Chapter 6: The Betrayal Before the Wedding
I read the name again.
Nia Carter.
My fingers tightened around the letter.
“No.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“What does it say?””
I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t.
Because my mind was trying to rewrite the last two years of my life.
Every conversation.
Every smile.
Every moment I thought was real.
Nia knew.
That was what the letter said.
My father claimed someone close to me had known about the inheritance, the family secrets, and Ethan.
And that person was my fiancée.
My future wife.
The woman who stood beneath our wedding canopy and screamed at my mother.
“Marcus?””
Vanessa’s voice pulled me back.
“How did she know?””
I looked at the letter.
“I don’t know.””
But deep down, I already had a suspicion.
I thought about the first time Nia asked about my father’s trust.
The way she casually mentioned it.
The way she said, “It’s strange that your family never talks about money.””
I thought it was curiosity.
Now it sounded different.
Like investigation.
My phone rang.
Andre.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“What?””
His voice was nervous.
“Marcus, where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because you need to hear this from me before Nia tells you her version.””
My jaw tightened.
“You still have something to hide?””
“I’m trying to fix what I helped create.””
“Too late.””
A long silence.
Then he said:
“Nia didn’t find the documents by accident.””
I stood still.
“What?””
“She was looking for them.””
“Why?””
Andre exhaled.
“Because someone told her.””
“Who?””
Another silence.
“Your father’s old attorney.””
I frowned.
“My father’s attorney died years ago.””
“No.””
Andre’s voice dropped.
“He didn’t.””
I felt a chill.
“What are you talking about?””
“He changed his name. Moved states. Started over.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She noticed my expression.
“What happened?””
I ignored her.
“Where is he?””
Andre hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
“Find out.””
“Marcus—”
“Find out.””
I ended the call.
Vanessa stared at me.
“Your father’s attorney knew?””
“Apparently.””
She sat down slowly.
“This is bigger than Nia.””
I looked outside.
At the quiet street.
At the house where my father’s hidden life existed.
“You knew my father had another son.””
She nodded.
“You knew my mother knew.””
Another nod.
“You knew Nia knew.””
Her eyes widened.
“No.””
I looked at the letter.
“She knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“Why?””
“Because Nia came to me pretending she wanted to help Ethan.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Vanessa looked confused.
“She said she wanted to make sure Ethan received what your father promised him.””
The pieces shifted again.
Nia wasn’t just after my inheritance.
She had been playing everyone.
Including Vanessa.
I grabbed my phone and called her.
She answered after one ring.
“Marcus?””
Her voice sounded broken.
I almost believed it.
Almost.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“At home.””
“Alone?””
Another pause.
“Why?””
I looked at the letter.
“Because I know about Ethan.””
Silence.
Then:
“Marcus…”
“And I know you knew.””
Her breathing changed.
“Nia.””
“Please let me explain.””
“No.””
My voice was calm.
That scared her.
“Meet me.””
“Marcus—”
“Bring Andre.””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Because I want to hear both of you explain why you destroyed my life.””
I ended the call.
But before I put the phone away, a message arrived.
From Andre.
May you like
One sentence.
*Marcus, don’t meet Nia alone. She knows something about your father’s death that nobody else knows.*
