Chapter 3: Whispers of the Past
The heavy oak doors of the ballroom remained propped open, letting in the cool draft of the hotel corridor.
Jonathan kept his rigid posture, his eyes locked on Evelyn where she stood near a marble pillar, arms crossed over her burgundy bodice.
The guests began to murmur among themselves, the initial shock dissolving into uneasy speculation about the blood on the child’s shirt and the fierce possessiveness radiating from the bride.
Elena gently rocked Leo, lifting his chin to inspect his tear-streaked face. His big hazel eyes looked up at her, brimming with an unspoken terror that broke her heart all over again.
“You are safe now, Leo,” Elena whispered, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.
“No one is going to hurt you.” Leo nodded slowly, though his small frame still shuddered with residual shock.
He glanced nervously toward the entrance, as if expecting Evelyn to lunge forward again. Jonathan took a measured step backward, closing the physical distance between himself and Elena without ever turning his back on the threat.
He knelt beside them, placing a strong, comforting hand on Leo’s trembling shoulder.
The black fabric of his suit contrasted sharply with the pristine white of Elena’s dress and the crimson stain on the boy’s shirt. “We need to get him out of here, Elena,” Jonathan said quietly, his voice low and urgent.
“We cannot let the authorities question him here, not while Evelyn is circling like a vulture. She has manipulated too many people in this hotel already.” Elena understood the implicit danger. The wedding was ruined, but human lives were at stake now.
She gathered her heavy skirts, helping Leo to his feet while keeping him shielded against her side. As they prepared to move toward the private service elevators at the back of the ballroom, Evelyn stepped forward again, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. “You can run, Elena, but you are hiding a criminal,” Evelyn called out, her tone dripping with toxic sweetness. “Ask the boy whose blood is on his shirt.
Ask him what happened in the study upstairs.” Leo flinched violently at her words, burying his face once more against Elena’s waist with a muffled sob.
Jonathan whirled around, his fist clenching at his side with such intensity that his knuckles turned white. Before Jonathan could issue another warning, Uncle Richard stepped out from the crowd, his weathered face set in a stern expression. Richard walked straight up to Evelyn, towering over her with quiet dignity.
“Leave them be, Evelyn,” Richard said firmly. “Your games end tonight. Security is already on their way up, and they will be escorting you off these premises.” Evelyn’s face hardened into a mask of pure hatred, realizing her public leverage was evaporating.
May you like
She sneered, stepping back into the shadows of the hallway. Jonathan wasted no time; he swept his arm around Elena and Leo, guiding them rapidly away from the horrified gaze of the guests toward the sanctuary of the private rooms upstairs.
