Chapter 8: The Confession
Marcus couldn't move.
His mother's confession hung in the ballroom like smoke.
“I did.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Rochelle stepped backward.
Maya lowered her phone.
Even Collins looked surprised.
Marcus whispered, “What?””
His mother stared at him.
“I didn't mean to.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“It was an accident.””
“No.””
“I need you to listen.””
“You said you killed Dad.””
“I said I caused his death.””
Marcus's breathing became uneven.
“What happened?””
His mother looked toward the wedding cake.
For the first time that night, she looked old.
Tired.
Broken.
“Your father discovered the trust was being manipulated.””
Marcus stared at Collins.
His mother continued.
“He found payments. Missing documents. Accounts Derrick had been using.””
Collins interrupted.
“And he confronted me.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You were involved?””
Collins didn't deny it.
“Your father was going to destroy everything.””
His mother shook her head.
“He was going to expose us.””
Marcus stepped back.
“Us?””
She nodded.
“Me. Collins. Derrick.””
Vanessa whispered, “I didn't know.””
His mother looked at her.
“You knew enough.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I only knew about the money.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Then why were you working with Derrick?””
“He came to me.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew I had access to you.””
Marcus stared.
She continued.
“He told me if I didn't help him, he'd send the recordings to you.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“What recordings?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“The ones from before Marcus and I met.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“What did you do before we met?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I was with Derrick.””
Marcus said nothing.
“I was young. I was stupid.””
“You said three years.””
“I lied.””
“How long?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Seven years.””
Marcus looked away.
The woman he had planned to spend his life with had apparently built an entire second life around him.
His mother stepped closer.
“Marcus, I tried to stop your father.””
“How?””
“I took the trust documents.””
“Why?””
“Because Collins told me we could protect ourselves.””
Collins shook his head.
“Don't put this on me.””
His mother glared at him.
“You threatened my son.””
Collins's expression hardened.
“I threatened no one.””
Maya suddenly held up her phone.
“You threatened Vanessa.””
Collins looked at her.
“What?””
Maya played a recording.
Collins's voice came through the speaker.
“If Marcus marries her, the trust becomes vulnerable.””
Derrick's voice answered.
“And if he doesn't?””
“Then make sure he has a reason to stay.””
The recording stopped.
Marcus looked at Collins.
“You orchestrated this.””
Collins shook his head.
“I advised them.””
“You manipulated my fiancée.””
“I gave her options.””
“You blackmailed her.””
“She was already compromised.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“And you agreed.””
Vanessa nodded through her tears.
“Yes.””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I loved you.””
“No.””
Vanessa flinched.
“You loved what I could give you.””
“I loved you before I knew about the money.””
“But you knew about it.””
She lowered her eyes.
“And that changed everything.””
Marcus looked toward Maya.
She was standing silently beside him.
He noticed something.
A small bruise on her wrist.
From Vanessa's earlier attack.
Marcus gently took her arm.
“Are you okay?””
Maya nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa looked at them.
Something bitter crossed her face.
Marcus noticed.
“Don't.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I wasn't going to say anything.””
“You've said enough.””
His mother stepped forward.
“Marcus, there's one more thing.””
He turned.
She held out her phone.
“Your father recorded our final argument.””
Marcus stared.
“You have it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he sent it to me after.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“After what?””
She swallowed.
“After I pushed him.””
Marcus froze.
“You pushed him?””
“He fell.””
“Where?””
“Down the stairs.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Our house didn't have stairs like that.””
His mother shook her head.
“It wasn't our house.””
Rochelle suddenly looked frightened.
Marcus noticed.
“Where?””
His mother whispered, “Your father's office.””
Marcus frowned.
“The office was destroyed.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Collins answered.
“Because we thought the recording was inside.””
Maya looked at her phone.
“But it wasn't.””
Everyone turned.
Maya smiled sadly.
“I found it.””
Marcus stared.
“You have the recording?””
“Yes.””
“Play it.””
Maya hesitated.
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus…”
“Play it.””
Maya pressed the screen.
Static filled the ballroom.
Then his father's voice.
“If you're hearing this, something happened tonight.””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
His father's voice continued.
“I know who is trying to take the trust.””
A pause.
Then:
“But I also know who will stop them.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
She was crying.
His father continued.
“Marcus has always trusted the wrong people.””
The recording crackled.
Then his father's voice became clearer.
“The person who will save him is not family.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
His father continued.
“She is the woman I hired to protect my son.””
Maya's face went pale.
Marcus stared at her.
“You?””
Maya didn't speak.
The recording continued.
“And if Marcus ever hears this after his wedding…”
A long silence.
Then his father said:
“…he must not trust his wife.””
The recording ended.
Vanessa collapsed into a chair.
Marcus stood frozen.
Maya looked at him.
“I was supposed to give you that recording before the ceremony.””
Marcus whispered, “Why didn't you?””
Maya looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Because someone took it from me.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
Maya didn't answer.
Instead, she looked behind him.
Marcus turned.
The security guard who had delivered his father's letter was gone.
So was Collins.
The ballroom doors were closing.
May you like
And on the floor beneath them was Maya's missing phone.
The screen was still recording.
