CHAPTER 3 — THE FAMILY SECRET
The bride staggered backward.
"That's impossible!"
But the maid reached into her apron and pulled out another document.
A police report.
An old investigation.
A witness statement.
For years, the case had remained unsolved.
Because the people involved were rich.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
The groom quickly scanned the documents.
Every page told the same story.
The bride's mother had secretly worked with corrupt business partners.
They poisoned investors.
Inherited shares.
And erased evidence.
But one witness had survived.
The maid's father.
Until he died days later.
The bride collapsed into a nearby chair.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I didn't know."
For the first time, her voice sounded genuine.
"My mother told me your family destroyed ours."
The maid looked at her.
The hatred she had carried for years suddenly seemed smaller.
The bride lowered her head.
"When she died last year, I found letters."
The ballroom listened carefully.
"She told me your husband knew the truth."
The groom shook his head immediately.
"I never knew any of this."
The bride looked devastated.
"I believed her."
She covered her face.
"And she convinced me that killing you would avenge our family."
The room fell silent again.
A lifetime of lies had led to this moment.
Then police officers entered the ballroom.
Someone had already called them.
The bride didn't resist.
As officers approached, she looked at the maid.
May you like
And whispered:
"We were both victims of the same monster."
