Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO KNEW HER MOTHER|
For several seconds, the ballroom seemed to forget how to breathe.
Beatrice recovered first.
"This is a private family matter, Mr. Volkov."
"Then you should have handled it privately," Stefan replied.
Richard hurried down from the head table.
"Sarah, darling, let's go home. This has gotten out of hand."
Sarah looked at the man who had watched strangers empty her handbag in front of an audience.
"You didn't think it was out of hand until someone important arrived."
Richard's mouth tightened.
"That's unfair."
"No. What's unfair is that you needed another man to make you remember I deserve respect."
Stefan did not interrupt. He simply stood beside her, leaving the decision in her hands.
That small courtesy unsettled Sarah more than the entire confrontation.
She removed her wedding ring and placed it in Richard's palm.
"I want a divorce."
"You're making a mistake," he whispered.
"Perhaps. But at least it will be my mistake."
She accepted Stefan's offer to leave.
Outside the ballroom, Sarah finally broke down. Her hands trembled so badly that she could not fasten the torn shoulder of her dress.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Stefan frowned.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"For making a scene."
"You were humiliated. You did not create the humiliation."
He spoke without anger or theatrical sympathy. Somehow, that made her tears worse.
In a quiet hotel suite, Stefan introduced his attorney, Elena Markovic, and asked Sarah whether she wanted tea, food, or simply time alone.
"Tell me about Maria," Sarah finally said.
Stefan produced an old photograph of a dark-haired young woman standing beside him beside a river in Florence.
Sarah touched the photograph.
The woman's green eyes, narrow chin, and crooked smile were unmistakably familiar.
"She looks like me."
"She was your mother," Stefan said softly. "And she was the woman I intended to marry."
He explained that Maria had disappeared more than twenty-six years earlier, shortly after telling him she was pregnant. A letter arrived claiming she had left him willingly. Another report suggested she had died overseas.
Stefan had spent years searching, but every trail ended in falsified records.
"Why didn't you find me?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know. Someone made sure the evidence led nowhere."
"Do you have proof that I'm your daughter?"
"Not yet. And I won't ask you to believe something simply because I want it to be true."
Sarah studied him.
For the first time that night, she felt no pressure to produce the correct response.
"Then we'll find out."
The following morning, Sarah filed a formal complaint concerning the public search and the guard who had torn her dress. Elena began requesting the hotel's surveillance footage.
Three hours later, Beatrice issued a statement describing the incident as an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Then the missing earrings were found inside a travel case in Beatrice's own jewelry safe.
Sarah stared at the discovery report.
"There was never any theft."
Elena closed her folder.
"That appears to be the case."
Stefan looked toward the window.
"Someone wanted you disgraced in public."
May you like
Sarah remembered Beatrice's expression when he mentioned Maria Conti.
"Then I want to know why."
