THE SECRET BEFORE THE VOWS .......
CHAPTER 1 — THE SECRET BEFORE THE VOWS
The wedding hall was filled with music, laughter, and people waiting for the ceremony to begin.
But in the quiet bathroom hallway, everything felt different.
The groom, Ethan, remained frozen beside the little girl.
The wedding ring box was still in his hand.
The child’s words kept repeating in his mind.
“Mom said it’s a secret…”
Ethan looked at her carefully.
“What is your name?”
The little girl wiped her tears.
“Lily.”
“Lily… who is your mom?”
The girl looked toward the wedding hall.
Then she whispered:
“Her.”
Ethan followed her eyes.
His heart stopped.
She was looking at his bride.
His future wife.
Sophia.
For a moment, Ethan couldn’t breathe.
He had known Sophia for three years.
He believed he knew everything about her.
But now a little girl was hiding in a bathroom before their wedding.
And Sophia had told her to stay hidden.
Ethan slowly stood up.
“Lily, why did she tell you not to come outside?”
The girl looked down.
“She said if you saw me, the wedding would end.”
Those words hurt more than Ethan expected.
He looked at the ring in his hand.
Then at the woman he was about to marry.
A staff member walked past and noticed Ethan standing there.
“Sir? Is everything okay?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Because at that moment, Sophia appeared at the end of the hallway.
Her smile disappeared when she saw Lily.
“Ethan…”
Her voice was quiet.
But full of fear.
The groom looked at her.
“Who is she?”
Sophia said nothing.
The silence was enough.
Ethan’s expression changed.
“Tell me the truth.”
Sophia stepped closer.
“Not here.”
But Ethan shook his head.
“No more secrets.”
The little girl held onto Ethan’s hand.
And Sophia realized something.
May you like
The child trusted him.
Not her.
