Chapter 2 - Two Days Before the Wedding
Two days earlier, Lena had arrived at the Aurelia Grand Resort believing she was about to begin the happiest weekend of her life.
The resort stood on a private coastal cliff, surrounded by gardens, fountains, and stone terraces overlooking the ocean. Daniel’s family had arranged everything: the ballroom, the flowers, the guest suites, and the private ceremony beneath an arch of white roses.
Evelyn had insisted on paying.
“You have no parents to organize these things for you,” she had told Lena. “Let me treat you like a daughter.”
At the time, Lena had been grateful.
Her aunt, Caroline, was the only member of Lena’s family attending. On the first evening, Caroline visited Lena’s suite and gave her a small velvet box.
Inside was Miriam’s old silver locket.
“I found it behind a drawer in your mother’s desk,” Caroline explained. “I think she wanted you to have it.”
Lena opened the locket and saw the faded photograph of herself and her mother.
She was six years old in the picture.
Behind them stood a fountain with a golden statue.
Lena walked to her balcony and stared down into the resort courtyard.
The same fountain stood below.
Caroline noticed it too.
“Your mother never told me she had been here,” she said.
When Lena showed the photograph to Daniel, his reaction was strangely delayed.
He stared at it for several seconds before smiling.
“Many resorts have fountains like that.”
“This is the same one.”
“Then your mother must have visited years ago.”
Daniel closed the locket and placed it back in her hand.
“Don’t let old questions ruin our wedding.”
That night, Lena woke shortly after two in the morning.
Daniel was not in bed.
She found him standing near the suite entrance, speaking quietly on his phone.
“Yes, it’s the same locket,” he whispered. “She brought it with her.”
When he noticed Lena, he ended the call.
“Who were you talking to?” she asked.
“My mother.”
“At two in the morning?”
May you like
Daniel smiled.
“Wedding nerves.”
