Chapter 7: The Wedding That Was Never Supposed to Happen
"Until after the wedding?""
I repeated Richard's words slowly.
Nobody moved.
Vanessa looked as though someone had pulled the floor from beneath her feet.
Daniel immediately took out his phone.
"Marcus, don't confront anyone until we establish what this account is connected to.""
I barely heard him.
I was staring at my wife.
"What wedding?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Richard is talking nonsense.""
Richard laughed nervously.
"Don't pretend you don't know, Vanessa.""
She turned toward him.
"Shut your mouth!""
I stepped between them.
"Someone better start explaining.""
Richard opened his briefcase and removed another folder.
"This wasn't supposed to happen like this. Vanessa and I had an agreement. Once the financial arrangements were finalized, she would receive her share and the marriage would be over.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Your share of what?""
"The estate.""
Daniel stood immediately.
"Mr. Coleman, I strongly advise you not to make any further statements without legal representation.""
Richard ignored him.
"Vanessa married Marcus because she believed she could eventually gain control over his household assets. The trust was part of that arrangement.""
Vanessa slapped the folder out of his hand.
"You're lying!""
Richard grabbed her wrist.
"Don't you dare turn this around on me!""
I pulled them apart.
"Enough!""
Lily was watching from the dining room doorway.
I immediately lowered my voice.
"Sweetheart, go upstairs and stay in your room. I'll come get you in a minute.""
She nodded and disappeared.
I turned back toward Vanessa.
"Did you marry me for my money?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Marcus, it wasn't like that.""
"Then explain the wedding.""
She looked at Richard.
He rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa had plans to divorce you after the trust transfer. She thought she could claim a portion of the marital assets and keep control of the money she'd moved.""
I felt physically sick.
"How long have you been planning this?""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"I loved you.""
"How long?""
She finally whispered, "Before we got married.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I remembered our wedding day.
Lily had been six years old. She had carried flowers down the aisle and proudly called Vanessa her new stepmother.
After the ceremony, Vanessa had promised Sarah's memory would always be respected.
I had believed her.
I had trusted her with my daughter's heart.
And now I was learning that the entire marriage might have been a financial scheme.
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, we need to focus on protecting Lily and preserving the evidence.""
I nodded.
"Freeze that account.""
"I'm already contacting the bank. The withdrawal request hasn't cleared.""
Vanessa suddenly rushed toward Daniel.
"You can't do that!""
He stepped back.
"The funds are potentially connected to a disputed trust. The bank will need to investigate.""
"That money belongs to me!""
I stared at her.
"How?""
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Richard laughed.
"Tell him about the transfer from Sarah's insurance policy.""
I turned toward him.
"What insurance policy?""
Vanessa's eyes filled with panic.
"Richard, please.""
He pulled another sheet from the folder.
"Sarah had a life insurance policy. Marcus was the primary beneficiary, but she created a separate provision for Lily. Vanessa obtained a copy of the policy after the funeral.""
Daniel took the paper.
"That's not the original policy.""
"No," Richard replied.
"It's the amendment.""
Daniel examined it.
Then his expression changed.
"This signature is not Sarah's.""
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't forge anything!""
Richard pointed at her.
"You told me you had someone who could authenticate it.""
I looked at my wife.
"Who?""
She said nothing.
Daniel photographed the document.
"We'll investigate that separately.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"How much money did you take from Sarah's insurance?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Nothing.""
Richard answered for her.
"Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
My hands curled into fists.
"You stole from my daughter's mother?""
Vanessa screamed back.
"She was dead! What was I supposed to do? Spend the rest of my life living under the shadow of a woman who wasn't even here?""
I stared at her.
"Sarah wasn't your competition.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"She controlled everything. Even after she died, you kept her photographs, her belongings, her daughter's needs. I couldn't even have one birthday picture without her being part of it!""
I looked toward the staircase.
Then I said the words I had been avoiding.
"You need to leave this house.""
Vanessa stared at me.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
"This is my home!""
"It's the home where Lily has been made to feel unwanted. You're leaving tonight.""
She looked at Daniel.
"You can't just throw me out.""
Daniel answered calmly.
"That's a matter for the appropriate legal process. But Marcus can certainly take immediate steps to protect his daughter and secure the property.""
Richard picked up his briefcase.
"I'm leaving.""
"Not so fast," Daniel said.
"The bank will need your cooperation regarding the disputed transfers.""
Richard stopped.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen and immediately stepped away.
"Hello?""
His expression changed as he listened.
"What do you mean, they received another instruction?""
He looked at Vanessa.
"Who else knows about the account?""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Richard ended the call.
Then he turned toward me.
"Marcus, there's a problem.""
"What now?""
He swallowed.
"The account isn't the only place Sarah's money went.""
Daniel frowned.
"Explain.""
Richard looked at Vanessa.
She began backing toward the staircase.
"Marcus," Richard whispered, "there's a property registered in Lily's name. And Vanessa has already arranged to sell it.""
My heart stopped.
Because I knew the property he was talking about.
Sarah had left Lily a small lakefront house in North Georgia.
May you like
A place where she had dreamed of taking our daughter every summer.
And according to Richard, someone had already sold it.
