He Ran to the Waitress and Called Her Mommy

Chapter 2: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Gone

Edward could not move.

For four years, he had believed Clara was dead.

She had been his wife. Noah's mother. The woman who disappeared after a fire destroyed the old east wing of the Hale estate. Her body was never found, but everyone told him no one could have survived.

His mother had cried.

Vivian had comforted him.

The servants had repeated the same story.

Clara ran back inside during the fire and never came out.

But now she stood in front of him, alive, dressed as a waitress at his own engagement banquet.

Vivian moved first.

"This woman is lying," she said sharply. "She's clearly unstable. She saw Noah, learned his name, and decided to create a scene."

Noah shook his head hard. "No! She's Mommy!"

Edward looked at Clara. "Where have you been?"

Clara's lips trembled. "In places your family paid to keep me."

The guests began whispering.

Vivian stepped closer. "Enough. Security!"

Two guards approached Clara, but Edward raised one hand.

"No one touches her."

For the first time that night, Vivian looked afraid.

Clara reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a small silver locket. Edward recognized it instantly. He had given it to her the night Noah was born.

Inside was a tiny photo of Clara holding baby Noah.

Edward's breath caught.

"I wrote to you," Clara said. "Every month. I sent letters. I begged to see my son."

"I never got them," Edward said.

"I know."

Her eyes moved to Vivian.

"Because she did."

Vivian laughed, but it sounded thin. "That is insane."

Clara looked at Edward.

"Ask her why she was at the east wing the night it burned."

Edward slowly turned.

Vivian took one step back.

Before he could speak, Noah pulled something from his tiny jacket pocket.

A folded piece of paper.

"Mommy gave me this before she went away," he said.

Edward opened it.

It was a note in Clara's handwriting.

If I disappear, do not trust Vivian.