Chapter 6: The Letter He Never Received
Marcus held the envelope in both hands.
The ballroom had gone silent again.
Even the guests who had been whispering moments earlier were watching him now.
The guard stood a few feet away.
Rochelle remained beside the table.
Maya watched Vanessa.
And Vanessa looked like she was about to collapse.
Marcus turned the envelope over.
The seal was unbroken.
His father's handwriting was unmistakable.
Marcus whispered, “How long have you had this?””
The guard answered, “Since yesterday morning.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“I was told not to.””
“By who?””
The guard looked at Vanessa.
Marcus followed his gaze.
Vanessa shook her head.
“Marcus, I didn't—”
“Who?””
The guard said, “Your bride.””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“You told him not to give me my father's letter?””
“I didn't know what it was.””
“You knew enough to stop me from getting it.””
“I was scared.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't hear anything.
Then he opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten letter.
His father's handwriting filled the page.
Marcus read silently.
His face changed.
Maya noticed.
“What does it say?””
Marcus looked up.
“My father knew.””
Vanessa whispered, “Knew what?””
Marcus held the letter tighter.
“He knew someone might try to marry me for the inheritance.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“He knew.””
“Marcus, please listen.””
“He wrote this before he died.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
Marcus moved away.
She stopped.
Rochelle spoke.
“Your father asked me to watch the trust.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because he didn't want you to live suspiciously.””
Marcus looked back at the letter.
“He wanted me to find out for myself.””
Rochelle nodded.
Marcus continued reading.
Then his eyes stopped on one paragraph.
He read it again.
And again.
“What?””
Maya stepped closer.
Marcus looked at her.
“He didn't name Vanessa as the person he was worried about.””
“Then who?””
Marcus slowly lowered the letter.
“Derrick.””
Vanessa's face changed.
Rochelle nodded.
“Your father knew about him.””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“You've known Derrick for years.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“You said you met him six months ago.””
“I lied.””
Marcus's voice became almost a whisper.
“How long?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Three years.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Three years.
Before the engagement.
Before the wedding.
Before she ever told him she loved him.
Maya asked quietly, “Why would your father know him?””
Marcus looked at Rochelle.
Rochelle answered.
“Because Derrick worked for him.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“Derrick was one of your father's financial consultants.””
Marcus looked toward the ballroom entrance.
Derrick was gone again.
Marcus turned to the guard.
“Where did he go?””
The guard shook his head.
“He left through the service corridor.””
Maya's expression tightened.
“He's running.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Why?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Why is Derrick running?””
Her shoulders shook.
“I don't know.””
Marcus walked closer.
“You're lying again.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“He knows about the trust.””
“What does he know?””
“That the money isn't yours.””
Marcus frowned.
“It isn't?””
“Not yet.””
Rochelle nodded.
“Your father placed the money under a conditional trust.””
Marcus looked at the letter.
“So the money can't be touched.””
“Not unless the conditions are met.””
“What conditions?””
Rochelle hesitated.
“Marriage.””
Marcus's stomach dropped.
“You mean…”
“The trust transfers into your control only after a legitimate marriage.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She whispered, “Yes.””
“But if the marriage was fraudulent?””
“The trust freezes.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“So Derrick needed me to marry Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
“And then he needed her to access the account.””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at the ruined cake.
The silver gown.
The scattered frosting.
The guests.
Everything suddenly seemed grotesquely staged.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Did you ever love me?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Marcus waited.
Finally she whispered, “I did.””
“When?””
Her tears fell.
“Before the money.””
“And after?””
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus nodded slowly.
That was answer enough.
Then Maya stepped beside him.
“Marcus.””
He turned.
She was holding her phone.
The screen showed another video.
“There's one more thing.””
Marcus stared at it.
“What?””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“This is why she tried to take my phone.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
“Maya, don't.””
Maya pressed PLAY.
The video showed Vanessa and Derrick inside the ballroom earlier that evening.
Derrick handed Vanessa an envelope.
But this time, Marcus saw something he hadn't noticed before.
A third person stood behind them.
Only their silhouette was visible.
Marcus leaned toward the screen.
“Stop.””
Maya paused it.
Marcus pointed.
“Zoom in.””
Maya enlarged the image.
The silhouette became clearer.
A black suit.
A silver watch.
A distinctive ring.
Marcus's breath caught.
He knew that ring.
He had seen it every Sunday for the past five years.
Marcus slowly turned toward the guests.
His mother was standing near the head table.
And on her right hand was the same silver watch.
The same ring.
Marcus stared at her.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't shocked.
She was simply watching him.
Then his mother smiled.
May you like
And said,
“You finally found out.””
