Chapter 2: The Truth Behind the Diamond Necklace
Nathan stared at Lily as though the rooftop had suddenly tilted beneath his feet.
"Daddy?""
The word came out of his mouth almost silently.
Lily nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
"Yes, Daddy.""
Nathan lowered himself to her level.
"Sweetheart, come here.""
Lily stepped toward him.
Victoria immediately caught his arm.
"Nathan, she's confused. She's frightened. Don't let this woman manipulate you.""
Nathan pulled his arm away.
"Victoria, stop talking.""
The bride blinked.
"What?""
"I said stop.""
It was the first time all afternoon that Nathan had spoken to her like that.
Jada stood a few feet away, still holding her cheek. Her curls had fallen across one side of her face, and her breathing was uneven.
She looked at Lily.
Then at Nathan.
"She was hanging over the edge," Jada said.
"I pulled her back up. Your bride pushed her.""
Victoria laughed sharply.
"That's an outrageous accusation!""
Jada turned toward her.
"Then explain why you were standing beside her when she fell.""
"I was trying to stop her from wandering around!""
"With both hands against her chest?""
Victoria's expression hardened.
"You need to watch your mouth.""
Nathan stood.
"Enough. I want to know what happened.""
Victoria immediately reached for his hand.
"Darling, think about this. She's a server. She has been hovering around Lily all afternoon. Maybe she's trying to create a scene because she wants money.""
Jada stared at her in disbelief.
"Money?""
Victoria raised her voice.
"How much do you want? Is that what this is about?""
Jada shook her head.
"You slapped me with words before he even touched me. Now you're trying to buy my silence?""
Nathan looked at Jada's cheek.
A faint red mark was beginning to appear.
His expression shifted.
He looked down at his hand.
He had hit her.
Without asking a single question.
He swallowed.
"Jada, I—"
"Don't," she interrupted.
Her voice cracked.
"You don't get to hit me because a woman in an expensive dress points at me.""
Nathan looked away.
Lily tugged at his sleeve.
"Daddy?""
He immediately turned toward her.
"Yes, princess?""
Lily reached up and touched his bow tie.
"Are you mad at me?""
Nathan's face crumpled.
"No. Never.""
"Victoria said you would be mad if I told.""
Victoria went pale.
Nathan slowly turned his head.
"What did she say?""
Victoria forced a laugh.
"She's six, Nathan. She doesn't understand what she's saying.""
But Lily wasn't looking at Victoria anymore.
She was looking at Nathan.
"She told me not to call you Daddy.""
Nathan knelt again.
"Why?""
"She said you weren't really mine anymore.""
The silence was immediate.
Jada felt something cold settle in her chest.
Nathan's eyes moved toward Victoria.
"Explain that.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"This is ridiculous. Lily has been acting out because she doesn't like the wedding.""
"That's not an explanation.""
"She's jealous!""
"Jealous of what?""
Victoria looked at Lily.
Then she made the mistake of answering.
"Of us.""
Nathan stared.
Lily shook her head.
"I'm not jealous.""
Victoria snapped.
"Then why do you keep ruining everything?""
Nathan stepped between them.
"Do not speak to her like that.""
Victoria looked at him as if he had betrayed her.
"You're choosing a child over your future wife?""
Nathan's voice dropped.
"She's a child. What exactly do you expect me to choose?""
Jada watched Lily carefully.
The girl was clutching a tiny silver necklace.
It looked old, unlike the expensive decorations surrounding the wedding.
A small silver heart hung from it.
Nathan noticed it too.
His face changed.
"Where did you get that necklace?""
Lily touched the pendant.
"My mommy gave it to me.""
Nathan stared at the little heart.
"Your mommy?""
Lily nodded.
"She said my daddy gave it to her a long time ago.""
Nathan's mouth went dry.
He reached toward the pendant, then stopped himself.
"What's your mother's name?""
Lily answered quietly.
"Amara.""
The name hit him harder than the slap had hit Jada.
Nathan stepped backward.
Victoria noticed.
"Nathan?""
He didn't respond.
His eyes remained fixed on the necklace.
Five years earlier, before Victoria had entered his life, Nathan had loved a woman named Amara.
She had been the only person who could make him forget his money, his business empire, and the expectations attached to his last name.
They had planned a future together.
Then one morning, she disappeared.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
No forwarding address.
Nathan had called her repeatedly.
He had visited the apartment they shared.
He had even hired someone to find her.
Eventually, he received a short message.
I don't love you anymore. Please don't contact me.
He had believed it.
Victoria had entered his life months later, offering comfort and certainty.
She had never liked hearing Amara's name.
"Where is your mother now?"" Nathan asked.
Lily looked down.
"She died.""
Nathan closed his eyes.
The sound that escaped him was barely a breath.
"When?""
"Last year.""
He looked at her again.
"How old are you?""
"Six.""
His hands began to shake.
"What's your birthday?""
Lily told him.
Nathan counted silently.
Six years.
Almost seven.
His face drained of color.
Victoria stepped forward.
"This is enough. Nathan, we need to get away from this child.""
He looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because this is obviously some kind of setup.""
"How do you know?""
Victoria hesitated.
Then she pointed at Jada.
"Because she brought the child here!""
Jada frowned.
"What?""
"You heard me. You're both working together.""
Jada took a step forward.
"I met Lily today. I didn't even know her name until you started screaming at her.""
Victoria turned toward Nathan.
"Darling, please. Think rationally. This is our wedding day.""
Nathan looked at her diamond necklace.
Then at the silver heart around Lily's neck.
"Did you know Amara?""
Victoria's eyes flickered.
Only for a moment.
But Nathan saw it.
"Victoria.""
She looked away.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Did you know Amara?""
"That woman was your past.""
"That's not an answer.""
Victoria exhaled sharply.
"Yes. I knew about her. You told me everything.""
Nathan stepped closer.
"Did you know she had a child?""
Victoria's silence was too long.
Nathan's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Victoria, look at me.""
She finally did.
"I knew she had a daughter.""
Nathan stared at her.
The rooftop seemed to go silent.
"You knew?""
Victoria's chin lifted.
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"Because you were finally moving on!""
Nathan looked as though someone had struck him.
"She's my daughter.""
Victoria's expression twisted.
"You don't know that.""
Nathan looked at Lily.
The little girl was watching him with frightened eyes.
He knelt and gently touched her shoulder.
"Did your mother ever tell you my name?""
Lily nodded.
"She said your name was Nathan.""
Nathan covered his mouth.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Don't do this.""
But he wasn't listening.
"Did she tell you anything else?""
Lily reached into the little pocket sewn into her dress.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"My mommy gave me this.""
Nathan carefully accepted it.
The paper was creased and worn.
His name was written across the front in handwriting he recognized immediately.
Amara's handwriting.
Nathan's fingers trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
He and Amara stood together on a beach, smiling at the camera.
On the back, she had written:
For Nathan, in case our little girl ever needs to find her father.
Nathan's eyes filled.
He turned the photograph over.
Below the message was a date.
It was dated six years earlier.
Victoria grabbed his wrist.
"Don't read the rest.""
Nathan looked up.
For the first time, he saw fear in her eyes.
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what you're holding.""
He pulled the paper away.
There was another sentence beneath the photograph's message.
If Lily is ever in danger, tell her father what happened the night I disappeared.
Nathan looked at Lily.
Then at Victoria.
"What happened the night Amara disappeared?""
Victoria said nothing.
Nathan unfolded the remaining paper.
A second line had been written in darker ink.
The person who separated us is the same person who knows why I never came home.
Nathan's breathing stopped.
He slowly raised his eyes toward his bride.
"Victoria...""
She took a step backward.
May you like
And then, from behind her trembling fingers, she whispered something that made Nathan's blood run cold.
"Amara should have stayed gone.""
