Chapter 2: The Woman Everyone Forgot
Chapter 2: The Woman Everyone Forgot
The ballroom fell into complete silence.
Tony couldn't take his eyes off the woman kneeling beside the little boy.
"Helen..."
His voice cracked.
The maid slowly stood, still holding the frightened child close.
She looked older than he remembered.
Her once-dark hair carried streaks of silver.
Years of hard work had left quiet lines across her face.
But her eyes...
He would have recognized them anywhere.
The bride stared between them.
"You know her?"
Tony swallowed hard.
"She isn't just a maid."
Twenty years earlier, Helen had been his first love.
The woman he had planned to marry.
Then, without warning, she vanished.
Everyone believed she had abandoned him.
Even Tony.
Helen lowered her eyes.
"I never left by choice."
The guests exchanged confused glances.
"What do you mean?" Tony whispered.
She reached into the pocket of her uniform and removed a faded envelope.
"I wrote to you."
"Hundreds of times."
"But none of the letters ever reached you."
Tony carefully opened the bundle.
Every envelope had been returned.
Every one marked with the same words.
May you like
Recipient unknown.
Someone had made certain they would never find each other.
