The Wedding That Stopped
Chapter 02 - The Wedding That Stopped
Nobody moved.
Even the photographer lowered his camera.
Nathan stared at Noah as though the child had just spoken words capable of splitting his entire life in two.
"My father?" Nathan repeated.
Elena's eyes narrowed.
"Your sons."
Evelyn stepped between them.
"Enough."
Nathan didn't look at her.
"Evelyn," Elena said bitterly, "you told me he signed the letter."
Nathan finally turned.
"What letter?"
For the first time, fear appeared on his mother's face.
Madison Vale, the bride waiting inside the mansion, appeared at the top of the staircase.
Her white dress trailed behind her.
"What is happening?"
Nathan barely seemed to hear her.
He walked toward the boys.
Eli stepped backward.
Sam grabbed Elena's dress.
Nathan immediately stopped.
Something about their fear hurt him more than any accusation could have.
He lowered himself slightly.
"I'm not going to come any closer."
Noah studied him.
"You look like Eli when he's mad."
A nervous laugh escaped someone in the crowd before dying instantly.
Elena's lips trembled.
Nathan looked at her again.
"You had three sons?"
"We had three sons."
The correction landed hard.
Nathan shook his head.
"No. I was told..."
He stopped.
Elena waited.
Nathan looked at his mother.
"I was told Elena lost the babies."
Evelyn said nothing.
Nathan's voice dropped.
"You told me they died."
Elena's face changed.
Now it was her turn to look stunned.
"What?"
Nathan turned toward her.
"After my accident. When I woke up, my mother told me you miscarried. She said you couldn't bear to see me."
Elena stared at Evelyn.
"She told me you woke up asking for your attorney."
Nathan shook his head.
"No."
"She brought me papers."
"No."
"She said you wanted me gone."
"Elena, I never—"
"Stop!"
The word came from the mansion steps.
Madison descended slowly.
Her face was no longer shocked.
It was terrified.
Elena noticed.
So did Nathan.
He looked at the woman he had been seconds away from marrying.
"Madison?"
She gripped her bouquet tightly.
Nathan's voice became dangerously calm.
May you like
"Why do you look like you already knew?"
And Madison's silence answered before she did.
