Chapter 1: The Perfect Day That Wasn’t
Victoria stood at the altar in her custom-designed gown, smiling at the man she was about to marry. Alexander looked at her with pure adoration. The church was filled with their families and friends. Everything was perfect — or so it seemed.
The flower girl, seven-year-old Lily, walked down the aisle ahead of her, scattering petals with a shy smile. She looked adorable in her white dress. But as Lily passed by the front row, Victoria’s eyes locked onto something around the child’s neck.
A gold locket.
Victoria’s breath caught in her throat.
She knew that locket. It had belonged to her mother, Eleanor. The same delicate gold chain with the small heart-shaped locket that her mother never took off. Victoria had watched them bury her mother wearing it three years ago — or at least, that’s what she had told everyone.
Her heart started pounding.
After the ceremony, during the reception, Victoria couldn’t stop staring at the locket every time Lily passed by. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. While Alexander was talking to some guests, Victoria walked straight up to the little girl, grabbed her by the shoulders, and yanked the necklace off. The chain snapped.
Lily stumbled back, clutching her throat as tears filled her eyes.
“That’s mine!” Victoria snapped, her voice sharp. “You stole it!”
The little girl looked up at her, confused and scared.
“No… she gave it to me.”
Victoria froze.
Before she could respond, Alexander appeared beside them.
“What’s going on?” he asked, looking between his new wife and the crying child.
Victoria held up the locket. “She stole this from me. It was my mother’s.”
Alexander looked at Lily, then back at Victoria. His voice was calm but serious.
“Your mother died three years ago,” he said quietly. “If this was hers… how did this little girl get it?”
Lily wiped her tears and whispered, “She gave it to me.”
The entire room seemed to go still.
May you like
Alexander turned to Victoria, his expression unreadable.
“Open it.”
