The ballroom remained frozen in silence.

Nathaniel stared at Emily as memories crashed violently through his mind.

The hospital.

The stormy night his wife died.

The crying newborn.

And one terrified young nurse standing beside the window.

Emily.

“You were there…” Nathaniel whispered.

Emily’s face lost all color.

The guests watched in confusion while Oliver clung tightly to her neck.

Nathaniel stepped closer slowly.

“My wife spoke to you before she died.”

Emily’s eyes filled instantly with tears.

“She made me promise…” Emily whispered shakily.

Vanessa interrupted angrily.
“What is happening here?!”

But Nathaniel ignored her completely.

Emily finally looked up at him.

“The night your wife passed away… she knew someone inside your company was planning to destroy your family.”

Nathaniel’s heartbeat stopped.

“She begged me to protect Oliver if anything ever happened to her.”

The room exploded with whispers.

Nathaniel shook his head slowly.
“That’s impossible…”

Emily reached trembling fingers into her apron pocket and pulled out an old silver necklace.

Nathaniel’s face went completely white.

It belonged to his wife.

“She gave me this the night she died,” Emily said softly. “She said Oliver would recognize me one day.”

Suddenly—

Celeste quietly tried to leave the ballroom.

Nathaniel noticed immediately.

“Stop.”

Everyone turned.

Celeste froze near the doorway.

Nathaniel’s voice became cold.

“You worked for my company before we met.”

Celeste’s face tightened.

Emily held Oliver protectively while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Nathaniel slowly realized the horrifying truth.

One of the women trying to marry him tonight…

was connected to his wife’s death.

Oliver suddenly pointed directly at Celeste.

And in the innocent voice of a child, he whispered:

“She’s the bad lady.”