I sat in stunned silence, the world spinning around me. My father had retired from a long career in law enforcement, and his words carried weight. Yet, part of me refused to accept this revelation. I thought of Emily, her joyous smile, the way she had looked at David as if he were her entire world. How could I tell her this?

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” The question escaped my lips, tinged with accusation.“I… I didn’t have all the details until today,” Dad replied, his expression pained. “I couldn’t ruin her wedding on a suspicion. But now… now I have proof.”

He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a folder, handing it to me with a heavy heart. Inside were documents, photographs, evidence that painted a portrait of a man leading a double life. My hands shook as I thumbed through the pages, disbelief morphing into a chilling reality.