CHAPTER 2: THE SECRET LETTER
Jonathan immediately canceled the gala.
Every guest remained seated.
No one was allowed to leave.
His security team quietly locked every entrance.
The little girl, Lily, sat beside him holding a warm cup of cocoa.
For the first time that night, she felt safe.
Then Jonathan asked a simple question.
"Where is your father?"
Lily lowered her head.
"I don't know."
"My mommy never talked about him."
Before she died, Amelia had left Lily a small box.
One she had never opened.
Jonathan carefully unlocked it.
Inside sat photographs.
Old newspaper clippings.
And a sealed letter.
His hands trembled as he unfolded it.
The room stood silent while he read.
Dear Dad,
If you're reading this, I am probably gone.
I never stopped loving you.
I only ran away because someone inside our own circle tried to kill me.
I couldn't trust anyone.
Not even people close to our family.
I hid for years to protect my daughter.
But if Lily ever finds you, please keep her safe.
The person responsible is still out there.
Jonathan's blood ran cold.
He flipped the page over.
One final sentence remained.
The person who betrayed us attends your charity galas every year.
Everyone in the ballroom suddenly became nervous.
Jonathan slowly looked around the room.
One by one.
Until his eyes landed on the woman who had destroyed Lily's necklace.
Her face had turned completely white.
Because she recognized the handwriting too.
She wasn't the mastermind.
May you like
But she knew exactly who was.
And she knew her own secrets were about to be exposed.
