Chapter 12: The Groom's Family Secret
I stared at the bank statement.
Nathan's father had paid Thomas Whitaker $1.2 million.
The transfer date was twenty years earlier.
Three days after my father disappeared.
I slowly turned toward Nathan.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
“Emily, I swear I knew nothing about this.””
I wanted to believe him.
But suddenly, every conversation about our families seemed different.
“Your father knew mine?””
Nathan shook his head.
“Not that I know of.””
Dad reached for the statement.
“His father was involved in the development company Daniel wanted to build on this land.””
Nathan looked at him.
“My father was a property developer. He had dozens of business partners.””
“Did he ever mention Daniel Mercer?””
Nathan hesitated.
“Once. Years ago. He said Daniel had been involved in a failed development project.””
Dad nodded.
“That's where the money came from.””
I looked at the statement again.
“Why would Nathan's father pay the attorney?””
Dad took a breath.
“Because he wanted the estate.””
Nathan shook his head.
“That doesn't make sense. My father has his own properties. He wouldn't need to steal this one.””
Dad looked at him.
“People with money don't always want more money. Sometimes they want control.””
Nathan stepped toward the window.
“I'm calling him.””
He dialed.
The call connected after several rings.
“Son? I thought you were getting married today.””
Nathan looked at me.
“Dad, I need to ask you something.””
“What's wrong?””
“Do you know Thomas Whitaker?””
There was a pause.
Then his father's voice changed.
“Why are you asking?””
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Because I found a bank transfer showing you paid him $1.2 million twenty years ago.””
Silence.
Then his father said:
“Where did you get that document?””
“That's not the question.””
“Listen to me carefully. You need to leave that property immediately.””
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.””
“Then explain it.””
His father lowered his voice.
“Daniel Mercer is not the person you should be worrying about.””
I stepped closer.
“Who should we worry about?””
Nathan put the call on speaker.
His father recognized my voice.
“Emily?””
“Yes.””
“I'm sorry. I never wanted you involved.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“You knew about my father?””
A long pause followed.
Then he answered.
“Yes.””
Dad closed his eyes.
I gripped the phone.
“You knew he was alive?””
“I knew he had been moved.””
“Did you pay someone to keep him hidden?””
“No. I paid Thomas to protect the estate from Daniel.””
Dad let out a bitter laugh.
“That's not what the records say.””
Nathan's father continued.
“Richard, if you're listening, you need to understand that I was trying to stop the development.””
Dad leaned toward the phone.
“Then why did you pay Thomas after I disappeared?””
“Because Daniel was threatening to expose the original agreements.””
“What agreements?””
His father sighed.
“The land had been pledged as collateral for a development loan. Your father signed the initial documents before he discovered the financial irregularities.””
Dad shook his head.
“I never authorized a loan against the estate.””
“You signed the preliminary agreement.””
“I signed a proposal, not a transfer.””
“And Thomas had the final documents.””
The room went silent.
I looked at the statement.
“So Thomas forged the transfer?””
Nathan's father answered.
“Yes.””
Dad gripped the wheelchair arm.
“And you knew?””
“I discovered it afterward.””
“Then why didn't you go to the police?””
“Because Thomas threatened to expose my own financial records. I had invested in the project. I was afraid I'd lose everything.””
Nathan looked devastated.
“You let an innocent man disappear because you were protecting your business?””
His father didn't answer.
Nathan's voice cracked.
“Dad, you let me build a life with Emily without telling me any of this?””
“I thought the past was buried.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“You thought my father was buried.””
“Emily, please—”
I ended the call.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was Dad's breathing.
Then Chloe spoke.
“There's something else.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She reached into her handbag and removed a small memory card.
“Daniel gave me this yesterday.””
Nathan frowned.
“What's on it?””
“A recording.””
“Of what?””
Chloe looked at Dad.
“Of Thomas and Daniel discussing the estate.””
She placed the card in Nathan's hand.
“I was supposed to destroy it after the wedding was canceled.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Why didn't you?””
Chloe started crying.
“Because I finally realized Daniel wasn't going to pay my debt. He was going to leave me with everything.””
Nathan found a laptop and inserted the memory card.
A recording appeared.
Two men sat in a private office.
Daniel Mercer.
And Thomas Whitaker.
Their conversation was clear.
Thomas spoke first.
“Richard is still a problem.””
Daniel leaned back.
“He's been a problem for twenty years.””
“His daughters are asking questions.””
“Then we'll make sure they stop.””
Thomas opened a folder.
“What about the wedding?””
Daniel smiled.
“Chloe has already handled the dress. If Emily refuses to marry Nathan, the trust will be challenged.””
Thomas frowned.
“That's not how the trust works.””
Daniel laughed.
“Then we'll create a reason to challenge it.””
He leaned closer.
“Once Emily is out of the picture, the estate can be transferred through the company.””
Thomas nodded.
“And the father?””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“Richard won't be a problem much longer.””
The recording ended.
Dad gripped the armrest.
“Call the police.””
Nathan immediately reached for his phone.
But before he could dial, another voice came from the doorway.
“I'm afraid that's unnecessary.””
We turned.
Thomas Whitaker stood outside the room.
He was wearing a navy suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
Two security officers stood behind him.
He smiled politely.
“Mr. Bennett. It's been a long time.””
Dad's face went pale.
“You.””
Thomas stepped inside.
“I'm here to correct a few misunderstandings.””
I moved between him and my father.
“You're not going anywhere near him.””
Thomas looked at me.
“Emily, your grandmother would be disappointed to see how emotional you've become.””
“Don't mention my grandmother.””
He placed a document on the bedside table.
“This is a temporary guardianship order concerning Richard Bennett.””
Dad stared at it.
“What?””
Thomas smiled.
“Given your medical condition and prolonged absence from society, the court has authorized a review of your capacity to make financial decisions.””
Nathan grabbed the document.
“This is ridiculous.””
Thomas adjusted his cuff.
“It's already been filed.””
I looked at the date.
The application had been submitted yesterday.
The applicant's name was printed at the bottom.
Margaret Bennett.
I turned toward my mother.
She had just entered the room.
Her face was white.
“Mom?””
She looked at Dad.
Then at Thomas.
And finally at me.
“I didn't know what the papers were.””
Thomas smiled.
“Of course you didn't, Margaret.””
Dad suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Emily, don't let him take that document.””
I looked down.
Beneath the guardianship order was a second page.
A medical authorization.
And at the bottom was a signature that made my heart stop.
Nathan Reed.
My fiancé's signature.
I looked at him.
“Why is your name on this?””
Nathan stared at the paper.
“I've never seen it before.””
Thomas calmly closed his briefcase.
“Then perhaps, Emily, you should reconsider the man you're about to marry.””
He leaned closer and whispered:
May you like
“Because your fiancé's family has been controlling your father's life since the night he disappeared.””
And suddenly, the wedding wasn't the only thing I was afraid of losing.
