Chapter 4: The Call Before The Ceremony
The name on Terrell’s phone made my fingers go cold.
*Marcus Okafor.*
My father.
A man who had been gone from my life for six years.
I stared at the screen as it continued vibrating in my hand.
Terrell watched my face carefully.
“Jasmine.””
I swallowed.
“He knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That we found it.””
Terrell’s eyebrows tightened.
“You think your father knows about the documents?””
I looked at the phone.
The answer was already sitting there.
My father never called me on important days.
Not birthdays.
Not holidays.
Not the day I graduated.
Not even the day I told him I was getting married.
But now, on the morning when a hidden agreement was about to be revealed, he suddenly wanted to talk.
I pressed accept.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then his voice came through.
“Jasmine.””
I closed my eyes.
Hearing him still felt strange.
Like hearing a song from a childhood I barely remembered.
“Why are you calling me?””
There was silence.
Then my father sighed.
“I heard about the appointment.””
My grip tightened.
“Who told you?””
“Delphine.””
Of course.
The pieces started connecting.
My father and Delphine had been communicating behind my back.
“Why?””
“Because she wanted me to convince you not to sign.””
I looked at Terrell.
His expression darkened.
“Convince me why?””
Another pause.
“Because once you sign, everything changes.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everything changes for who?””
“Jasmine—”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You disappeared when I needed you. You ignored me when I was struggling. And now you call me because of paperwork?””
My father’s breathing changed.
“I made mistakes.””
“Yes, you did.””
“I was trying to fix them.””
I looked at the stained wedding gown.
At the red mark covering the white fabric.
“Is that what everyone is doing? Fixing things after hurting me?””
Terrell gently touched my shoulder.
Not to interrupt.
Just to remind me I was not alone.
My father lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand what that property means.””
“Then explain.””
He was silent again.
That silence told me more than words.
“Dad.””
Finally, he said,
“Your mother and I were involved with that property before you were born.””
I froze.
“My mother?””
Terrell looked at me.
My mother had died when I was fourteen.
I knew almost nothing about her connection to the Vance family.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying your mother was the original reason your grandfather created that agreement.””
My heart pounded.
“That makes no sense.””
“It will when you see the rest.””
I stood there, confused.
Angry.
Hurt.
“How many secrets are there?””
My father whispered,
“More than you know.””
Then the call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Terrell took it from my hand and placed it on the table.
“We need to go.””
I looked at him.
“To the attorney?””
He nodded.
“But first, I need to tell you something.””
“What?””
His expression changed.
“I wasn’t completely honest with you either.””
The room became silent.
I felt like the floor disappeared beneath me.
“What did you hide?””
He reached into the folder.
He pulled out a photograph.
An old photograph.
I took it.
And the moment I saw it, I stopped breathing.
It was my mother.
Standing beside Terrell’s grandfather.
And beside them was Delphine.
All three of them were smiling.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten note.
A date.
A location.
And one sentence.
*The truth belongs to Jasmine when she is ready.*
I looked at Terrell.
“Why does your family have pictures of my mother?””
May you like
His answer came quietly.
“Because your mother was supposed to inherit the house before me.””
