Chapter 2: The Letter Between the Roses
The ballroom had fallen completely silent.
Ethan carefully opened the yellowed envelope hidden among the roses.
His hands trembled as he unfolded the letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably his mother's.
"My dearest Ethan,
If you are reading this, then I have finally found the courage to return.
Your father told you I abandoned you. That was a lie.
Twenty-five years ago, I discovered that Richard Lawson—your bride's father—had stolen millions from our company and framed me for the crime. When I threatened to expose him, he offered your father a choice: protect me and lose everything, or help destroy me and keep his fortune.
Your father chose his fortune.
I was arrested for crimes I never committed. By the time I was released years later, you had been taught to hate me.
I stayed away because I believed you were happy. But when I learned you planned to marry into the Lawson family, I knew I could not stay silent.
Inside the attached documents is proof of everything.
Whatever you decide after reading this, know that I never stopped loving you.
Mom."
A stack of legal records slid from the envelope.
Bank transfers.
Forged signatures.
Court documents that had disappeared decades ago.
Every page pointed to the same truth.
Richard Lawson had built his empire by destroying Ethan's family.
Across the ballroom, the bride's father turned ghostly white.
The guests began whispering.
Then one voice broke through the crowd.
"Those documents are real."
Everyone turned.
An elderly retired judge slowly stood from his table.
"I presided over part of that investigation years ago. I always suspected evidence had been hidden."
The bride stared at her father.
"Dad..."
Richard took a step backward.
May you like
Then another.
For the first time in his life, there was nowhere left to run.
