Chapter 2: The Signature I Never Gave
I found Daniel in the hotel's underground parking garage twelve minutes later.
He was standing beside his black SUV, still wearing his best-man suit. His tie hung loose around his collar, and a thick leather folder rested beneath his arm.
He looked at me for several seconds before speaking.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
I repeated the conversation outside the bridal suite.
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he rubbed his forehead.
"Jesus, Marcus.""
He opened the SUV's passenger door.
"Get in.""
I sat beside him while he placed the folder on the center console.
"Three weeks ago, I received an inquiry from a law firm requesting copies of your company's shareholder agreements," he said.
"Which law firm?""
"Westbridge Legal.""
I frowned.
"I've never worked with them.""
"That's what bothered me.""
Daniel opened his laptop and turned the screen toward me.
"They claimed they were representing you in connection with an estate restructuring. They attached a signed authorization form.""
I stared at the document.
My name appeared at the bottom.
My signature appeared beneath it.
But something was wrong.
The final letter in my signature was too rounded. I always wrote it sharply, a habit I had developed years ago.
"That's not my signature.""
"I know.""
Daniel zoomed in.
"Look at the date. This authorization was supposedly signed six weeks ago.""
I leaned closer.
Six weeks ago, I had been in Chicago attending a technology conference.
I remembered because Nia had flown in to join me for the weekend.
She had brought several documents to my hotel room.
She had said they were routine updates.
"Did you investigate Westbridge?""
"I did.""
Daniel closed the laptop.
"The firm exists. But the attorney listed on the authorization doesn't appear to be licensed in our state. And the office address belongs to a virtual mailbox.""
I stared at him.
"So someone created a fake legal representation?""
"That's what it looks like.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried. I called you twice, but Nia answered your phone both times. She said you were busy and would call me back.""
I remembered those calls.
Nia had told me Daniel was overreacting about some corporate paperwork.
She had said he was becoming too protective of me.
I had laughed.
Now I felt sick.
"Did you find out what they wanted?""
Daniel pulled another document from the folder.
"Your father's trust owns a significant portion of your personal investments. Whoever controls the voting rights can influence several decisions involving the properties and certain company distributions.""
"And Nia wanted those rights?""
"More than that.""
He placed a second document beside the first.
"This is a draft of a marital property agreement.""
I scanned the first page.
My eyes stopped at a paragraph near the bottom.
It granted Nia authority to manage certain assets if I became incapacitated or unavailable.
"Unbelievable.""
"Keep reading.""
I turned the page.
The document included a provision giving her temporary voting authority over a portion of my company shares under certain conditions.
It also referenced a property transfer.
My house.
The house my parents had left me.
"Did I sign this?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not according to our records.""
I looked at the signature line.
There it was again.
My name.
A signature that looked almost exactly like mine.
"Someone forged it.""
"Possibly.""
I leaned back against the seat.
The garage smelled of gasoline and damp concrete. Somewhere nearby, an engine started.
"What happens if these documents are submitted?""
"That depends on the document, the signatures, and whether anyone relies on them. But they could create a serious legal mess.""
I covered my face with both hands.
"I was going to give her my grandmother's ring today.""
Daniel said nothing.
For a while, neither of us moved.
Then he reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, I need you to understand something. You don't have to marry her today.""
I looked at the wedding invitation lying on the dashboard.
Two names were printed in elegant gold lettering.
MARCUS CARTER AND NIA BENNETT.
Two hundred guests.
A five-star hotel.
A twelve-foot wedding cake.
Everything I had planned to celebrate the happiest day of my life had become evidence of a betrayal.
"I know," I said.
"Then let's stop this.""
I looked at the clock.
Ten minutes until the ceremony.
"Not yet.""
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"I need to know how far this goes.""
"Marcus—"
"I want the documents secured. I want the attorney identified. And I want to know whether Nia has already transferred anything.""
Daniel stared at me.
"You want to go through with the wedding?""
"I want to understand what she's planning before I decide what happens next.""
He exhaled sharply.
"Fine. But you don't sign anything. Not a single page.""
I nodded.
He picked up his phone.
"I'll call our forensic accountant and have him review the transactions.""
I started to leave.
"Marcus.""
I turned.
Daniel's expression was unusually serious.
"Whatever you do in there, don't let her get you alone with those papers.""
"I won't.""
I returned to the ballroom through the side entrance.
The guests were already standing.
My sister, Olivia, sat in the front row, smiling nervously. When she saw me, she waved.
I forced myself to smile back.
Then the music began.
The doors opened.
Nia appeared at the end of the aisle.
She looked breathtaking.
White silk. A long veil. A bouquet of pale roses.
Every guest turned toward her.
I watched her walk toward me, and for a terrible moment, I remembered the woman I thought I was marrying.
She had once told me that she wanted a simple life.
A little house.
A garden.
Children.
Sunday dinners.
I had promised her all of it.
Now I wondered whether she had ever wanted a life with me or simply a life financed by me.
When she reached the altar, she slipped her hand into mine.
"You're shaking," she whispered.
"Long day.""
She smiled.
"Don't worry. Everything is going to be perfect.""
The officiant began speaking.
I barely heard him.
When he asked whether anyone had an objection, the room remained silent.
Then came the vows.
Nia went first.
"Marcus, you are my home. You are the person I choose today and every day for the rest of my life.""
Her voice trembled beautifully.
A few guests wiped their eyes.
I stared at her.
She looked directly into my eyes.
"I promise to love you, protect you, and stand beside you through everything.""
The words were so convincing that I almost hated myself for believing them.
Then it was my turn.
I looked at the ring in my hand.
I could have dropped it.
I could have walked away.
Instead, I said the words I had prepared.
"I promise to be honest with you, to respect you, and to protect the life we build together.""
Nia smiled.
The officiant declared us married.
The ballroom erupted in applause.
Nia kissed me.
The cameras flashed.
And somewhere in the crowd, Patricia stood with a champagne glass, smiling like a woman who had just won the lottery.
At the reception, she approached us with a cream-colored envelope.
"One little thing before the photographs," she said.
Nia squeezed my arm.
"Baby, remember the documents?""
Patricia handed me a pen.
"Just sign here, Marcus. We can celebrate properly afterward.""
I opened the envelope.
The first page was a property authorization.
The second was a trust amendment.
The third was a transfer of voting authority.
I turned to the last page.
There was a signature already printed beneath my name.
I looked at Patricia.
Then at Nia.
"Interesting," I said quietly.
Nia's smile stiffened.
"What?""
I lifted the page.
"According to this, I signed these documents three weeks ago.""
Patricia's champagne glass stopped halfway to her mouth.
Nia blinked.
"Well, yes. You did.""
I nodded slowly.
"Then why are you asking me to sign them again?""
Neither woman answered.
And before Nia could recover, my phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
*MARCUS, WE FOUND THE ACCOUNT THAT RECEIVED THE MONEY. IT'S NOT NIA'S. IT BELONGS TO SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY.*
I looked up.
May you like
Across the ballroom, Olivia was watching me.
And she was crying.
