Chapter 5 - A Father’s SilenceJenna looked at Richard.
“Dad?”
He did not raise his eyes.
“Tell me you didn’t see that letter.”
Richard adjusted his bow tie, buying time.
The ballroom waited.
Marianne Hale, Felicity’s mother and Richard’s wife, sat rigidly near the head table. Her fingers tightened around her jeweled purse.
Jenna understood before anyone confessed.
The letter had arrived at the townhouse.
Someone had opened it.
Someone had decided Jenna did not deserve what was inside.
Felicity stepped away from the center aisle.
“It was years ago.”
Adrian stared at her.
“That isn’t an answer.”
Felicity’s voice sharpened.
“Jenna was working. She hates those events. Mom said the invitation would be wasted.”
Marianne flinched at being named.
Richard finally spoke.
“It was only a charity gala.”
Jenna felt something inside her go still.
Only a gala.
Only a letter.
Only an opportunity intended for her.
Only a connection to a family whose son she had helped save.
Her father had spent years treating every sacrifice she made as ordinary, yet he had allowed Felicity to use Jenna’s work as a doorway into Manhattan society.
Silas stepped toward Richard.
“You opened correspondence addressed to your daughter?”
Richard rose defensively.
“We are not discussing private family matters in the middle of a wedding.”
“You were laughing at her in the middle of a wedding.”
Richard’s face reddened.
Felicity lifted the microphone again.
“I never claimed I saved Adrian.”
Adrian’s eyes flashed.
“You said Silas invited you because you had been there that night.”
“I was connected to the hospital.”
“You worked at a fashion showroom.”
Several guests exchanged looks.
Felicity’s polished story had always sounded romantic.
Now it sounded constructed.
Jenna remained beside her chair, absorbing the betrayal.
She had never needed recognition for saving Adrian.
But someone had stolen more than praise.
Felicity had stolen the moment that changed her own life.
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And Richard had watched it happen.
👉 Jenna had lost an invitation, but Adrian was beginning to realize his entire relationship had started with an impersonation.
