Not because Lila wasn’t biologically his.
He wrote the opposite.
Lila is innocent.
She is my daughter in every way that matters.
He was changing the estate because my mother had been draining company money and threatening to use the girls against him if he filed for divorce.
Then I reached the final entry.
It was dated five days before Dad died.
Victoria knows I changed the trust.
She asked where the originals were.
I told her she would never find them.
Then one final line.
If something happens to me, Evelyn knows what to do.
My hands went numb.
“Dad died in a boating accident.”
Nathan’s voice was careful.
“Yes.”
“You’re telling me my mother—”
“No,” he interrupted.
“We have no evidence that your mother caused your father’s death.”
“But Grandmother suspected it.”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Suddenly my wedding dress felt very far away.
Then Nathan said something that brought it all crashing back.
“Your mother has been trying to locate these documents for twelve years.”
“And she thought Grandmother hid them in the dress.”
“No,” Nathan said.
“She thought Evelyn hid
the key
there.”
I wanted to confront my mother immediately.
Daniel stopped me.
Not because he wanted to protect her.
Because once she knew we had the documents, she could begin destroying evidence.
Nathan agreed.
So we made a plan.
A terrible, beautiful plan.
I called Sofia.
“Can you finish the alteration we discussed?”
There was a pause.
“The one you described?”
“Yes.”
“It will take all night.”
“I know.”
“We’ll make it happen.”
Then I went back to the resort.
I smiled at my mother.
And I said nothing.
At 7:03 the next morning—
twelve hours before my wedding
—I walked into my bridal suite.
My gown was gone.
In its place stood a monstrous crystal-covered princess dress.
Rhinestones covered the bodice.
Silver embroidery curled around the waist.
Layers of glittering tulle consumed half the room.
My mother sat near the window drinking coffee.
Lila stood beside the wardrobe.
Celeste, the stylist, was adjusting the train.
“There you are,” Mother said.
I stared at the gown.
“Where is my dress?”
Mother didn’t blink.
“We made an adjustment.”
“An adjustment.”
“Your original gown didn’t photograph well.”
“You stole it.”
“Don’t be childish.”
I looked at Lila.
She couldn’t meet my eyes.
“Did you help her?”
Lila swallowed.
“Isabella—”
“Did you?”
Mother answered for her.
“She did what was necessary.”
I stared at my mother.
She expected screaming.
I could see it.
She expected tears.
A fight.
Perhaps even a canceled wedding.
Instead, I smiled.
“All right.”
My mother frowned.
“What?”
“I’ll wear it.”
Lila looked at me.
Mother actually lowered her coffee.
“You will?”
“Yes.”
Suspicion flickered across her face.
Then satisfaction replaced it.
“I knew you’d eventually understand.”
I touched the glittering skirt.
“Oh,” I said softly, “I understand perfectly.”
The ceremony began at six.
The sky turned gold over Lake Geneva.
Guests filled rows of white chairs overlooking the water.
I walked down the aisle wearing my mother’s ridiculous crystal gown.
People gasped.
Mother smiled.
Lila relaxed.
Daniel looked at me.
