Chapter 3 - THE MESSAGE HIDDEN FOR YEARS
Eleanor grabbed the edge of the table beside her.
She needed everyone to see control.
She needed everyone to believe this was nothing.
A misunderstanding.
A child’s imagination.
“Sofia, your mother was mistaken.”
The girl stared at her.
“My mother never lied.”
The words hit harder than Eleanor expected.
The guests watched silently.
The bride slowly stepped away.
“Eleanor…”
Her voice trembled.
“What is she talking about?”
Eleanor turned.
“Nothing.”
But the bride did not believe her.
Because she had seen something.
A flash of fear.
A reaction that only appeared when someone touched a buried secret.
Sofia walked closer to the wedding cake.
Everyone watched her.
She placed the old photograph on the table.
The picture showed three people.
A younger Eleanor.
A woman nobody recognized.
And a baby.
The guests leaned closer.
Someone gasped.
“That’s…”
Nobody finished the sentence.
Eleanor immediately covered the photograph.
“Enough.”
Her voice became colder.
“Security.”
The guards stepped forward.
Sofia flinched.
But she did not run.
Instead, she reached into her dress again.
This time she pulled out a small device.
A remote control.
The bride noticed it.
“What is that?”
Sofia looked toward the giant screen.
“My mother said this would show everyone the truth.”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
“No.”
It was the first time she sounded scared.
Sofia pressed the button.
Nothing happened.
The room waited.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then the lights flickered.
The giant screen behind the bride went black.
The romantic wedding video disappeared.
A message appeared.
Everyone stared.
"IF YOU ARE SEEING THIS, IT MEANS THEY FAILED TO STOP HER."
The ballroom went silent.
The bride covered her mouth.
Eleanor stepped backward.
Because she knew exactly who wrote that message.
May you like
The woman everyone thought was gone.
Sofia’s mother.
