.
“She said you destroyed her life.”
The bride suddenly turned toward Eleanor.
May you like
And for the first time that night…
The bride looked afraid of her.
