“That’s my mother,” she whispered.

The blonde woman’s face went pale.

The older man looked at her slowly.

“You told me the baby died.”

The ballroom went silent.

The girl clutched the broken strap of her dress, confused and trembling.

The blonde woman stepped back, shaking her head.

“She was supposed to disappear.”

The older man’s eyes filled with rage and grief.

He took the girl’s hand and turned to the guests.

“Then everyone here just witnessed the return of my granddaughter.”