My Bride Humiliated My Father in Front of 200 Wedding Guests—Then She Threw His Gift on the Floor, Never Knowing What Was Inside

"Your mother had a brother," I repeated.

"And nobody thought I deserved to know?""

Arthur Bell met my eyes.

"Your mother and her brother, Thomas, were inseparable as children. But they had a terrible falling-out shortly before she married your father.""

Dad shook his head.

"That's not true. Eleanor told me her brother died when she was young.""

Arthur nodded.

"That was the story she gave you. Thomas disappeared after being accused of stealing money from their family's business. Eleanor believed he had been framed, but she couldn't prove it.""

"Who accused him?"" I asked.

"Your grandfather.""

The answer made no sense.

"My grandfather died before I was born.""

"Yes. And before his death, he signed over several properties to a holding company that later became the foundation of Anderson Heritage Holdings.""

Dad looked stunned.

"Are you telling me Thomas might have had a claim to the property?""

"He may have believed he did. The original ownership register would establish whether his rights were ever legally extinguished.""

I glanced at the silver key in my hand.

"Then the person at the factory could be Thomas.""

"Possibly," Arthur said.

"But the photograph of Daniel doesn't prove who's holding him.""

Dad stood.

"We're going to the factory, but we're coordinating with the police. Nobody moves until the site is secured.""

I expected him to order me to stay behind.

Instead, he looked at me.

"Lucas, if Thomas is alive, you may be the only person he wants to speak to.""

Twenty minutes later, we were standing outside the abandoned factory with a police tactical team positioned along the perimeter.

Rain swept across the cracked pavement. The old loading bay doors hung crookedly from their hinges, and weeds had grown through the concrete near the entrance.

A faded sign still carried the Anderson family name.

My father stopped beside it.

"Your mother used to bring lunch here when I worked the late shift," he said.

"She'd sit on that step and read to me while I ate.""

I looked at him.

"You never told me that.""

He gave a sad smile.

"There are so many things I thought I'd have time to tell you.""

A police officer approached.

"We've detected movement inside the main building. We also found a vehicle registered to a shell company connected to Whitmore Development.""

Dad's jaw tightened.

"Charles.""

"Possibly, sir. We haven't confirmed who's inside.""

My phone buzzed.

Another message.

Come through the east loading bay. Bring the key. No police.

I showed it to the officer.

"We won't send you in alone," he said firmly.

"We'll maintain a safe distance while our team approaches the building.""

Dad took my arm.

"If anything feels wrong, you leave immediately.""

We entered through the east loading bay with two officers positioned behind us.

The factory smelled of wet concrete, rust, and old machine oil. Moonlight filtered through broken windows, illuminating rows of abandoned equipment.

At the far end of the room, a single work light flickered.

Daniel sat beneath it, his wrists bound to the arms of a metal chair.

A man stood behind him.

He was tall and lean, with silver hair and a scar running from his left temple to his jaw. He wore a dark work jacket, and his right hand rested on Daniel's shoulder.

When he saw my father, he smiled without warmth.

"Hello, Richard.""

Dad stopped breathing for a moment.

"Thomas.""

The man nodded.

"Twenty-five years. And you still look like you're waiting for Eleanor to walk through the door.""

My father took a step forward.

"Where have you been?""

"Where your family put me.""

"Your sister believed you were dead.""

Thomas laughed bitterly.

"My sister believed whatever kept her safe. You were the one who decided I couldn't be trusted.""

Dad's voice sharpened.

"I searched for you.""

"After you found Eleanor's body? Or before?""

The question hung in the air.

I stepped between them.

"Who are you?""

Thomas studied me.

Then his expression changed.

For the first time, I saw something resembling tenderness.

"Lucas. You have her eyes.""

He removed his hand from Daniel's shoulder.

"I'm your mother's brother.""

"Then why have you been hiding?""

"Because someone framed me for stealing from the family. When Eleanor discovered the truth, she tried to help me. But she was killed before she could expose what happened.""

Dad shook his head.

"You have no proof of that.""

Thomas pointed toward the machinery behind him.

"Your wife left proof here. A backup archive containing the original contracts, the bank transfers, and the correspondence between your father and Charles Whitmore.""

My heart pounded.

"Then give it to us.""

Thomas looked at the key in my hand.

"That's why you're here. The archive can only be opened with the original key.""

I stepped forward, but my father caught my shoulder.

"Lucas, wait.""

Thomas smiled faintly.

"Still protecting him, Richard? You couldn't protect Eleanor. You couldn't protect me. And now you want to protect him from the truth.""

Dad's face twisted with pain.

"Did you kill her?""

Thomas's expression went cold.

"No.""

"Then why did you disappear?""

"Because I saw the man who followed her car that night. He was wearing a Whitmore ring. When I tried to report it, someone planted stolen documents in my apartment and issued a warrant for my arrest.""

"Who planted them?""

Thomas glanced at Daniel.

"Ask your son's business partner.""

Daniel began struggling against his restraints.

Thomas removed the tape from his mouth.

"Lucas, don't give him the key!""

I froze.

Thomas struck Daniel across the face.

"Quiet!""

The sound echoed through the factory.

My father moved forward, but the police officer behind us raised a hand, signaling him to stop.

Thomas pulled a small pistol from his jacket.