Chapter 10: The Deal Behind the Marriage
Vanessa’s words changed the entire room.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Derek looked at her like he was seeing a stranger.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa slowly placed the birthday gift on the table.
The same table where Linda’s sixty-dish celebration was supposed to happen.
The same table where Derek had expected me to serve everyone.
Now it had become the place where every lie was being uncovered.
Vanessa looked at me.
“You deserve to know the truth.””
Derek’s voice became sharp.
“No.””
She ignored him.
“That marriage was never supposed to last.””
My stomach tightened.
Linda stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa sighed.
“Derek had a plan.””
Derek stepped forward.
“Stop.””
But this time, nobody listened.
Vanessa continued.
“When he met you, he already knew about the trust.””
I felt my fingers go cold.
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Of course.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You understand.””
Rachel laughed quietly.
“Better than anyone.””
I looked at Derek.
“You told her about me before we met?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
The truth hurt differently when it came from silence.
Vanessa continued.
“He told me the house would eventually be ours.””
Linda looked at her son.
“Derek…”
“He said you were perfect,” Vanessa said.
“Successful. Kind. Too trusting.””
Each word felt like another piece of my marriage collapsing.
I remembered all those moments.
The compliments.
The affection.
The way Derek always seemed to know exactly what to say.
It wasn’t love.
It was preparation.
“You studied me,” I whispered.
Derek looked away.
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
Rachel stepped back.
“You were both planning this?””
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“Not exactly.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Not exactly?””
She looked at me.
“Derek changed.””
Everyone looked at him.
He shook his head.
“No.””
Vanessa’s voice became colder.
“No, you didn’t.””
That was the first time she turned against him.
And Derek knew it.
“You promised me,” he said.
Vanessa smiled sadly.
“You promised everyone.””
The room went silent.
David Collins stepped forward.
“Explain everything.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Derek was supposed to marry her, gain access to the trust, and then divorce her.””
Linda covered her mouth.
“That’s insane.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked at Derek.
“And you agreed?””
He finally exploded.
“You don’t understand!””
The anger returned.
The same anger I knew.
The same voice that used to make me apologize.
“I was under pressure.””
I stared at him.
“Pressure?””
He pointed around the room.
“You have no idea what it’s like to carry expectations.””
I almost couldn’t believe him.
“You hurt people because you felt pressured?””
He stopped.
Because even he knew how ridiculous it sounded.
David opened his folder.
“We have enough evidence to investigate further.””
Derek’s face changed.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No, you don’t understand.””
His voice dropped.
“If this goes public, everything falls apart.””
I looked at him.
“That’s the point.””
For once, I didn’t feel afraid of his anger.
Because his power was gone.
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at her.
“What?””
She shook her head.
“You still think Derek is the biggest problem.””
Derek frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You really don’t know.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“I found this before he did.””
Derek stepped forward.
“Where did you get that?””
Vanessa held it away from him.
“You don’t get to hide things anymore.””
She handed it to me.
My name was written on the front.
I looked at her.
“What is this?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“The reason I stayed close to Linda.””
I opened it.
Inside was an old letter.
Not from Derek.
From my grandmother.
My heart stopped.
Because my grandmother had been dead for years.
The letter began:
*To my granddaughter,*
*If you are reading this, then the person you trusted most has already tried to take what belongs to you.*
I looked up.
Nobody spoke.
Derek looked terrified.
But Vanessa looked even more afraid.
Because she knew what came next.
I continued reading.
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And the final sentence made my hands shake.
*The Mercer family was never supposed to inherit this house because they were the reason I took it away from them.*
