Chapter 8: The Bride's Second Secret
Daniel ended the call.
For several seconds, he simply stared at his phone.
I watched him carefully.
"What baby?""
He put the phone in his pocket.
"Mom, please don't.""
"Daniel, I have spent the last forty-eight hours discovering that my son forged financial documents, that my daughter-in-law used my retirement savings, and that my husband's land was nearly stolen.""
I stepped closer.
"I am done being told not to ask questions.""
He lowered himself onto the sofa.
"Vanessa told me she was pregnant two months ago.""
I blinked.
"Two months ago?""
"She said she was twelve weeks along.""
"Then why did she tell you she was pregnant nearly a year ago?""
He shook his head.
"She said she had a miscarriage. She showed me hospital paperwork.""
I sat down.
"Did you see a doctor?""
"No. She said she wanted privacy.""
"Did you attend any appointments?""
"No.""
I looked at him.
"Daniel, you're getting married to a woman you apparently don't know.""
He winced.
"I know.""
His phone buzzed again.
This time, it was a message.
He opened it.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He handed me the phone.
The message was from Vanessa.
*If you tell your mother anything else, I'll make sure you lose everything. Remember who paid for your lifestyle before you met me.*
I read it twice.
"Paid for your lifestyle?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Richard gave me money when we started the company. He said it was an investment.""
"How much?""
"About $40,000.""
"And what did you do with it?""
"Business expenses. The apartment. The car. Some wedding deposits.""
I stared at him.
"So you weren't just using my money.""
He looked ashamed.
"You were using borrowed money from Richard, too.""
Daniel nodded.
I returned his phone.
"Then you need to tell the police and the lender everything you know.""
His face tightened.
"Mom, they'll arrest me.""
"That depends on what happened and what the evidence shows. But hiding it will only make things worse.""
He stood and began pacing.
"Vanessa said Richard had everything arranged. She said the signatures were routine. She said you'd eventually agree.""
"Why would you believe that?""
"Because she said she loved me.""
I looked at him sadly.
"Love doesn't require you to steal from your mother.""
He stopped.
Then he whispered, "I think she married me because of the land.""
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
At 7:30 the following morning, Daniel agreed to accompany me to Thomas's office.
Before leaving, I retrieved the flash drive from my bedroom safe.
Thomas had arranged for a digital forensics specialist named Kevin to examine it.
When we arrived, Kevin was already waiting.
"Mrs. Bennett," he said, "your husband organized these files very carefully.""
He connected the drive to an isolated computer.
A folder appeared.
*ROBERT — FINAL RECORDS.*
Inside were recordings, emails, financial statements, and scanned contracts.
Kevin opened the first audio file.
Robert's voice filled the room.
"Richard, I have told you no. The land is not for sale.""
Richard's voice followed.
"Robert, you're making a mistake. The market won't wait forever.""
"Then let it wait.""
There was a pause.
Then Richard said something that made Daniel lower his head.
"Your son already understands the arrangement.""
Robert sounded furious.
"My son doesn't own that property.""
Richard laughed.
"Not yet.""
The recording ended.
Kevin opened another file.
This one was dated two days before Robert's hospitalization.
Daniel's voice appeared.
"Dad, just sign the agreement. We can make enough money for everyone.""
Robert answered.
"Everyone except me, apparently. You've already promised something that doesn't belong to you.""
Daniel sounded frustrated.
"You're thinking about the land like it's still 1985.""
"And you're thinking about it like a lottery ticket.""
Then came a sound.
A chair scraping against the floor.
Daniel spoke again.
"If you don't sign, Richard says he'll pull out. Vanessa and I will lose everything.""
Robert's response was quiet.
"Then perhaps you should reconsider the company you're keeping.""
The recording stopped.
Daniel looked devastated.
Kevin opened the final audio file.
The date was the night Robert died.
I reached for the edge of the desk.
"Play it.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Margaret, are you sure?""
"Yes.""
Robert's voice was weaker this time.
"Daniel, listen to me. I love you. But I will not let you destroy your future by trusting Richard Cole.""
Daniel answered.
"You're choosing Mom over me.""
"No. I'm choosing what's right.""
"Then you don't understand what you've done.""
A long silence followed.
Then Robert said something I had never heard before.
"I have already spoken to Thomas. The trust is protected. And if anything happens to me, Margaret will know the truth.""
Daniel's voice became colder.
"You've left me with nothing.""
Robert replied:
"I've left you with a chance to become a better man.""
The recording ended.
Daniel covered his face.
I couldn't move.
Thomas reached over and paused the computer.
"There's more," Kevin said.
He opened a document folder.
One file was labeled:
*VANESSA COLE — PAYMENT RECORDS.*
It contained bank transfers from Richard's company.
Several payments had been made to Vanessa over eighteen months.
$5,000.
$8,500.
$12,000.
And one payment of $30,000, just three weeks before Daniel proposed.
Thomas examined the dates.
"These payments appear to be connected to the property acquisition.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you know she was receiving money?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
Kevin opened the final scanned document.
It was an agreement between Richard Cole and Vanessa.
The heading read:
*MARRIAGE AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION INCENTIVE AGREEMENT.*
I felt the room spin.
Vanessa had signed it.
Richard had signed it.
And beneath the final clause was a sentence that made Daniel stand abruptly.
*Upon successful marriage to Daniel Bennett and completion of the land transfer, Vanessa Cole shall receive an additional $250,000.*
Daniel stared at the screen.
"She was being paid to marry me?""
Thomas looked grim.
"That's what this document appears to say.""
Daniel stumbled backward.
"No. No, that's impossible.""
I looked at the date.
It was signed eleven months before the wedding.
Before the engagement.
Before Vanessa had ever called me Mom.
Then Kevin opened one more attachment.
It was an email from Richard to Vanessa.
The subject line read:
*AFTER THE WEDDING.*
The message contained only two sentences.
Once the transfer is complete, make sure Daniel signs the final authorization. We won't need Margaret anymore.
Daniel read it.
His knees seemed to give way.
And then his phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered on speaker.
"Vanessa?""
Her voice was sharp.
"Where are you?""
"With my mother.""
"Did you find the documents?""
Daniel looked at the screen.
"Did you marry me for my father's land?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa laughed.
Not nervously.
Not in confusion.
She laughed as though the question amused her.
"Daniel, don't be childish.""
His voice cracked.
"Was any of it real?""
Vanessa's answer was chilling.
"Your father should have signed when he had the chance.""
Then she hung up.
Daniel sank into the chair.
Thomas closed the folder.
But Kevin was still staring at the computer.
"Mrs. Bennett," he said slowly, "there's one more file. Your husband specifically marked it as confidential.""
I looked at him.
"What is it?""
Kevin opened the file.
It contained a video recorded in Robert's hospital room.
And in the first few seconds, I saw someone standing beside my husband's bed.
May you like
Someone who had told me she had never visited him.
Vanessa.
