Chapter 2: The Name No One Was Supposed to Hear
Chapter 2: The Name No One Was Supposed to Hear
The courtyard fell into complete silence.
The little boy buried his face in the maid's apron, his tiny body trembling from fear. Guests exchanged uneasy glances while the bride remained frozen, the brass key still clutched in her hand.
"I didn't lock him in," she whispered. "I was trying to keep him safe."
No one believed her.
The groom, Daniel, gently knelt before the boy.
"What's your name, son?"
The child hesitated before answering.
"Lucas."
The elderly housekeeper, Maria, suddenly dropped the serving tray she had been carrying.
The silver platter crashed against the marble floor.
Her face turned ghostly white.
"Lucas..." she whispered.
The name echoed through the courtyard.
Daniel looked toward her.
"You know him?"
Tears filled Maria's eyes as she slowly approached the child. When she saw the tiny silver cross hanging from his wrist, she gasped.
"My God..."
"That cross belonged to baby Gabriel."
The bride's knees nearly gave out.
Twelve years earlier, her infant son Gabriel had disappeared during a violent storm. The only thing never recovered was the tiny silver cross she had tied around his wrist on the day he was baptized.
Everyone had believed the child was dead.
Everyone...
Except Maria.
"I always knew someone took him," the old woman whispered.
She looked directly at the bride.
"And I know who."
The crowd turned as one.
Maria slowly raised a trembling finger.
She wasn't pointing at the bride.
May you like
She was pointing at the groom's wealthy uncle, Victor.
For the first time all evening, Victor's confident smile disappeared.
