Chapter 8: The First Wife Wasn't the First Victim
Ethan refused to leave the office until Daniel arrived.
Twenty minutes later, Daniel entered with Rachel and two attorneys from our company's legal team.
He stopped when he saw Ethan.
"You're Ethan Cole?""
"Yes.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Marcus, we need to talk.""
"About what?""
He placed a folder on the desk.
"We traced several payments from Bennett Strategic Consulting. The money didn't simply go to Patricia.""
Rachel opened her laptop.
"Some of it went to an individual named Vanessa Reed.""
Patricia immediately stood.
"That has nothing to do with this.""
Rachel ignored her.
"Ms. Reed received three payments totaling $62,000 over eighteen months.""
I frowned.
"Who is Vanessa Reed?""
Ethan answered.
"Nia's former business partner.""
I turned toward my wife.
Nia was sitting motionless on the sofa.
"Who is Vanessa?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"She used to work with my mother.""
"Doing what?""
"Marketing.""
Ethan gave a short laugh.
"That's what they told everyone.""
He pulled a chair closer.
"Vanessa was engaged to a man named Andrew Miller. He owned a construction company. Patricia introduced them at a charity event.""
I listened carefully.
"Then what happened?""
"Andrew proposed after six months. Vanessa encouraged him to sign a property agreement before the wedding. He trusted her.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did he sign?""
"Yes. He transferred several properties into a joint holding company. After the marriage, Vanessa convinced him to give her authority over the business accounts.""
Rachel looked at the spreadsheet.
"That sounds familiar.""
Ethan nodded.
"Three months later, Andrew discovered that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been transferred out of the company.""
I stared at Nia.
"Was Vanessa involved in the transfers?""
"Yes.""
"Was Patricia?""
"According to the recordings, she arranged the entire thing.""
Patricia slammed her handbag onto the sofa.
"These are ridiculous accusations!""
Ethan looked at her.
"Then explain why Vanessa received money from your consulting company.""
Patricia's lips tightened.
"She was paid for legitimate services.""
"What services?""
"Business development.""
"She introduced you to wealthy men?""
Patricia said nothing.
I looked at Daniel.
"Find Vanessa.""
"We already did.""
Daniel opened his phone and showed me an email.
Vanessa Reed had contacted our legal department two days earlier.
She wanted to speak to me.
Her message contained a single sentence.
I believe your wife and her mother are using the same scheme they used against my former fiancé.
I read it twice.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"She sent it to our general corporate address. We didn't recognize the connection until this morning.""
"Call her.""
Daniel dialed the number.
The call went to voicemail.
He tried again.
This time, a woman answered.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Reed? This is Daniel Brooks from Carter Technologies. I'm calling about your message concerning Marcus Carter.""
There was a pause.
Then she asked:
"Is Marcus with you?""
I took the phone.
"This is Marcus.""
Her breathing became uneven.
"Mr. Carter, I'm sorry.""
"Why?""
"Because I should have contacted you sooner.""
"Do you know Nia Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"Do you know her mother?""
Another pause.
"Very well.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Can you meet us today?""
"I can.""
"Where?""
"There's a coffee shop across from the courthouse. I'll be there in forty minutes.""
She hung up.
Patricia immediately reached for her handbag.
"I'm leaving.""
Daniel stepped toward the door.
"You're welcome to leave, but we need to preserve all the documents.""
Patricia glared at him.
"You have no authority over me.""
"That's true," he replied.
"But the authorities may have questions about several financial transfers.""
Her face changed.
Nia stood.
"Mom, wait.""
Patricia turned.
"Don't say another word.""
For the first time, Nia looked genuinely frightened of her mother.
I noticed.
And I wondered how much of their relationship I had never understood.
Vanessa Reed arrived exactly forty minutes later.
She was in her early forties, with shoulder-length brown hair and a tired expression. She carried a thick envelope and a small recording device.
When she saw Nia through the glass window, she stopped.
"That's her.""
Nia looked up.
Vanessa entered.
"Hello, Nia.""
Nia stood abruptly.
"What are you doing here?""
Vanessa placed her envelope on the table.
"Trying to make sure you don't do to another man what you did to Andrew.""
Nia shook her head.
"You don't know anything about what happened.""
"I know you used my name to open accounts. I know your mother promised me money. And I know Andrew lost his company because I trusted you.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Please start from the beginning.""
She sat down.
"Patricia approached me when I was twenty-nine. She knew I was struggling financially after my divorce. She offered me a position helping with event planning and private client introductions.""
"What kind of clients?""
"Men with money. Men who were successful but lonely. Men who wanted families.""
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa continued.
"At first, I thought it was ordinary matchmaking. Patricia said she knew women who wanted stable relationships. Then she introduced me to Andrew.""
"What happened after the wedding?""
"Patricia started asking questions about his company. She wanted to know how much he earned, what properties he owned, and whether he had family trusts.""
I looked at Nia.
Vanessa nodded.
"After I married Andrew, Patricia encouraged me to become involved in his finances. She said wives should have access to everything.""
"Did she give you documents to sign?""
"Yes.""
Vanessa removed several papers from her envelope.
"She also told me which attorneys to use.""
I recognized the name at the top of one page.
Westbridge Legal.
The same firm involved in my case.
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"Your wife was supposed to be the next successful match.""
The words landed heavily.
I leaned back.
"Supposed to be?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did she marry me?""
Vanessa looked at Nia.
"Because Patricia believed you were worth more than Andrew.""
Nia's eyes filled.
"That's not true.""
Vanessa opened another document.
It was an old spreadsheet.
Several names appeared in separate rows.
Each had a financial estimate, a relationship status, and a set of notes.
I found my own name.
*MARCUS CARTER — ESTIMATED NET WORTH: $18M+.*
Beside it was a note.
**Family trust. No children. Recently bereaved parents.
Emotionally vulnerable. High potential.**
My stomach turned.
Beneath my name was Nia's.
*ASSIGNED CONTACT: NIA BENNETT.*
I stared at the spreadsheet.
"When was this created?""
Vanessa answered quietly.
"Eight months before your first date.""
I looked at Nia.
She was crying silently now.
I pointed to another row.
There was a name I recognized.
Andrew Miller.
Vanessa's former fiancé.
His estimated net worth was lower than mine.
Beside his name was a red note.
*PARTIALLY RECOVERED. ACCOUNT ACCESS REVOKED.*
I looked up.
"How many men?""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"At least six that I know of.""
The café suddenly felt suffocating.
Daniel photographed the spreadsheet.
Rachel began collecting the documents.
Then Vanessa reached into her envelope and removed one final sheet.
"This is why I contacted you.""
It was an internal payment record.
A large transfer had been made to a private account three days before my wedding.
The recipient wasn't Patricia.
It wasn't Nia.
It was an account belonging to Edward Hayes.
I looked at the amount.
$250,000.
"Why would Edward receive this?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Because he's been helping Patricia for years.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Do you have proof?""
Vanessa nodded.
She placed a small recording device on the table.
"I recorded a conversation between Edward and Patricia last year.""
She pressed play.
Edward's voice came through the speaker.
"Once Marcus signs, the trust amendment becomes much harder to challenge.""
Patricia answered:
"And Ethan?""
"He's irrelevant. We only need his identity attached to the filing.""
Then Edward said something that made everyone at the table freeze.
"There's another problem. Marcus's father left a separate document in the safe.""
Patricia asked:
"What document?""
"A letter explaining the original ownership of the company.""
A pause followed.
Then Patricia whispered:
"If Marcus finds that letter, the entire arrangement falls apart.""
The recording ended.
I looked at Daniel.
"What does that mean?""
He was already searching through his phone.
"Marcus, your father's company shares weren't distributed the way we thought.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
A corporate registry document showed an old ownership arrangement.
My father's original controlling shares had been held in a special family structure.
And the final beneficiary was not listed as me.
It was listed as:
*THE CARTER FAMILY LEGACY TRUST — BENEFICIARIES: MARCUS CARTER AND ETHAN COLE.*
I stared at the document.
Then I looked at Ethan.
He looked just as shocked as I was.
"Wait," he whispered.
"My mother never told me about that.""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"There's something else.""
She pointed to the bottom of the page.
A handwritten note had been added.
If either son is threatened or manipulated into transferring his interest, the entire arrangement must be reviewed by the original trustee.
I looked at Daniel.
"Who is the original trustee?""
He read the name.
Then his expression changed.
"Marcus, it's your sister.""
I turned toward Olivia.
She had been standing near the entrance, listening.
Her face was pale.
May you like
And before I could ask her anything, she whispered:
"There's a reason Dad trusted me with those documents.""
