Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Anonymous Message
By eight the next morning, my father's legal team had taken over the investigation.
I sat at the breakfast table in his Manhattan penthouse, staring at the marriage license photograph on my phone.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryan's signature beside mine.
And Diane's handwritten note.
Once Maya is legally connected to Ryan, the Bennett assets become much easier to access.
I'd spent eight months believing Ryan wanted a future with me.
Apparently, he'd been planning something else.
Dad entered the dining room carrying two cups of coffee.
"How are you holding up, sweetheart?""
I wrapped both hands around the mug.
"I keep wondering how long he was pretending.""
Dad sat opposite me.
"People who manipulate others rarely reveal everything at once.""
"Do you think he ever loved me?""
Dad studied my face.
"I think you deserve someone whose love doesn't come with a financial strategy.""
Before I could respond, Michael entered with a tablet.
"Mr. Bennett, we identified the person who sent the message.""
Dad straightened.
"Who?""
"Patricia Whitmore. Diane's sister.""
I remembered her from Thanksgiving.
She was the only guest who had looked uncomfortable when Diane threw away my pie.
"Why would she contact me?"" I asked.
"She requested an in-person meeting," Michael replied.
"She says she has evidence that could explain the entire scheme.""
Dad immediately stood.
"Tell her to come here.""
Twenty-five minutes later, Patricia arrived.
She looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen, and she kept twisting the strap of her handbag.
"Maya, I'm so sorry.""
I gestured toward the chair.
"Please sit down.""
She remained standing.
"I should have stopped Diane last night. I should have said something when she humiliated you.""
"Why didn't you?""
Patricia looked down.
"Because I've spent my entire life being afraid of my sister.""
She finally sat.
Then she pulled a thick envelope from her handbag.
"I found these in Diane's home office yesterday afternoon.""
Dad motioned for Michael to take them.
Inside were printed emails, bank statements, and several copies of legal documents.
One email had been sent by Diane to Ryan six weeks earlier.
*Diane:* Have you obtained the estate documents yet?
*Ryan:* Not all of them. She keeps everything private.
*Diane:* Then make her trust you enough to sign what you need. Don't tell her about the company's financial problems.
I felt sick.
Another email followed.
*Ryan:* What if she finds out?
*Diane:* By then, she'll be emotionally committed. If she refuses, remind her how much you've invested in the relationship.
I slowly put the papers down.
"How long have you known?""
Patricia wiped her eyes.
"I discovered the emails two weeks ago. I confronted Diane, and she told me I was misunderstanding everything.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she threatened to destroy my marriage. She controls most of the family's money.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Mrs. Whitmore, did you know about the forged marriage application?""
Patricia nodded.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did she sign it?""
"Yes. Diane arranged for a former employee at a legal office to prepare the paperwork.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"Do you know who that employee is?""
Patricia opened another folder.
"His name is Daniel Reeves.""
Michael immediately wrote it down.
Patricia continued.
"But there's something worse.""
She removed a small USB drive.
"Ryan wasn't planning to stop at the twelve-million-dollar loan. Diane wanted access to Maya's inheritance before the company collapsed.""
I stared at her.
"How?""
"She planned to convince Ryan to marry you, then use the marriage to gain access to your financial records. She believed your father would eventually help the company if you became part of their family.""
Dad gave a humorless laugh.
"They believed marriage would turn my daughter into a financial institution.""
Patricia nodded.
"There's more. Diane has been telling people that Maya is mentally unstable and financially irresponsible.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She planned to use those claims if you refused to cooperate. She wanted to make it appear that Ryan was protecting your interests.""
I felt a chill run down my spine.
Dad stood.
"Michael, make copies of everything. Our attorneys need this immediately.""
Patricia looked at me.
"I know you probably hate me.""
I shook my head.
"I don't hate you. But you had opportunities to tell me the truth.""
"I know.""
"Thank you for finally doing it.""
She nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
After she left, Michael examined the USB drive.
A few minutes later, he called us back into the room.
"Mr. Bennett, you need to see this.""
He connected the drive to the large television.
A video appeared.
It showed Diane sitting in her home office, speaking to someone outside the camera's view.
Her voice was unmistakable.
"Once the wedding is announced, everything becomes easier. Alexander Bennett won't want his daughter involved in a scandal. He'll pay whatever is necessary to protect her reputation.""
A man's voice answered.
"And if Maya refuses?""
Diane smiled.
"Then we'll make her look like the problem.""
The video ended.
I stared at the screen.
My father's hands tightened around his coffee cup.
Then Michael opened another file.
It was a spreadsheet listing transfers from the Whitmore company's accounts.
Several payments had been made to a consulting company.
The company was registered under a name I recognized.
Daniel Reeves.
The same man who had supposedly prepared my marriage application.
Dad looked at Michael.
"Find him.""
Michael nodded.
But before he could leave, my phone rang.
Ryan.
I answered without speaking.
"Maya," he said urgently.
"We need to talk.""
"About what?""
"Your father is destroying my family.""
I glanced at the television.
"Your family did that themselves.""
He lowered his voice.
"Listen carefully. I know you've seen the documents, but there's something you don't understand.""
"What?""
"Diane wasn't the person who started this.""
A pause.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Your grandmother's estate was targeted long before I ever met you.""
