Chapter 5: What Lily Found in the Bridal Suite
The paramedics arrived within minutes.
Lily was placed on a stretcher while a female paramedic examined her wrist and checked for injuries.
Nathan refused to leave her side.
Jada stood nearby, watching as the little girl clutched her father's hand.
“Does it hurt, sweetheart?”” Nathan asked.
Lily nodded.
“Just a little.””
The paramedic gently examined her wrist.
“Nothing appears broken, but we'll need an X-ray to be certain.””
Nathan nodded.
“Take her to the hospital. I'll follow.””
Lily suddenly reached toward Jada.
“Can she come?””
Jada blinked.
“Me?””
Lily nodded.
“Please?””
Nathan looked at Jada.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said quietly, “If you're willing.””
Jada glanced at her uniform.
“I should probably speak to the police first.””
Detective Morgan approached.
“Ms. Jada, we'll need your statement. But we can arrange for you to accompany them afterward if necessary.””
Jada nodded.
“Thank you.””
Nathan bent down and kissed Lily's forehead.
“Daddy's going to make sure you're okay.””
Lily whispered something.
“What was that, baby?””
“Don't let Victoria come back.””
Nathan's expression broke.
“She won't.””
He looked at the paramedic.
“Please make sure she's comfortable.””
Then he turned toward Jada.
“I'll be waiting at the hospital.””
Jada nodded.
Nathan followed the stretcher toward the elevator.
Before he disappeared, he looked back at her.
There was something in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Something closer to shame.
The police interviewed Jada in a private conference room.
She described everything from the moment she saw Victoria standing behind Lily to the moment Nathan struck her.
Detective Morgan wrote carefully.
“When did you first see the bride near the child?””
“About seven forty-five.””
“Did you hear anything?””
“Not clearly. The music was loud.””
“Did you see her hands?””
“Yes. Both hands were on Lily's shoulders.””
“And after the child fell?””
“She stepped away.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“Did she attempt to help?””
“No.””
“Did she call for assistance?””
“No.””
Jada swallowed.
“She just stood there.””
The detective paused.
“Ms. Jada, you also mentioned that Mr. Sterling struck you.””
Jada touched her cheek.
“Yes.””
“Would you like that included in your statement?””
Jada gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Of course.””
Detective Morgan nodded.
“We'll document the injury.””
A hotel medic cleaned Jada's arm and applied fresh dressing.
Then Marcus entered the room.
“Ms. Jada?””
She looked up.
“Yes?””
“Mr. Sterling asked me to arrange transportation for you to the hospital. He also wants to make sure your medical expenses are covered.””
Jada frowned.
“I can pay for my own treatment.””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“He insisted.””
“Then tell him he can insist on apologizing properly.””
Marcus nodded.
“I will.””
He hesitated.
“There is something else.””
Jada waited.
“The hotel reviewed the corridor footage. We found a recording showing Victoria entering the bridal suite with a small black case.””
“The emergency equipment?””
“Yes. But there was another recording.””
Marcus placed a tablet on the table.
“This was taken at 7:18 p.m.””
The video showed Victoria standing near a side table in the bridal suite.
She was speaking to someone outside the frame.
Then a little girl entered.
Lily.
Jada leaned closer.
The child was holding a small white envelope.
Victoria immediately snatched it from her hand.
She looked inside.
Her expression changed.
Then she grabbed Lily by the shoulders and began speaking angrily.
Jada couldn't hear the conversation.
But she could see Lily crying.
Victoria pointed toward a dressing-room door.
Lily shook her head.
Victoria pushed the little girl toward the door.
Then the recording ended.
Jada looked at Marcus.
“What was in that envelope?””
“We don't know.””
“Did you find it?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Jada stared at the frozen image.
Lily had said Victoria showed her something before the wedding.
Perhaps it was connected.
“Can you ask Nathan?””
Marcus nodded.
“I'll send him the recording.””
He turned to leave.
But Jada stopped him.
“Marcus?””
“Yes?””
“Why was Lily alone with Victoria in the bridal suite?””
He hesitated.
“Mr. Sterling had been called downstairs to handle an issue with the wedding guests. Victoria was supposed to help Lily get ready.””
Jada looked at the video again.
“That's not what helping looks like.””
“No,” Marcus admitted.
“It isn't.””
At the hospital, Nathan sat beside Lily's bed.
The X-rays showed no fractures.
Her wrist was badly bruised, and the doctors wanted to monitor her for a possible concussion after the fall.
Nathan held her little hand.
“I should have been watching you.””
Lily looked at him.
“You were busy.””
“I was getting married.””
She stared at the ceiling.
“Victoria said you were going to be too busy for me after today.””
Nathan felt something twist inside his chest.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Lily pulled the blanket closer.
“She said you would be angry.””
“At you?””
Lily nodded.
Nathan leaned forward.
“Listen to me. You can tell Daddy anything. Anything at all. Even if you think I'll be angry.””
“What if it's bad?””
“Especially then.””
Lily watched him carefully.
Then she whispered:
“I found a letter.””
Nathan went still.
“What letter?””
“In Victoria's room.””
“When?””
“This afternoon. I was looking for my teddy bear.””
Nathan waited.
Lily continued.
“There was a white envelope on her dressing table. It had my name on it.””
“What did it say?””
Lily's eyes filled.
“I didn't read all of it. Victoria came in.””
Nathan gently brushed her hair away from her forehead.
“Did you see anything inside?””
Lily nodded.
“A picture.””
“What picture?””
“Of Mommy.””
Nathan stopped moving.
His late wife, Emily, had died three years earlier.
Lily still remembered her mother's voice, her perfume, and the bedtime stories she used to tell.
Nathan rarely spoke about Emily.
Not because he had forgotten her.
Because remembering her still hurt.
“What did the picture look like?”” he asked.
“It was Mommy standing in front of our old house.””
Nathan swallowed.
“Did Victoria take it?””
Lily nodded.
“She got really angry. She said Mommy was supposed to stay in the past.””
Nathan looked down.
“Was there anything else?””
Lily hesitated.
“There was another paper.””
“What did it say?””
“I saw your name.””
Nathan's heart began pounding.
“My name?””
“And Mommy's.””
He stared at her.
“Lily, sweetheart, what did the paper say?””
She looked toward the hospital door.
Then back at him.
“I think Victoria was going to make you stop loving Mommy.””
Nathan gently squeezed her hand.
“That's impossible.””
Lily shook her head.
“She said Mommy left something for me. And she said if you found out, everything would be ruined.””
Nathan felt the room grow colder.
“What did she mean?””
“I don't know.””
The little girl started crying.
“I didn't want her to be angry. I only wanted my teddy bear.””
Nathan pulled her into his arms.
“It's okay.””
But his mind was racing.
Emily had left a will.
He remembered signing the papers after her death.
There had been a trust established for Lily.
A small property portfolio.
An insurance policy.
And a sealed letter.
A letter his attorney had told him should remain unopened until Lily turned eighteen.
Nathan had never questioned it.
Emily had been meticulous about their daughter's future.
But why would Victoria know about it?
And why would she be frightened of Nathan discovering something his late wife had left behind?
His phone vibrated.
A message from Marcus.
Mr. Sterling, we found the missing envelope.
Nathan opened it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a white envelope with Emily's handwriting.
Across the front were four words:
*FOR NATHAN AND LILY ONLY.*
Nathan stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
There's a second item inside. I think you should see it before speaking to the police.
Nathan immediately called Marcus.
“Where are you?””
“Back at the hotel.””
“Don't touch anything else. I'm coming.””
He ended the call.
Lily grabbed his sleeve.
“Daddy?””
He turned.
“Yes, baby?””
“Don't let Victoria take Mommy's letter.””
Nathan kissed her forehead.
“I won't.””
When Nathan returned to the Sterling Hotel, the wedding terrace had been sealed off.
Police officers were examining the service corridors.
Marcus waited in the private management office.
On the desk sat the white envelope.
Nathan recognized Emily's handwriting immediately.
His hands trembled as he picked it up.
Inside was a folded letter and a small photograph.
The photograph showed Emily holding a newborn Lily.
Nathan sat down.
He remembered that day.
Emily had been exhausted, smiling through tears, and insisting that their daughter had his eyes.
He unfolded the letter.
My dearest Nathan,
If you're reading this, something has happened that has made me afraid for Lily's future.
Nathan's throat tightened.
He continued.
I know you love our daughter. But there are things about our marriage that I never had the courage to tell you. Things I discovered after Lily was born.
His hands began shaking.
I have arranged for Lily to receive everything that belongs to her. Please do not allow anyone to change the terms of her trust.
Especially not someone who comes into your life claiming to love you.
Nathan stopped reading.
He looked up at Marcus.
“Who knew about this letter?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't know, sir.””
Nathan returned to the page.
The final paragraph was underlined.
If Victoria ever becomes part of our family, please make sure she never gets access to the original trust documents.
Nathan slowly lowered the letter.
The room was silent.
Marcus looked at him.
“Mr. Sterling?””
Nathan stared at the name.
Victoria.
Emily had written it three years earlier.
Before Nathan had even met his future bride.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a call from Detective Morgan.
He answered.
“Detective?””
“Mr. Sterling, we need to speak.””
“About Victoria?””
“About the attempted murder investigation, yes. But we've also discovered something about your late wife's estate.””
Nathan stood.
“What?””
There was a pause.
Then Detective Morgan said:
“Your fiancée may have been involved in an earlier incident connected to Emily's death.””
Nathan felt the floor shift beneath him.
“That's impossible. Victoria didn't even know Emily.””
Detective Morgan's voice lowered.
“That's what we thought too.””
Then she added:
“Mr. Sterling, do you remember who recommended the attorney who handled your wife's estate?””
Nathan stared at the letter.
May you like
He suddenly did.
And the name made his blood run cold.
