Chapter 7: His Mother’s Secret
Marcus stared at his mother.
The ballroom seemed to disappear around him.
All he could see was the silver watch on her wrist.
The ring.
The same ring in Maya’s frozen video.
His mother slowly walked away from the head table.
“Mom?””
She stopped.
Vanessa whispered, “Mrs. Reed…”
Marcus turned sharply.
“You knew?””
His mother looked at him.
“I knew enough.””
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“How much is enough?””
She glanced at Vanessa.
“More than you.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
His mother pointed at her.
“She came into this family knowing about the trust.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Mom, stop.””
“No. You deserve the truth.””
She walked toward the center of the ballroom.
Guests moved aside.
Marcus followed.
His mother looked at Maya.
“You found the recordings.””
Maya nodded.
“Yes.””
“You found Derrick.””
“Yes.””
“And you found Rochelle.””
Rochelle stepped forward.
“I found you too.””
Marcus looked between them.
“You all knew each other?””
His mother gave a tired smile.
“Not the way you think.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Nothing tonight is the way I think.””
His mother reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small envelope.
Marcus stared at it.
“What is that?””
“Something your father gave me before he died.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You had another letter?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because your father told me not to.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What did it say?””
His mother looked at Vanessa.
“It said that if you ever became engaged to someone who knew about the trust, I was supposed to investigate her.””
Vanessa started crying.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“You investigated Vanessa?””
“I did.””
“And?””
His mother’s voice hardened.
“She had already contacted Derrick.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I was trying to get out.””
Marcus turned.
“Get out of what?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“He threatened me.””
His mother answered before Marcus could.
“He did.””
Everyone went silent.
Marcus frowned.
“You believe her?””
“I know what Derrick did.””
His mother looked at Maya.
“And so does she.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
Maya lowered her phone.
“Your mother hired me.””
Marcus stared.
“You?””
Maya nodded.
“I wasn't really working the wedding.””
Vanessa whispered, “I knew it.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Then what were you doing?””
“Protecting you.””
He shook his head.
“You were a waitress.””
“I needed to be close enough to record everything.””
“You knew Vanessa was planning this.””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“When?””
Maya looked down.
“Three weeks ago.””
Marcus felt betrayed all over again.
“You watched me walk into this wedding knowing what was happening.””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to get enough proof before I confronted her.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“And you let me marry her anyway?””
His mother’s voice softened.
“We didn't know whether she was working alone.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Who else was involved?””
His mother didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“Derrick.””
“No,” his mother said.
Everyone turned.
She looked directly at Marcus.
“Derrick wasn't the one controlling this.””
Marcus's stomach tightened.
“Then who was?””
His mother slowly turned toward the guests.
The ballroom was packed with people Marcus trusted.
Friends.
Relatives.
Business partners.
Old family friends.
Then she pointed.
“Mr. Collins.””
An older Black man near the bar froze.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
His father's former attorney.
The man who had handled the estate after his father's death.
Marcus whispered, “You?””
Collins smiled faintly.
“I was wondering when she would tell you.””
His mother stepped in front of Marcus.
“You have no right to be here.””
Collins adjusted his cuff.
“I was invited.””
Marcus stared.
“By Vanessa?””
Collins smiled.
“By someone with far more authority.””
Vanessa looked confused.
“Who?””
Collins reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a folded document.
Marcus's mother went pale.
Collins held it up.
“Your father amended the trust six months before his death.””
Rochelle stepped forward.
“That isn't possible.””
“It is.””
She took the document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
“No.””
Marcus took it from her.
He read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His father's signature was at the bottom.
Marcus's face drained.
“What does this mean?””
Rochelle whispered, “It means the trust has a second condition.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What condition?””
She swallowed.
“The beneficiary doesn't receive the money simply by marrying.””
Marcus's eyes moved to Vanessa.
“Then what?””
Rochelle looked at Collins.
“It has to be a marriage approved by the trustee.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who is the trustee?””
Collins smiled.
“I am.””
A murmur swept through the ballroom.
Marcus stared at him.
“You're lying.””
Collins shook his head.
“Your father trusted me.””
“My father hated you.””
“He hated what I knew.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What did you know?””
Collins leaned forward.
“That he didn't die naturally.””
The ballroom fell silent.
Marcus stopped breathing.
His mother whispered, “Don't.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What did he just say?””
She closed her eyes.
Collins smiled.
“Ask your mother what happened the night your father died.””
His mother suddenly screamed.
“Enough!””
Every guest jumped.
She turned toward Marcus.
Tears were running down her face.
“Your father wasn't killed by Derrick.””
Marcus stared.
“Then who killed him?””
May you like
She looked directly at him.
“I did.””
