Chapter 3: The Secret in the Envelope
I had always believed Martha hated me because I wasn’t wealthy.
I thought she looked down on my family.
I thought she wanted Nick to marry someone richer, someone who fit into her perfect world.
But as Nick held that document in his hand, I realized something much worse.
Martha wasn’t trying to get rid of me.
She was trying to keep me from discovering the truth.
Nick handed me the envelope.
My fingers shook as I opened it.
Inside was an old legal document.
I scanned the first page.
Then the second.
My heart stopped.
“What is this?””
Martha immediately moved toward me.
“Give me that.””
Nick stepped between us.
“No.””
Her face twisted.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
I looked at Nick.
“Then explain.””
He swallowed.
“This was found in my grandmother’s belongings after she passed away.””
Eleanor nodded.
“She asked me to keep it safe.””
I looked down again.
The document contained a name.
My grandmother’s name.
I felt dizzy.
“My grandmother?””
Eleanor walked closer.
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“How do you know my grandmother?””
She gave me a sad smile.
“Because your grandmother and Martha’s mother were sisters.””
The words didn’t make sense.
I stared.
“What?””
Martha closed her eyes.
For the first time, she looked old.
Not powerful.
Not intimidating.
Just tired.
Nick continued.
“Our families were connected long before you and I met.””
I looked at Martha.
“Then why did you treat me like I was nothing?””
She didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
“You spent eight years telling Nick I wasn’t good enough.””
Her jaw tightened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
“No,” I said.
“I think I finally do.””
Eleanor sighed.
“Martha was taught that family name mattered more than family love.””
Martha laughed bitterly.
“You know nothing about what I sacrificed.””
Nick looked at her.
“You sacrificed kindness.””
Silence.
A cold wind moved through the open doors.
The guests watched as years of secrets fell apart in front of them.
I looked at the document again.
There was another page.
A handwritten note.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My grandmother’s.
My eyes filled with tears.
She had written:
“Whoever finds this, please remember one thing. A family is not created by blood alone. It is created by the people who choose to protect you.””
I covered my mouth.
My grandmother had died three years before my wedding.
I never got to ask her about the Reynolds family.
I never knew.
Nick touched my shoulder.
“I found out six months ago.””
I turned sharply.
“You knew?””
His face fell.
“I wanted to tell you.””
“But you didn’t.””
“I was trying to find proof.””
I looked away.
“I needed you to trust me.””
“I do trust you.””
My voice broke.
“But tonight, when she cut my hair, you walked away.””
Nick looked devastated.
“I walked away because if I stayed, I would have done something I couldn’t take back.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Martha whispered:
“You have no idea what she is.””
Everyone looked at her.
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Martha pointed at me.
“You think you’re innocent because you don’t know the truth.””
Nick stepped forward.
“Enough.””
But Martha continued.
“She doesn’t know what her grandmother did.””
Eleanor’s face changed.
“Martha.””
“No,” Martha said.
“She deserves to know.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did my grandmother do?””
Martha smiled slightly.
And it was the same cold smile she had given me when she held my braid.
“Your grandmother destroyed this family.””
The guests murmured.
Nick looked angry.
“That’s a lie.””
Martha shook her head.
“Is it?””
She reached into her purse.
Then she pulled out a small photograph.
She handed it to me.
I looked down.
And my blood turned cold.
Because the person standing beside my grandmother in that photograph wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone I knew.
Someone who had been at my wedding.
Someone Martha had invited.
Someone who had been watching everything.
May you like
Martha leaned closer.
“Now you understand why I had to stop you from finding out.””
