Chapter 7 - THE BRIDE’S REAL REASON
I drove to the place Giselle had chosen.
An old restaurant near the marina.
No security.
No cameras that mattered.
She sat alone at a corner table.
Her wedding dress was gone.
She wore a gray coat.
When she saw me, she stood.
“I know you hate me.”
“I don't.”
She looked surprised.
“I should.”
“You should hate what you did.”
Her eyes filled.
“I didn't know everything.”
“I know.”
She sat.
I remained standing.
“Tell me.”
Giselle took a breath.
“My father died when I was nineteen.”
“Lucien Dupont.”
She nodded.
“He left my mother with nothing.”
“That's not what I heard.”
“My family told me he was a criminal.”
I waited.
“They told me Christian's father betrayed him.”
“Did you believe that?”
“For years.”
“What changed?”
She looked down.
“Your name.”
I frowned.
“My name?”
“My father kept a photograph of your mother.”
I sat.
“Why?”
“He said she stole something from him.”
“What?”
“Money.”
I shook my head.
“That wasn't the truth.”
“I know that now.”
She reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small photograph.
My mother.
Lucien.
Christian's father.
And a much younger Giselle.
I stared.
“You were there.”
“I was a child.”
“How old?”
“Eight.”
I studied the picture.
My mother was holding a small wooden box.
The same type of box Martin had brought me.
“What was inside?”
“I don't know.”
“Giselle.”
“I swear.”
She looked at me.
“But my father spent years telling me your family had stolen everything from us.”
“So you decided to take Christian.”
“I thought Christian had the trust.”
“He didn't.”
“I didn't know.”
“When did you learn?”
“At the wedding.”
I believed her.
She looked ashamed.
“I thought marrying Christian would restore my family.”
“You were willing to destroy mine.”
“Yes.”
She didn't defend herself.
That mattered.
“I thought you didn't care about him.”
I looked at her.
“I did.”
“You left him alone.”
“I served my country.”
“I know.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I hated you because I thought you had everything.”
I said nothing.
“Your career. His love. The house. The life.”
“You didn't know my life.”
“No.”
Her voice cracked.
“I only knew what my father taught me.”
I looked at the photograph.
“Where is the box?”
Giselle stared.
“My father hid it.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why bring me here?”
“Because Christian found the answer.”
She handed me an envelope.
Inside was a hotel key card.
“What's this?”
“Room 814.”
“Where?”
“The Dupont Grand.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
“Christian's father used that room whenever he met your mother.”
My pulse quickened.
“Does Christian know?”
“No.”
“Then why are you giving it to me?”
“Because I finally understand.”
“What?”
She looked directly at me.
“My father didn't lose his inheritance because of your mother.”
“Then what happened?”
Giselle whispered,
“My father stole it.”
I stared.
“From whom?”
“From me.”
She explained.
Lucien had moved assets into trusts he controlled.
Christian's father discovered it.
My mother discovered it.
Together, they moved the assets into my name because I was the only person Lucien could not legally control.
My mother then disappeared from the business.
She protected me by pretending I knew nothing.
The trust had remained dormant.
Until Christian tried to replace me publicly.
That was why the wedding mattered.
The moment he tried to create a new wife while still married to me, the trust activated.
Giselle lowered her eyes.
“I was the key that was supposed to unlock it.”
“And Christian?”
“He was supposed to lead me to it.”
I sat back.
“Then why did you really love him?”
She started crying.
“Because somewhere along the way, I did.”
That was the saddest answer she could have given.
I believed her.
Then my phone rang.
Christian.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
“I found Room 814.”
My heart stopped.
“Don't go inside.”
“I already did.”
“What did you find?”
Silence.
Then he said,
“A wooden box.”
I closed my eyes.
“Open it.”
“I did.”
“What was inside?”
His voice broke.
“Your mother's rosary.”
I froze.
Then he added,
May you like
“And a letter addressed to you.”
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