…
8 months was a long time and it seemed strange to her that he had kept it a secret for so long.
8 months and you never once told me about her.
I wanted to be sure it was serious, Nick replied.
And now I am sure.
Mom, she’s wonderful.
You’ll love her.
I promise.
Agnes tried to smile, but an inexplicable anxiety was growing inside her.
Okay.
When would you like us to meet? Tonight, if you don’t mind, I’ll call Dad and let him know.
We’ll be there around 7.
After Nick left, Agnes spent the rest of the day in a strange state of excitement.
She instructed the housekeeper, Martha, to prepare dinner for 4, chose the best tablecloth and table wear, and made sure the living room was immaculate.
Leonardo returned home around 5:00 in the evening, and listened to the news with the imperturbable expression of an experienced politician.
Finally, he said, taking off his jacket.
I thought he would remain a bachelor forever.
Don’t you find it strange that he kept it from us for 8 months? Agnes, he’s a grown man.
He has a right to his private life.
She wanted to argue, but remained silent.
Leonardo went into his study, and she remained in the living room trying to understand why the news upset her so much.
At4 to 7:00, Agnes heard the sound of a car pulling up.
She smoothed her hair, straightened her dress, and took her place in the living room, trying to look friendly and calm.
Leonardo came downstairs and stood next to her.
Martha opened the door, and a few seconds later, Nick appeared in the hall, accompanied by a tall, slender woman with dark skin and short curly hair.
Agnes took a step forward, ready to greet them, but froze.
Something happened in that second, something almost imperceptible, but she saw it.
Leonardo and the girl met each other’s gaze, and for a split second, both froze.
It lasted less than a second, but Agnes caught the moment, the look of recognition, the shock that flashed in their eyes before they both quickly regained their composure.
“Mom, Dad, this is Kayla Olsen.
” Nick introduced the girl, not noticing anything.
It’s very nice to meet you, Kayla said, extending her hand first to Agnes, then to Leonardo.
Her voice was calm and confident, but Agnes saw her fingers tremble slightly as she shook Leonardo’s hand.
He smiled his usual political smile and replied, “Nice to meet you, Kayla.
” Nick has told us a lot about you.
That was a lie.
Nick hadn’t said anything until this morning.
Agnes knew her husband’s habit of telling polite lies.
But now there was something else in his voice, a slight tension that others might not notice, but which she, having lived with him for 32 years, could detect without fail.
They went into the dining room.
Martha had already set the table, and everyone sat down to dinner.
Agnes sat across from Kayla, watching her.
The girl behaved naturally, talking about her job at an insurance company and how she met Nick at a charity event organized by a law firm.
She laughed at Nick’s jokes and politely answered Agnes’s questions about her family, mentioning that she grew up in the south of Chicago, that her parents divorced when she was 12, and that her mother now lives in Michigan.
But Agnes couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something invisible between Leonardo and Kayla.
Some connection that no one but her could sense.
She noticed how Leonardo avoided looking directly at the girl.
How Kayla tried not to turn toward him.
How they both took care to avoid meeting each other’s gaze again.
“Kayla, have you ever met my husband before today?” Agnes asked, suddenly interrupting the conversation about the upcoming holidays.
All three looked at her in surprise.
“No, of course not,” Kayla replied, her voice sounding completely confident.
“I’ve seen Congressman Hartwell on TV, but we’ve never met in person.
” “Why do you ask?” Leonardo interjected.
And Agnes thought she detected tension in his question.
“It just seemed like you recognized each other when Kayla came in.
” Agnes said, looking intently at her husband.
“Agnes, don’t be silly,” Leonardo dismissed.
This is the first time I’ve seen Kayla.
Nick laughed.
Mom, you watch too many detective shows.
Everything’s fine.
The conversation moved on to another topic.
But Agnes couldn’t concentrate anymore.
She watched Leonardo pour himself wine, his hand trembling slightly as he lifted the glass.
She saw Kayla swallow before answering another harmless question.
Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong.
When dessert was served, Nick put down his spoon and said solemnly, “Mom, Dad, I have something important to tell you.
I asked Kayla to be my wife, and she said, “Yes, we’re getting married.
” Agnes felt a lump rise in her throat.
She forced herself to smile and congratulate her son, hugged Kayla, but inside she felt a tight knot.
Leonardo also congratulated them, shook his son’s hand, but Agnes noticed how pale he had become, how his jaw had tensed.
“When are you planning the wedding?” Agnes asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“We were thinking in a month at the end of October,” Nick replied.
“If you don’t mind, we’d like to have the ceremony at Holy Communion Church.
Kayla has always dreamed of getting married there.
” They discussed the details for about another hour.
Agnes listened half-heartedly, nodding and agreeing, but her thoughts were far away.
She looked at Leonardo, who was pretending to be happy, and at Kayla, who was squeezing Nick’s hand, and she knew that something terrible was hidden behind those smiles.
When Nick and Kayla finally left, Agnes walked them to the door, waved goodbye, and returned to the living room.
Leonardo was standing by the window looking out into the darkness.
“Leonardo,” she called.
He turned around.
“You know that girl,” Agnes said.
“It wasn’t a question.
” “What are you talking about? I met her for the first time today.
” “Don’t lie to me.
I saw the way you looked at each other when she walked in.
You know each other.
” Leonardo walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
Agnes, you’re wrong.
I’ve never met Kayla before tonight.
Maybe her face looked familiar to me.
I meet hundreds of people every week, but I don’t know her.
Believe me.
She looked into his eyes, trying to find the truth there, but saw only the impenetrability he had learned so well to wear over the years of his political career.
“Okay,” Agnes said, though she didn’t believe a word he said.
That night, she lay awake for a long time, lying next to her husband and listening to his breathing.
Something dark and frightening had entered their home with Kayla Olsen, and Agnes felt it with every fiber of her being.
She didn’t know what her husband and future daughter-in-law were hiding from her, but she was sure of one thing.
This secret would destroy their family.
Agnes Hartwell spent the next two weeks in a state of constant inner tension.
Outwardly, she performed all the duties expected of the mother of a groom from an influential family.
She coordinated the details of the ceremony, met with the organizers, discussed the menu for the reception, and chose the floral arrangements.
But every action was difficult for her because her thoughts kept returning to that first meeting, to that strange moment of recognition between Leonardo and Kayla that she couldn’t get out of her head.
Nick was glowing with happiness.
He came to the mansion almost every day talking about the young couple’s plans, how they were going to spend their honeymoon in Hawaii, how Kayla was already looking for a bigger house so that there would be enough room for children in the future.
Agnes listened to her son and tried to share his joy, but inside she was filled with anxiety.
She watched Leonardo trying to catch any sign, any hint that he knew Kayla.
But her husband was flawless.
He discussed financial matters with his son, offered to help with the arrangements, and behaved like any father rejoicing in the wedding of his only child.
But Agnes knew him too well.
She noticed how tense he became when Nick mentioned Kayla’s name.
She saw him retreat to his study and sit there alone for hours, something he had never done before.
He slept restlessly at night, tossing and turning, and several times Agnes woke up to find him not in bed beside her.
She would find him downstairs in the living room, sitting in the dark with a glass of whiskey.
On October 11th, 2 weeks after meeting Kayla, Agnes called her friend Cecilia Vanders and asked to meet.
They had been friends for over 20 years, having met back when they both worked as nurses at Mercy Hospital.
Cecilia had left medicine earlier and trained as an accountant, but they continued to maintain a close relationship.
She was the woman Agnes could trust completely without fear that the conversation would go beyond their meeting.
They met at a small cafe on Michigan Avenue, far from the places where Agnes might be recognized.
Cecilia was already sitting at a table by the window when Agnes entered.
They hugged, ordered coffee.
And only after the waiter had left did Agnes speak.
“I need to share this with someone or I’ll go crazy,” she began, clutching her cup with both hands.
“What’s wrong?” Cecilia asked, alarmed.
“Is it because of Nick’s wedding?” “Yes, no, I don’t know.
” Agnes paused, searching for words.
“Cecilia, I think Leonardo knows our son’s bride.
He knows her in a way that a future son-in-law shouldn’t.
Cecilia frowned.
What do you mean? When Nick brought Kayla to our house, I saw the way she and Leonardo looked at each other.
It wasn’t just a glance.
It was recognition.
They both froze for a second, then quickly pulled themselves together as if they had caught themselves.
But I saw it.
I definitely saw it.
Maybe they really did meet somewhere before.
Cecilia said cautiously.
Leonardo meets hundreds of people at all these events, receptions, conferences.
Maybe Kayla was at one of them.
I asked her directly.
She said she had never met him in person, only seen him on TV.
Leonardo says the same thing.
But I know they’re both lying.
I can feel it.
I’ve been watching Leonardo for the past 2 weeks, and he’s been acting strange.
He’s nervous, distracted, avoids talking about the wedding, even though he used to be involved in everything Nick did.
Cecilia thought for a moment, slowly stirring her coffee with a spoon.
Agnes, what if you’re right, and there really was something between them? What do you think it could be? I don’t know, Agnes admitted.
But it’s something bad.
Something they both want to hide at all costs.
And it scares me that Nick doesn’t know anything.
He’s going to marry this girl and I don’t even understand who she really is.
Have you talked to Nick? No.
What am I going to tell him? That I have a bad feeling about this? That I thought his father and his fianceé recognized each other? He’ll think I’m going crazy with pre-wedding jitters.
And to be honest, sometimes I think maybe I’m imagining things.
Maybe I’m just not ready to let my son go.
and my brain is creating problems where there aren’t any.
You’re not the type to make up problems out of thin air, Cecilia said firmly.
If you feel that something is wrong, then it is.
Listen, how about you just watch for a little while longer? The wedding is in 2 weeks.
Something may become clearer during that time.
Maybe they’ll talk about it themselves or you’ll see something else.
Watch, Agnes repeated.
Yes, that’s probably the only thing I can do.
They sat in the cafe for about another hour, but Agnes felt that the conversation had not brought her any relief.
She had hoped that Cecilia would say something reassuring, find an explanation that would allay her fears.
But instead, her friend confirmed her fears, and now her anxiety was even stronger.
On October 15th, the whole family was supposed to meet at a restaurant to discuss the final details of the wedding.
Agnes had been preparing for this meeting all day.
She chose a strict dark blue dress, did her hair and makeup, but when she looked in the mirror, all she saw was fatigue and anxiety in her own eyes.
She had hardly slept properly for the past 2 weeks, and it was beginning to show in her appearance.
The restaurant Nick had chosen was called Avenue and was located in the city center.
It was an expensive establishment with subdued lighting, white tablecloths, and waiters in impeccable suits.
Agnes and Leonardo arrived first and took a table in the far corner of the room where it was quieter.
Leonardo leafed through the menu, pretending to be calm, but Agnes could see how tense his shoulders were, how he kept glancing at the entrance.
Nick and Kayla arrived 15 minutes later.
Kayla was wearing a light beige suit, her hair pulled back into a neat bun.
She looked confident and calm, but when their eyes met Leonardo’s, Agnes caught it again.
That brief moment when they both tensed before smiling.
“Sorry we’re late,” Nick said, kissing his mother on the cheek.
“The traffic was terrible.
” They sat down at the table, ordered wine and food, and began discussing the wedding.
Nick took out a list of things to discuss.
seating arrangements, music, toasts, transportation.
Kayla added to it, showing photos of the bouquets she had chosen and a sketch of the wedding cake.
Agnes listened and nodded, pretending to be interested in the details, but in reality, all her attention was focused on Leonardo and Kayla.
They tried not to look at each other.
When Kayla spoke, Leonardo buried his nose in the menu, even though they had already ordered.
When Leonardo expressed his opinion about something, Kayla turned away, pretending to study something on her phone.
But Agnes could see the tension growing between them with every passing minute.
The air seemed to thicken and become heavy.
“Mom, are you listening to me?” Nick’s voice brought her back to reality.
“What?” “Yes, of course.
” I asked which of your friends you want to sit at the main table.
Cecilia, of course,” Agnes replied.
“She’ll be delighted.
” The waiter brought the first courses, and for a few minutes, everyone immersed themselves in their food.
But the silence was tense.
Nick talked about his latest case, trying to keep the conversation going.
But even he began to notice that the atmosphere was somehow wrong.
“Dad, are you okay?” he asked, looking at his father.
“You’re hardly eating anything.
” I’m fine,” Leonardo replied, looking up from his plate.
“Just been working a lot lately.
I’m tired.
” “Maybe you should take a couple of days off before the wedding,” Nick suggested.
“We’ll see.
” Kayla picked up her glass of water, and Agnes noticed her hand shaking.
The girl quickly put the glass back on the table and folded her hands on her lap, hiding them under the table.
Her face remained calm, but her eyes betrayed her anxiety.
Kayla, is your mother coming to the wedding? Agnes asked, deciding to try to get some information out of the girl.
Yes, she’s flying in from Michigan 2 days before the ceremony, Kayla replied.
She’s very excited and happy.
Did she raise you alone after your parents divorced? Yes, my father was hardly involved in my life after the divorce.
My mother worked two jobs so we could make ends meet.
It wasn’t easy for her.
So, you grew up without your father’s attention?” Agnes continued, watching Kayla and Leonardo’s reactions closely.
Kayla paused for a second, then nodded.
“Yes, you could say that, but my mother was both a father and a mother to me.
I wanted for nothing.
” Leonardo took a frantic sip of wine.
Agnes saw his jaw tense.
His fingers tighten around the stem of the glass so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
“Something in Kayla’s words had struck a cord with him.
Something Nick didn’t understand, but Agnes did.
Tell us how you met Nick.
” Agnes asked, not letting the subject drop.
He said it was at a charity event, but he didn’t give any details.
Kayla smiled, and for the first time that evening, her smile seemed sincere.
It was 8 months ago.
I went there with my colleagues from the insurance company.
We were sponsoring the event.
Nick gave a speech about the importance of affordable legal aid for the poor.
He was so convincing, so sincere.
After the speech, I went up to him to thank him and we started talking.
He suggested we have coffee the next day and that’s how it all started.
So, you saw something special in him right away? Agnes said.
Yes.
Kayla looked at Nick tenderly.
He wasn’t like the other men I had met.
He was honest, kind, genuine.
Nick took her hand and they exchanged a loving glance.
At that moment, Agnes felt something inside her turn.
Kayla loved Nick.
That was obvious.
But then what connected her to Leonardo, and why were they both so desperate to hide that connection? Dinner went on for another hour or so, but Agnes was no longer listening to what the others were saying.
She was watching.
She saw Kayla accidentally turned toward Leonardo, and their eyes met.
She saw Leonardo quickly look away, but not before Agnes had noticed the expression on his face.
Something like guilt, shame, fear.
She saw Kayla swallow, her breathing quicken, her hand reach for a napkin and begin to crumple it in her hands.
The tension was almost palpable.
Agnes could feel it on her skin, feel it pulsing between the two people on opposite sides of the table.
This was not just an old acquaintance.
It was something more, something dark and dangerous that threatened to destroy her son’s life.
As they left the restaurant, Nick put his arm around Kayla’s shoulders and they walked to their car.
Agnes and Leonardo stood on the sidewalk watching them go.
When the car disappeared around the corner, Agnes turned to her husband.
You can’t hide this from me anymore,” she said quietly but firmly.
“I can see there’s something between you two.
And if you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll find it out myself.
” Leonardo looked at her for a long time.
There was so much in his eyes.
Fear, despair, a kind of hopelessness, but then he shook his head.
Agnes, you’re wrong.
There’s nothing.
You’re just too stressed about the wedding.
Don’t you dare tell me I’m wrong.
Agnes’s voice trembled with restrained fury.
I’ve known you for 32 years, Leonardo.
I can tell when you’re lying.
He opened his mouth to say something, but then just turned and walked to the car.
Agnes stood in the cold autumn wind, watching him go, and for the first time in all their years of marriage, she felt that her husband had become a stranger to her.
Something had broken between them that evening, something that might be impossible to repair.
They didn’t exchange a word on the way home.
Leonardo drove, staring straight ahead while Agnes looked out the window at the city lights rushing by.
A plan was forming in her head.
She would find the truth at any cost.
Even if it meant doing something she had never done before, even if it meant crossing boundaries she had always considered sacred.
Because her son, her only child, deserved to know who he was marrying.
And as his mother, she couldn’t let him go into this marriage blindly, unaware of the secret that bound his bride and his father.
After the meeting at the restaurant, Agnes couldn’t think of anything else but the secret Leonardo and Kayla were hiding.
She woke up in the middle of the night, replaying every glance, every word, every gesture in her head.
The tension between them was so obvious that she couldn’t understand how Nick couldn’t see it.
But her son was blinded by love, and that frightened Agnes the most.
He was making plans for the future with a woman who clearly had some kind of secret involving his own father.
On October 17th, 2 days after the dinner at the restaurant, Agnes decided to talk to her son directly.
She couldn’t keep quiet any longer, couldn’t just watch Nick move toward marriage without knowing the whole truth.
She called him in the morning and asked to meet.
Nick was surprised.
She didn’t usually insist on urgent meetings, but he agreed to stop by in the afternoon.
He arrived around 2:00 in the afternoon.
Agnes met him in the living room where tea and cookies that Martha had baked the day before were already laid out.
Nick sat down in the chair opposite his mother, and she immediately noticed that he looked tired.
The last few weeks of wedding preparations had obviously been difficult for him, although he tried not to show it.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” he asked, accepting a cup of tea.
“You sounded worried on the phone.
” Agnes gathered her courage.
She had thought long and hard about how to start this conversation, what words to choose so as not to alienate her son.
But now, looking at him, she realized she had to be direct.
Nick, I need to talk to you about Kayla and your father,” she began.
Nick put his cup down on the saucer and frowned.
“What exactly?” “I think there’s some kind of connection between them.
That they know each other, even though they both deny it.
I saw the way they looked at each other that first night you brought her over.
It wasn’t just a look, it was recognition.
and I’ve been watching them ever since.
And the tension is only getting worse.
At the restaurant meeting, I saw how they both avoided looking at each other, how tense they both were.
Nick, something’s wrong.
Something’s very wrong.
Her son was silent for a few seconds, looking at her in confusion.
Then he shook his head.
Mom, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Dad and Kayla met for the first time two weeks ago when I brought her to see you.
They don’t know each other.
Nick, I saw it with my own eyes, Agnes insisted.
You may think I’m making this up, but I’ve lived with your father for 32 years.
I know him better than anyone, and I can see that he’s lying to me, and Kayla is lying, too.
Nick got up from his chair and paced around the room.
He looked confused and irritated at the same time.
Mom, I understand that a wedding is stressful for the whole family.
I understand that it must be hard for you to let me go, but what you’re saying doesn’t make sense.
Why would dad and Kayla hide the fact that they know each other? If they met before at some event or somewhere else, what’s the problem? Why does it have to be a secret? That’s exactly what scares me, Agnes replied quietly.
If it was just a normal meeting, there would be no reason to hide it.
That means there was something else between them, something they don’t want anyone to know about.
Nick stopped and looked at his mother for a long time.
His eyes showed concern, but also doubt.
Mom, do you hear what you’re saying? You’re accusing dad and my fiance of keeping some dark secret with no evidence other than your feelings.
I love you, but this sounds like paranoia.
The word paranoia hit Agnes harder than she expected.
She clenched her hands into fists, trying to hold back her emotions.
I’m not paranoid, Nick.
I’m your mother, and I’m trying to protect you.
If there really was something between Kayla and your father, you have a right to know about it before the wedding.
Listen.
Nick returned to the chair and sat down opposite her, taking her hands.
I appreciate your concern.
I really do.
But I’ve known Kayla for 8 months.
She’s honest, sincere, kind.
She loves me and I love her.
If there was something strange between her and dad, I would have noticed.
I’m a lawyer, Mom.
I know how to read people and I don’t see anything suspicious.
You don’t see it because you’re in love.
Agnes objected.
Love makes us blind.
Please, Nick, just talk to your father.
Ask him directly.
Maybe he’ll tell you the truth.
Nick sighed and let go of her hands.
Okay, I’ll talk to him.
But mom, promise me you won’t make a big deal out of this anymore.
The wedding is in 10 days.
I want it to be a happy day for all of us, not a reason for family conflict.
I just want you to be happy, Agnes said, her voice sounding tired.
And that you marry a woman who doesn’t hide anything important from you.
After Nick left, Agnes remained sitting in the living room, staring into space.
The conversation had brought her neither relief nor clarity.
Her son didn’t believe her.
He thought her concerns were groundless, chalking it all up to pre-wedding stress.
And maybe he was right.
Maybe she was really imagining problems where there weren’t any.
But deep down, she knew that wasn’t the case.
Her instincts had never failed her.
And now they were screaming that something terrible was hidden behind the facade of the upcoming wedding.
She decided to take matters into her own hands.
If Nick didn’t want to believe her, she would find proof.
She would find out the truth, whatever it was, and then her son would realize that she had been right all along.
On October 18th, Agnes found out from Nick where Kayla worked.
Midwest Insurance was located in the business center in a tall glass building on Lasal Street.
Agnes arrived there around 5:00 in the evening.
Knowing that the workday ended at 5, she parked her car opposite the main entrance and waited.
People began to leave the building around 5:20.
Agnes stared intently at each face until she finally saw Kayla.
The girl was wearing a strict gray suit with a bag over her shoulder talking on the phone.
Agnes quickly got out of the car and headed toward her.
“Kayla,” she called.
Kayla turned around, surprise written all over her face.
She ended her call and put her phone in her pocket.
“Agnes, what are you doing here?” “I wanted to talk to you,” Agnes said, trying to sound friendly.
“I thought maybe we could spend some time together.
” “We’re going to be family soon, and we hardly know each other.
I thought maybe we could go somewhere, talk about the wedding, go to a spa, relax a little.
Do you have plans for tonight?” Kayla hesitated.
Agnes saw a flicker of concern in her eyes.
But then the girl smiled.
No, no plans.
It would be great to spend some time together.
Thank you for asking.
They got into Agnes’s car and she drove Kayla toward the waterfront.
For the first 10 minutes, they talked about trivial things.
The weather, Kayla’s work, how the wedding preparations were going.
Agnes tried to act casual, but inside she was tense.
She needed to get the truth out of Kayla, but she didn’t know how to broach the subject.
They stopped at a small cafe overlooking Lake Michigan and ordered coffee.
Then Agnes suggested they take a walk along the waterfront.
It was a cloudy day.
The wind from the lake was cold and there were hardly any people around.
They walked in silence for a few minutes.
Then Agnes spoke up.
Kayla, I want to get to know you better.
Nick has told me so much about you, but it’s all superficial stuff, where you work, what you like to do.
I’m interested in getting to know you as a person, about your past, about what made you who you are.
” Kayla glanced at her quickly, then stared back at the lake.
“I don’t know what to tell you.
My life has been pretty ordinary.
I grew up in the south side of Chicago.
Graduated from college, found a job.
Nothing special, Nick said.
Your parents divorced when you were 12.
That must have been difficult.
Yes, it was hard.
Kayla agreed.
My father left for another woman and my mother couldn’t come to terms with it for a long time.
I saw how she suffered and it taught me a lot.
It taught me that you can’t trust blindly, that you always have to be prepared for people to betray you.
That sounds cynical for such a young woman.
Maybe, but life isn’t always fair, and it’s better to be prepared for that.
Agnes nodded, pondering Kayla’s words.
Then she decided to ask a more direct question.
Kayla, did you have any serious relationships before Nick? The girl glanced at her again, and Agnes thought she saw a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.
I had relationships, but nothing serious.
Nick is the first man I can really see a future with.
And you’ve never had any romances before that could complicate your life now? No exes who could show up and cause problems? Kayla paused and turned to Agnes.
Her gaze was cautious.
Agnes, what are you getting at? If you have questions for me, maybe you should ask them directly.
Agnes realized there was no point in beating around the bush anymore.
She took a deep breath and said, “Okay, Kayla, I want to ask you about my husband, about Leonardo.
Did you really never meet him before that night when Nick brought you to our house?” Silence hung heavily between them.
Kayla stood motionless, staring at Agnes, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and something else Agnes couldn’t quite identify.
“I already told you,” Kayla finally said, her voice firmer than before.
I’ve only seen Congressman Hartwell on television.
We’ve never met in person.
Why do you keep asking this question? Because I don’t believe you, Agnes said bluntly.
I saw the way you looked at each other that night.
I saw how you both tensed up as if you had seen a ghost.
It wasn’t just surprise or curiosity.
It was recognition.
You know each other, Kayla, and I want to know where from.
You’re wrong.
I don’t know your husband and I don’t understand why you’re so insistent on this.
Maybe something about his appearance did seem familiar to me.
Maybe I did see him at some event once and don’t remember it.
But there’s no secret connection between us.
You’re imagining things that don’t exist.
Agnes looked into her eyes, trying to find a shred of truth there, but saw only a wall.
Kayla had learned to lie very well.
Or maybe she was telling the truth.
And Agnes was going crazy with paranoid fantasies as Nick had suggested.
I love Nick, Kayla continued more quietly.
I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life, and I’m going to be his wife, have his children, build a family with him.
I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m not your enemy.
I’m just a woman who wants to be happy with the man she loves.
” The words sounded sincere and for a moment Agnes almost believed her.
Almost.
But then she remembered Leonardo’s face that first evening, remembered the tension in the restaurant, and realized that no matter how convincing Kayla’s words were, they couldn’t hide the truth that Agnes felt.
“Okay,” she said finally.
“Maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe I’m thinking too much about this.
” They returned to the car in silence.
Agnes drove Kayla to her house, a small one-story building in a quiet neighborhood.
Kayla got out of the car, thanked her for the evening, and disappeared behind the door.
Agnes sat in the car for a few more minutes, staring at the closed door, feeling something dark and heavy growing inside her.
She hadn’t gotten any answers.
She hadn’t gotten any confessions.
Kayla had denied everything.
And now Agnes looked like a paranoid woman who couldn’t accept that her son was getting married.
Maybe that was true.
Maybe she was really losing her mind.
Agnes started the car.
But instead of driving home, she turned in the other direction.
She didn’t want to go back to the mansion.
She didn’t want to see Leonardo.
She didn’t want to pretend that everything was fine.
She drove aimlessly through the streets of Chicago until she saw the neon sign of a bar on one of the streets.
She stopped, got out of the car, and went inside.
The bar was half empty, quiet music was playing, and a few people were sitting at the counter.
Agnes took a seat in the far corner and ordered a whiskey.
She drank the first glass quickly, barely tasting it.
She ordered a second, then a third.
The alcohol warmed her from the inside, clouding her thoughts.
And that was exactly what she needed.
She didn’t want to think anymore.
She didn’t want to analyze.
She didn’t want to feel the pain and anxiety that were eating away at her from the inside.
She didn’t know how long she spent in the bar.
Maybe an hour, maybe more.
When she finally got up to leave, the world swayed and she grabbed the table to keep from falling.
The bartender looked at her with concern and offered to call a taxi, but Agnes refused.
She didn’t want anyone to drive her home.
Didn’t want to explain why the congressman’s wife was drunk in a cheap bar and couldn’t stand on her own two feet.
Somehow, she made it to her car and got behind the wheel.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, a thought flashed that it was dangerous and foolish to drive in this condition.
But the thought quickly dissolved in the alcoholic haze.
She started the engine and drove home.
The drive took forever, the lights blurred before her eyes, the streets merging into one endless line.
Several times she almost missed a turn, and once she nearly crashed into another car.
But somehow she made it to the mansion, drove through the gate, and parked the car by the porch.
When she got out of the car, her legs buckled and she fell to her knees right on the gravel driveway.
She got up, struggled to the door, opened it, and entered the hall.
Leonardo was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe he was in his study.
Maybe he was already asleep.
Agnes didn’t care.
She walked into the living room, wanting to reach the sofa, but her legs buckled again.
She fell to the floor right in the middle of the living room, hitting her knee on the edge of the coffee table.
The pain shot through her leg, but she hardly felt it through the fog of alcohol.
She lay on the floor staring at the ceiling, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She wasn’t crying because of the pain in her knee, but because of the pain that was tearing her apart inside.
The pain of realizing that her family was falling apart, that her husband was lying to her.
That her son was heading for disaster and that there was nothing she could do about it.
She didn’t know how long she lay there.
Maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour.
Then she heard footsteps and Leonardo appeared in the living room doorway.
He looked at her and his face reflected shock.
Agnes, what happened? Have you been drinking? She wanted to answer, but her tongue wouldn’t obey her.
Leonardo came over to her and tried to help her up, but she pushed his hands away.
Don’t touch me, she whispered.
Don’t you dare touch me, you liar.
He froze, looking at her with pain in his eyes.
Then he shook his head, picked her up, and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.
Agnes didn’t resist.
She didn’t have the strength.
He laid her on the bed, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.
She closed her eyes, and darkness engulfed her.
Agnes spent the next day in bed with a terrible hangover.
Her head was splitting.
Nausea came in waves, and every sound caused pain.
Leonardo checked on her in the morning, bringing water and pills, but she turned away to the wall, not wanting to talk to him.
He stood at the door for a few minutes, then quietly left.
Agnes heard him go downstairs, the front door slam, and his car engine start.
He left, leaving her alone with her thoughts and pain.
By evening, she was finally able to get up and go downstairs.
Martha made some light soup and served it silently in the living room.
Agnes thanked her and ate a few spoonfuls.
Even though she didn’t feel like eating at all, she felt empty, broken.
But yesterday’s breakdown had brought her unexpected clarity.
She could no longer rely on Nick or on direct conversations with Kayla.
If she wanted to know the truth, she had to act differently.
On October 27th, 2 days before the wedding, Agnes woke up with a clear plan.
She would keep an eye on Leonardo.
If there really was some secret between him and Kayla, they would have to meet before the wedding to discuss what connected them.
And then Agnes would find out everything.
The day passed in agonizing anticipation.
Leonardo spent the whole day at home, working in his office, going out several times to make phone calls, but not leaving.
Agnes watched him, trying not to show her interest.
She went about her usual business, reviewing the wedding guest list, talking on the phone with the ceremony organizer, checking the final details.
Outwardly, she looked calm, but inside every nerve was stretched to the limit.
In the evening around 8:00, Leonardo came downstairsed in casual clothes, jeans, and a sweater.
I’m meeting Jerome, he said, fastening his watch on his wrist.
We haven’t seen each other in a month, and I wanted to talk before the wedding.
Jerome Wilson was an old friend of Leonardo’s with whom he had studied at college.
Normally, Agnes would not have questioned such explanations, but now her husband’s every word aroused her suspicion.
“What time will you be back?” she asked, trying to keep her voice sounding indifferent.
“I don’t know.
maybe around 11:00.
Don’t wait up for me.
” He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek, but Agnes pulled away, pretending to fix her hair.
Leonardo paused for a second, then turned and left the house.
Agnes waited until the door closed behind him, then ran to the window and looked out.
She saw him get into his car and drive out of the gate.
Without wasting a second, Agnes grabbed her car keys, threw on a dark jacket, and ran out of the house.
Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it pounding in her ears.
She started the car and followed Leonardo, keeping a safe distance so he wouldn’t see her in the rear view mirror.
Leonardo was driving toward the city center, and for the first few minutes, Agnes thought that maybe he really was meeting Jerome, but then he turned south toward the neighborhood where Kayla lived.
Agnes gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
So, she was right.
They were meeting.
They were planning to discuss something before the wedding.
Leonardo stopped near a small one-story house, the same one Agnes had brought Kayla to a few days ago.
Agnes parked her car across the street behind some trees where she could see the house but remain hidden.
She turned off the engine and headlights and froze, watching.
Leonardo got out of the car, looked around as if checking to see if anyone was following him, and quickly walked to the front door.
The door opened and Kayla appeared in the doorway.
They exchanged a few words that Agnes couldn’t hear.
And then Leonardo went inside and the door closed behind him.
Agnes sat in the car trying to decide what to do next.
She could wait for Leonardo to come out and then make a scene.
She could burst into the house and catch them off guard, but then she noticed that one of the windows of the house was slightly open and the light in the room was on.
If she got closer, maybe she could hear what they were talking about.
Agnes got out of the car and quietly closed the door.
The street was deserted.
The street lights were dim, and that worked in her favor.
She crossed to the other side of the street and cautiously approached the house.
Her heart was beating so hard that she was afraid it would give her away.
She approached the open window, pressed herself against the wall, and held her breath.
The voices inside were clear.
Kayla spoke first, and there was alarm in her voice.
“Why did you come, Leo? We agreed we wouldn’t see each other until the wedding.
” “I needed to see you,” Leonardo replied.
And Agnes felt a sharp pain inside her.
She had never heard him speak with such desperation.
Kayla.
Agnes suspects something.
She saw how we looked at each other that first night.
She’s asking questions, watching me.
I’m afraid she’ll find out.
She won’t find out anything.
Kayla said firmly.
I already talked to her.
She asked me directly if I knew you.
I denied everything.
I said I’d only seen you on TV.
She can’t prove anything.
You don’t understand.
Leonardo’s voice sounded broken.
Agnes knows me too well.
She can sense a lie.
Sooner or later, she’ll get to the truth.
Then we have to be even more careful.
Kayla paused.
Leo, I didn’t want things to turn out this way.
When I met Nick, I had no idea he was your son.
I only found out a few months later when he showed me a photo of his parents.
I almost fainted when I saw you in that picture.
I know, Leonardo sighed.
Fate decided to laugh at us.
What happened between us 10 years ago should have stayed in the past, but now it’s all coming back in the worst possible way.
Agnes pressed herself against the wall, trying to comprehend what she had heard 10 years ago.
So, the affair happened when Kayla was 20.
My goodness.
Leonardo slept with a girl who was 28 years younger than him.
A girl who was almost the same age as their son.
What happened between us was a mistake.
Kayla continued, “I was young, foolish, and fell in love with you.
Even though I knew you were married, you were so confident, so strong.
I thought you loved me.
But when you left me after 3 months, I realized I was just a fling to you.
” “That’s not true,” Leonardo objected.
I didn’t want to hurt you, but I couldn’t destroy my family.
I had a son, a career, a wife who had devoted her whole life to me.
I had to end it before it was too late.
But it was too late.
Kayla’s voice trembled.
Because now I’m marrying your son, and that’s the craziest thing that could have happened.
I love Nick Leo.
I really love him.
He doesn’t know anything about us, and I want it to stay that way.
I want that, too.
Leonardo said, “That’s why you must never ever mention what happened between us.
You must marry Nick and live with him as if I had never been in your life.
That’s the only way to keep everything as it is.
” “What about you?” Kayla asked.
“Will you be able to look at me everyday knowing that I’m your son’s wife? Watching us kiss, hold hands, raise children, will you be able to live with that?” There was a long pause.
Then Leonardo answered and there was so much pain in his voice that Agnes felt tears welling up in her eyes.
I don’t know, but I have no choice.
If the truth comes out, it will destroy us all.
Agnes, Nick, you, my career.
Everything will fall apart.
That’s why we have to keep quiet.
We have to pretend that nothing ever happened between us.
Okay, Kayla said quietly.
I’ll keep quiet for Nick’s sake.
He doesn’t deserve to know the truth.
Agnes stepped away from the window.
She had heard enough, more than enough.
Her suspicions had been confirmed in the most terrible way.
Her husband, the man she had lived with for 32 years, had cheated on her 10 years ago with the girl who was now about to become his sister-in-law.
And that girl, Kayla, had known all this when she dated Nick, had known when she agreed to marry him.
Agnes walked away from the house, returned to her car, and got behind the wheel.
Her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t get the key into the ignition several times.
She started the car and drove away without looking back.
Her mind was foggy, her thoughts confused.
But one thing she knew for sure, her life had just fallen apart.
She drove through the night streets of Chicago, not knowing where she was going.
At some point, she realized she was driving home.
She drove through the gate of the mansion, parked the car, and entered the house.
Martha was already asleep, and the house was quiet and dark.
Agnes went upstairs, walked into the bedroom, and opened the drawer of Leonardo’s nightstand.
There was a gun, a 9mm Glock that Leonardo kept for protection.
He had obtained a gun license many years ago when he began receiving threats from political opponents.
Agnes picked up the gun.
It was heavy and cold.
She checked it.
The magazine was full.
She stood there with the gun in her hands, looking at it, not knowing what to do.
Her mind was blank and her chest was filled with pain.
She couldn’t stay in this house.
She couldn’t wait for Leonardo to return.
She couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened.
Agnes put the gun in her purse, threw on her coat, and left the house.
She got in her car, took out her phone, and sent Leonardo a message.
I’m spending the night at a friend’s house.
See you tomorrow at church.
She sent it and turned off her phone.
She drove to Cecilia’s.
Her friend lived in a small apartment in the north of the city.
It was almost 11:00 at night, but Agnes rang the doorbell without thinking about the time.
Cecilia opened the door a few minutes later, wearing a bathrobe, her face surprised and alarmed.
“Agnes, what’s wrong? Can I stay at your place tonight?” Agnes asked, her voice sounding strange even to herself.
“Of course, come in.
” Cecilia stepped back, letting her in.
My goodness, you’re shaking.
What happened? Agnes walked into the living room and sank onto the sofa.
Cecilia sat down next to her and took her hands.
“I found out the truth,” Agnes said, and the tears she had been holding back the whole way finally spilled out.
“I followed Leonardo.
He went to see Kayla.
I overheard their conversation.
10 years ago, they had an affair.
He cheated on me with a 20-year-old girl.
And now that same girl is marrying our son.
Cecilia froze, staring at her in horror.
My god, Agnes, are you sure? I heard them with my own ears.
They were talking about it, about how it all started.
How he dumped her? How she met Nick without knowing he was his son? They agreed to keep quiet.
They’re going to hide it all from Nick and me.
What are you going to do?” Cecilia whispered.
Agnes didn’t answer.
She didn’t know.
All she could feel was pain, rage, and a sense of betrayal that was tearing her apart inside.
She ran her hand over her purse, feeling the weight of the gun through the fabric.
“What was she going to do with it?” She didn’t know that either.
“The wedding is tomorrow,” she said finally.
Tomorrow my son is marrying the woman who slept with his father and they’ll both stand there in the church smiling and pretending that everything is fine and I have to stand next to them and smile too.
Agnes, you have to tell Nick the truth,” Cecilia said firmly.
“He has a right to know before he gets married and ruin his life, ruin everything he believes in.
” Better now than after the wedding.
Agnes shook her head.
She couldn’t think right now.
She couldn’t make decisions.
She asked Cecilia for whiskey and Cecilia brought a bottle and a glass.
Agnes poured herself a nearly full glass and drank it in one gulp.
The alcohol burned her throat but dulled the pain.
She poured another and another.
Cecilia tried to stop her, but Agnes didn’t listen.
She drank until the world began to blur before her eyes until her thoughts slowed down until the pain became a little less acute.
Cecilia helped her to the guest room and put her to bed.
“But sleep,” she said.
“We’ll decide what to do in the morning.
” But Agnes knew that no amount of sleep would bring her peace.
She lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling with only one thought running through her head.
“Tomorrow would be the wedding.
tomorrow everything would come out.
Or maybe not.
She hadn’t decided yet.
Agnes woke up to the bright light that hurt her eyes through the uncurtained window.
Her head was splitting.
Her mouth was dry.
And for a few seconds, she couldn’t figure out where she was.
Then her memory came back.
Cecilia’s guest room.
The eavesdropped conversation, the gun in her purse.
She turned her head and saw a glass of water and the pills her friend had left on the bedside table.
Agnes sat up with difficulty, drank the water, and took the pills, but she didn’t feel any better.
She looked at her watch.
It was 10:00 in the morning.
The ceremony was starting at noon.
She had 2 hours to decide what to do next.
She got out of bed, her head spinning, and grabbed the back of a chair to keep from falling.
She made it to the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
The woman staring back at her was a stranger with red eyes, a gaunt face, and gray strands of hair sticking out of her hairstyle.
Cecilia knocked on the door and entered with a cup of coffee.
“How are you feeling?” “Terrible,” Agnes admitted.
“But I have to go to the church.
” “Agnes, you can’t just go there after what you found out yesterday.
You have to talk to Nick before the ceremony.
Tell him the truth.
” “I can’t.
” Agnes shook her head.
I don’t know what to say.
I don’t know how to start this conversation.
Then stay here.
Don’t go to this wedding.
You don’t have to be there.
But Agnes had already made up her mind.
She had to be there.
She had to see everything with her own eyes.
She had to see Leonardo and Kayla’s faces when they stood at the altar and lied to the whole world.
She put on the same dress she had arrived in yesterday.
Didn’t touch up her makeup.
didn’t do her hair.
Cecilia looked at her with concern but didn’t stop her.
Will you come with me? Agnes asked.
Of course, Cecilia nodded.
They left the apartment around 11:00.
Agnes drove slowly, her hands trembling on the steering wheel.
Before leaving, she stopped at the sideboard in Cecilia’s living room where there was a bottle of whiskey and poured herself a full glass.
She drank it in one gulp.
Cecilia tried to object, but Agnes didn’t listen.
She needed something to numb the pain, something that would allow her to live through the rest of the day.
She poured another glass and drank that, too.
On the way to the church, they stopped at a small store and Agnes bought another bottle.
She got back in the car, unscrewed the cap, and took several large swigs straight from the bottle.
Cecilia begged her to stop, but Agnes didn’t respond.
The alcohol spread through her veins, clouding her thoughts, making the world less sharp, less painful.
When they pulled up to Holy Communion Church, it was already 20 minutes past 1.
The ceremony had begun 20 minutes ago.
Agnes parked the car crookedly, half on the sidewalk, got out, almost fell, and leaned against the door.
Cecilia got out after her, trying to support her, but Agnes pushed her friend’s hand away.
“I’ll do it myself,” she muttered.
She took her purse out of the car and felt the weight of the gun inside.
Cecilia didn’t know the gun was there.
Agnes herself wasn’t entirely sure why she had brought it, but now, standing in front of the church where her son was marrying his father’s mistress, she began to understand.
>> >> They climbed the steps to the main entrance.
The doors were closed and the voice of Reverend Isaiah Crawford, who was conducting the ceremony, could be heard from inside.
Agnes pushed the door and it opened with a loud creek.
All the heads in the hall turned in her direction.
The church was full.
About 150 guests sat on wooden benches dressed in their Sunday best.
Nick and Kayla stood at the altar.
Nick was in a black tuxedo, Kayla in a snow white wedding dress with a long veil.
They were holding hands, and Reverend Crawford was just about to say that if anyone knew of a reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, they should speak now or forever hold their peace.
Agnes entered the hall, staggering.
Each step was difficult, the world swirling before her eyes, but she moved forward down the center aisle.
The guests began to exchange glances and whisper.
Nick saw her and turned pale.
Leonardo, who was sitting in the front row, jumped up from his seat.
Agnes, what are you doing? His voice echoed off the vaulted ceilings of the church.
Agnes did not answer.
She continued forward until she reached the altar.
She stopped a few steps away from Nick and Kayla.
Reverend Crawford looked at her with confusion and concern.
Mrs.
heart.
Well, “The ceremony has already begun,” he said cautiously.
“Perhaps you should sit down.
” “No,” Agnes’ voice was hoar, drunken.
“I won’t sit down.
I have something to say.
Something everyone here needs to hear.
” “Mom, please.
” Nick stepped forward, letting go of Kayla’s hand.
“Not now.
We’ll talk later.
” “No.
” Agnes shook her head, and the sudden movement almost made her fall.
now.
Right now, because in a few minutes it will be too late.
You’re marrying this woman without knowing the truth, and I can’t let that happen.
” Silence hung in the church.
Everyone froze, waiting for her to continue.
Kayla stood motionless, pale, her eyes wide.
Leonardo slowly walked toward the altar, extending his arms in a consiliatory gesture.
“Agnes, stop,” he said quietly.
“You’re drunk.
You don’t know what you’re saying.
I know exactly what I’m saying,” Agnes shouted, her voice breaking.
“I know the truth.
I heard you last night.
I heard you talking at her house.
I heard you discussing your secret.
” Leonardo froze.
Kayla grabbed the edge of the altar with her hand as if to keep from falling.
Nick looked with growing horror at his mother, then at his father, then at his bride.
“Mom, what are you talking about?” he asked.
Agnes turned to her son.
Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t wipe them away.
10 years ago, your father cheated on me.
He had an affair with a woman who was 28 years younger than him, a 20-year-old girl he dumped after 3 months.
Now, guess who that woman is? She pointed her finger at Kayla.
Nick slowly turned his head to look at his bride.
His face was as pale as chalk.
That’s not true, he whispered.
Kayla, tell me it’s not true.
Kayla opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word.
Her lips trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.
Leonardo took another step forward.
Agnes, don’t do this.
Please don’t ruin our son’s life.
You ruined his life.
Agnes shouted.
You slept with the woman who is now supposed to be your daughter-in-law.
You lied to me for 32 years.
You both lied.
You planned to hide it, to live with this secret until I accidentally overheard your conversation.
The guests in the hall began to talk loudly.
Someone gasped in shock.
Reverend Crawford tried to intervene, but Agnes didn’t listen to him.
She reached into her purse and pulled out a gun.
When people saw the weapon, a collective gasp of horror swept through the hall.
Several people jumped up from their seats, ready to run.
“Nobody move!” Agnes shouted, pointing the gun first at Leonardo, then at Kayla.
“I want you to confess in front of everyone.
Tell the truth or I’ll shoot.
” “Agnes, put the gun down.
” Leonardo’s voice trembled.
“Please don’t do anything stupid.
” “Stupid?” She laughed hysterically.
“You call this stupid? You cheated on me with a girl who could be your daughter.
And now she’s marrying our son.
And you want me to keep quiet? Nick stood between his mother and his fianceé, and his face was so shocked, so pained that Agnes felt a moment of pity for him.
But then her rage returned with renewed force.
“Tell him.
” Agnes pointed the gun at Kayla.
“Tell my son the truth.
Admit that you slept with his father.
” Kayla stood with her arms wrapped around herself, tears streaming down her face, smearing her makeup.
She looked at Nick and in her eyes was a plea for forgiveness.
“Nick, I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I didn’t know.
When I met you, I didn’t know you were his son.
By the time I found out, it was too late.
I fell in love with you.
I didn’t want to hurt you.
” So, it’s true.
Nick’s voice was hollow.
You slept with my father? Kayla nodded slowly and that nod was like a sentence.
Nick recoiled from her as if from a blow.
And you? He turned to his father.
Is it true? Leonardo stood with his shoulders slumped, his whole demeanor speaking of defeat.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“It’s true.
10 years ago, we had a brief affair.
It was a mistake.
the biggest mistake of my life.
I ended it, but I never thought fate would bring Kayla and you together.
I didn’t want you to know.
I wanted to protect you from the pain.
Protect me? Nick took another step back.
You both lied to me.
You were going to get married knowing this.
How could you? Agnes looked at her son, at his broken face, and something inside her finally snapped.
Everything she had built over the years, her family, her marriage, her trust had collapsed in an instant.
And the two people standing in front of her were to blame.
Two people who had betrayed her and her son in the most monstrous way.
She pointed the gun at Leonardo.
Her hand was shaking, but her finger touched the trigger.
“You destroyed our family,” she said.
You cheated on me, lied to me, and even now you were going to hide the truth.
I gave you my whole life, and you betrayed me.
Agnes, don’t.
Leonardo raised his hands.
Please think of Nick.
Think about what you’re doing.
But Agnes couldn’t hear him anymore.
All she could see was a red veil of rage before her eyes.
All she could hear was the voice in her head saying, “He deserves this.
They both deserve this.
” She pulled the trigger.
The shot rang out deafeningly in the silence of the church.
Leonardo jerked, grabbed his chest, and fell to his knees.
Blood quickly spread across his white shirt.
He tried to say something, but only a weeze escaped his mouth.
Then he fell face down and didn’t move anymore.
Screams rippled through the hall.
People jumped up from their seats and ran for the exit.
Reverend Crawford fell behind the altar, hiding.
Nick stood motionless, staring at his father’s body with empty eyes as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Kayla screamed and ran.
She tore off her veil, lifted the hem of her dress, and ran toward the side exit of the church.
Agnes turned, followed her with her eyes, and raised her gun again.
She took aim, trying to keep her hand steady despite the alcohol in her blood, and fired.
The first bullet missed, shattering a stained glass window.
Agnes fired again.
The second bullet hit Kayla in the back.
The girl stumbled, fell on the altar steps, and tried to get up.
Agnes moved closer, and fired a third time.
Kayla twitched and froze, lying face down in her white dress, which was quickly turning red.
Agnes stood over the body, the gun still in her hand, and looked at what she had done.
There was silence all around.
All the guests had fled, leaving only those who had not managed to get out, and they were hiding behind the pews, afraid of becoming the next victims.
Nick slowly knelt down next to his father’s body.
He didn’t cry or scream.
He just knelt there, staring into space.
Agnes approached her son and reached out to touch his shoulder, but he recoiled.
“Don’t touch me,” he whispered.
“You killed them.
You killed my father and my fianceé.
They betrayed us,” Agnes said, her voice strangely calm.
“They both betrayed us.
They deserved it.
” “No!” Nick shook his head.
“No one deserves to die, not even them.
” Sirens could be heard in the distance.
Someone had managed to call the police.
Agnes dropped the gun on the floor and sat down on the altar steps.
She felt a strange calm, almost relief.
It was over.
The secret was out.
The lie had been destroyed.
The price had been terrible, but the truth had finally prevailed.
The police burst into the church a few minutes later.
Agnes did not resist when they twisted her arms behind her back and handcuffed her.
She looked at Nick one last time, but he turned away.
They took her out of the church, put her in a police car, and drove her away.
The trial took place 4 months later.
Agnes was charged with the premeditated murder of two people.
Her lawyer tried to prove that she had acted in the heat of the moment under the influence of alcohol and emotional distress, but the jury did not take these arguments into account.
On February 23rd, 2025, the court sentenced Agnes Hartwell to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Nick attended every hearing.
He sat in the courtroom, pale, gaunt, looking 10 years older than he was after those four months.
When the judge announced the sentence, he covered his face with his hands and cried.
These were the first tears he had shed since that day in the church.
Agnes looked at him from the defendant’s table, and there was no remorse in her eyes, only emptiness.
