Chapter 8: The Dress Waiting at the Hotel
By ten in the morning, my wedding had become a race against a secret nobody seemed willing to explain.
Michael was coordinating with the company's legal team. Peter was checking who had accessed the financial records. Dad was making calls in his study, speaking in the clipped, controlled tone he used when a major construction project was in danger.
And I was sitting on the edge of a hotel bed, staring at three wedding dresses.
Daniel had arranged for the bridal shop owner to bring them to our suite. Each gown was beautiful. One had delicate sleeves, another featured a flowing satin skirt, and the third was a simple ivory dress with a fitted bodice.
I should have felt excited.
Instead, I felt as though I were choosing a costume for a wedding that no longer belonged to me.
Daniel came out of the bathroom wearing his white shirt and dark trousers. His tie hung loosely around his neck.
“Any favorites?”” he asked.
I touched the lace sleeve of the first dress.
“This one is beautiful.””
“But?””
I looked at him.
“But it's not the dress I chose with my mother in mind.””
Daniel sat beside me.
“I know.””
“She would have loved that dress. She always said lace made a wedding gown look timeless.””
He took my hand.
“Then we'll find a way to preserve what we can. The dress doesn't have to be perfect for the day to mean something.””
I looked at the three gowns.
“What if everything is different now?””
“Everything is different,” he said.
“But I'm still here.””
I leaned against him, closing my eyes.
For a few minutes, we said nothing.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered, listened, and frowned.
“Are you sure?”” he asked.
He ended the call and turned toward me.
“My sister just called. Someone contacted the venue asking them to postpone our wedding.””
I sat upright.
“Who?””
“They claimed to be acting on your father's instructions.””
“Dad would never do that.””
“I know. The venue manager refused to change anything without confirmation from you or me.””
My stomach tightened.
“Was it Vanessa?””
“They didn't identify themselves.””
I reached for my phone, but before I could call Dad, a knock sounded at the suite door.
Daniel opened it.
Madison stood in the hallway.
She wore a gray sweater and black jeans. Her hair was pulled into a careless ponytail, and her eyes were red.
Daniel stepped into the doorway.
“What are you doing here?””
“I need to speak to Emily.””
“Now isn't a good time.””
“Please,” Madison whispered.
“I need to tell her something before Mom finds out I'm here.””
I stood.
“Let her in.””
Daniel hesitated, then moved aside.
Madison entered the suite and stopped when she saw the dresses.
For a moment, her expression changed.
“Those are beautiful,” she said.
I folded my arms.
“Why are you here?””
She looked at the floor.
“Because I lied.””
I felt a familiar wave of anger.
“About what?””
“About the dress. About the documents. About how much I knew.””
Daniel closed the door.
Madison took a breath.
“Mom told me about Grant six months ago. She said he was going to help her establish an investment company. At first, I thought it was legitimate.
She showed me contracts and bank statements. She said Dad was too controlling with money and that she wanted something independent.””
“Something independent funded by my inheritance?”” I asked.
Madison shook her head.
“I didn't know about your trust until later.””
“When?””
“Three months ago. Mom asked me to find a copy of your signature from your college application. She said she needed it to complete a family document.””
My skin prickled.
“And you gave it to her?””
Madison began crying.
“Yes.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Why?””
“Because she told me it was harmless. She said Emily would sign the final papers herself before the wedding, and the copy was only needed to prepare the paperwork.””
I stared at my stepsister.
“You helped her forge my signature.””
“I didn't know she would use it like that!””
“But you knew enough to lie to us.””
Madison covered her face.
“I know.””
I turned toward the window, struggling to control my breathing.
For years, Madison had taken my belongings, repeated Vanessa's accusations, and laughed whenever I was hurt. But this was different.
She hadn't merely wanted to upset me.
She had helped prepare the means to steal my inheritance.
“Why ruin the dress?”” I asked without turning around.
Her answer came quietly.
“Mom said if you were distracted, you might agree to postpone the wedding or let her handle the paperwork. She thought you'd be too upset to question anything.””
I turned back.
“You destroyed something precious to me so your mother could manipulate me.””
Madison nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
“I thought she'd finally stop treating me like I was second best.””
The words made me laugh once, bitterly.
“Do you hear yourself? You thought hurting me would make your life better.””
“I know how it sounds.””
“No. I don't think you do.””
I stepped closer.
“My mother died, Madison. I spent years trying to rebuild my life. You had a mother who stood beside you every day, and you still decided that the only way to be happy was to take something from me.””
She lowered her head.
For once, I didn't feel compelled to comfort her.
“What about the missing amendment?”” I asked.
“Did you know Mom's document had been taken?””
Madison looked up sharply.
“Yes.””
My heart pounded.
“Where is it?””
“I don't have it.””
“Who does?””
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and removed a small flash drive.
“Mom gave me this last night. She told me to destroy it if Dad discovered the footage.””
Daniel took a step forward.
“What's on it?””
“I don't know. But before she gave it to me, I heard her talking to Grant on the phone.””
Madison's hands shook as she placed the drive on the table.
“She told him the original amendment was still missing, but the copy was enough to prove that Emily's mother had changed the ownership structure.””
I stared at the drive.
“Why would she tell you that?””
“Because she wanted me to understand what was at stake. She said once the transfer was complete, we'd both be protected.””
“Protected from whom?””
Madison looked toward the door.
“From the people who know what really happened before your mother died.””
A chill swept through me.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
Dad.
I answered immediately.
“Emily, where are you?””
“At the hotel. What's wrong?””
His voice was strained.
“Michael has found something in the trust records. Your mother's amendment wasn't simply about protecting your inheritance.””
I looked at Madison.
She had gone pale.
Dad continued.
“It also named a second beneficiary.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who?””
He paused.
“Your mother named you and another person. And according to the document we just recovered, that person's identity was deliberately concealed.””
I stared at the flash drive.
May you like
Then Madison whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“It's Grant's mother.””
Related Stories
