Chương 2
Daniel knew the night was far from over.
The mysterious letter, the accusations, and the years of secrets would eventually demand answers, but for that moment, his son was safe.
And that was the only thing that mattered.
He guided Ethan away from the crowd and toward a quieter corner of the garden near the old stone fountain.
The sounds of the party slowly returned behind them, but the laughter felt different now.
People were no longer celebrating.
They were waiting.
Daniel crouched down beside Ethan and gently examined his arm.
The red mark was already fading, but the sight of it still made anger burn inside him.
“Does it hurt?” Daniel asked softly.
Ethan looked at his arm and shook his head.
“Not really.”
Daniel knew his son was trying to be brave.
He had seen that expression before.
It was the same expression Ethan wore when he was afraid but did not want anyone to worry.
“You don’t have to pretend with me,” Daniel said.
Ethan looked down at the ground.
“I don’t understand why she hates me.”
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
“She doesn’t hate you.”
“Then why did she do that?”
Daniel had no easy answer.
He looked back toward the mansion where Margaret stood surrounded by guests who were quietly questioning what they had witnessed.
Because the truth was, he did not know why either.
Margaret Whitmore had always been a complicated person.
She was strict, proud, and sometimes impossible to understand, but Daniel had never seen her lose control like that.
Not with anyone.
Especially not with a child.
A shadow of concern crossed his face as he remembered the words she had spoken.
The letter.
The family secret.
The years of lies.
Something about this was connected to Ethan.
And that frightened him more than the confrontation itself.
Olivia approached slowly, stopping a few feet away so she would not overwhelm the boy.
“Daniel,” she said quietly.
He looked up.
“She wants to talk to you.”
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“Not right now.”
Olivia glanced toward Ethan.
“I understand.”
She lowered her voice.
“But whatever is happening, I don’t think Margaret was trying to hurt him.”
Daniel looked at her carefully.
“Did you see what happened?”
Olivia hesitated.
“Yes.”
“And you still think that?”
Her expression changed.
“No.”
She looked uncomfortable.
“I think she was scared.”
Daniel frowned.
“Scared of a seven-year-old boy?”
Olivia looked toward the mansion.
“Maybe not of him.”
The answer stayed in Daniel’s mind.
He knew there was something everyone else understood except him.
Something Margaret had discovered.
Something connected to his family.
After making sure Ethan was sitting safely beside a garden bench, Daniel walked back toward the party.
Every step felt heavier.
The guests moved aside as he passed.
Nobody wanted to interrupt him.
They could see the anger in his face.
Margaret stood near the dessert table, staring at the broken plate and the ruined cake on the pavement.
She looked smaller now.
Not weak.
But tired.
Daniel stopped in front of her.
“Tell me everything.”
Margaret did not answer immediately.
She looked around at the guests.
“Not here.”
Daniel’s voice became colder.
“You embarrassed him here.”
The words struck her.
She lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
“Then explain why.”
Margaret took a slow breath.
“Because when I saw that letter, I thought I was looking at proof that everything I believed about this family was a lie.”
Daniel waited.
“And when I saw Ethan holding that plate, I remembered the same handwriting.”
A confused expression crossed Daniel’s face.
“What are you talking about?”
Margaret reached into her purse.
For a moment, Daniel thought she would pull out a phone or some ordinary piece of evidence.
Instead, she removed a folded piece of paper.
It was old.
The edges were worn.
The paper looked like it had been opened and closed hundreds of times.
She held it tightly.
“This was found inside your father’s old study.”
Daniel froze.
His father’s study had been locked for years.
After his father died, Margaret had kept many of his belongings untouched.
“What does it say?”
Margaret looked at him.
“It says Ethan’s name.”
Daniel felt the world become strangely quiet.
“What?”
Margaret handed him the paper.
His hands tightened as he unfolded it.
The handwriting was familiar.
He recognized it immediately.
It belonged to his father.
Daniel read the first few lines.
His expression changed.
The confidence disappeared.
The anger disappeared.
Only confusion remained.
“What is this?”
Margaret watched his reaction carefully.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel continued reading.
The letter mentioned a promise.
A promise made many years earlier.
It mentioned protecting someone.
It mentioned a child who deserved the truth.
But the letter did not explain everything.
Several lines were missing.
The final page had been torn away.
Daniel looked up.
“Where is the rest?”
“I don’t know.”
“You found this and decided to accuse my son?”
Margaret’s eyes filled with regret.
“No.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You grabbed him.”
“I know.”
Her voice cracked slightly.
“I thought he had something to do with it.”
Daniel could barely believe what he was hearing.
“He is seven years old.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I know that now.”
The honesty in her voice surprised him.
For years, Margaret had rarely admitted mistakes.
But tonight, she looked like someone carrying a burden too heavy to hold.
Daniel looked at the letter again.
His father’s handwriting.
Ethan’s name.
A missing page.
A hidden message.
None of it made sense.
“Why would my father write about Ethan?”
Margaret did not answer.
Instead, she looked toward the fountain where Ethan was sitting.
“Because your father knew something before any of us did.”
Daniel followed her gaze.
“What?”
Margaret swallowed.
“That Ethan’s life was connected to this family long before he was born.”
A chill moved through Daniel.
He stepped closer.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Margaret met his eyes.
“I am telling you the truth.”
“No.”
May you like
Daniel shook his head.
“You are telling me a mystery.”
