Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Wedding
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Marcus held the phone against his ear.
"What are you talking about, Grandpa?""
The voice on the other end sounded weak but furious.
"Your mother knows exactly what I'm talking about.""
Vanessa stepped toward him.
"Give me that phone.""
Marcus turned away.
"Not now, Mom.""
"Marcus, your grandfather is confused.""
"I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself," the old man snapped through the speaker.
I recognized the voice.
Richard Whitmore.
Marcus's eighty-one-year-old grandfather.
I had met him only twice, but unlike Vanessa, he had always treated me kindly.
At our engagement dinner, he had raised his glass and told everyone that I reminded him of his late wife.
Vanessa had nearly dropped her fork.
Now Richard was speaking again.
"Son, listen carefully. Find the blue folder in my study. Don't let your mother get near it.""
Marcus swallowed.
"What's in the folder?""
"The truth about your inheritance.""
Vanessa lunged toward the phone.
Marcus moved away.
"Grandpa, I'm coming over.""
"Not alone," Richard said.
"Bring Nia.""
Vanessa's face went white.
"That is enough!""
The call ended.
For a moment, the only sound in the suite was the air-conditioning.
Then Marcus turned toward his mother.
"What did you do?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Your grandfather has been getting confused lately. He's being manipulated.""
"By whom?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Who do you think?""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You destroyed my mother's dress, and now you're blaming me for your problems?""
"I did not destroy anything.""
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Ma'am, we have footage showing you entering the room before the damage was discovered.""
Vanessa pointed at him.
"You're a hotel employee. You have no idea what you're involved in.""
Daniel remained calm.
"That's why I'm documenting everything.""
Marcus looked at the dress again.
Then he crouched and picked up a small piece of lace.
I watched his fingers close around it.
"Mom, tell me you didn't do this.""
Vanessa's expression softened.
"Marcus, sweetheart. I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
"From a woman who wants to marry into our family.""
I stared at her.
"That's enough.""
"No, Nia. You don't get to dictate what happens in this family.""
Marcus stood.
"She is my fiancée.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Exactly. And you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life.""
He looked at me.
For a second, I thought he would finally defend me.
Instead, he said, "Nia, perhaps we should postpone the ceremony until we understand what's happening.""
I stared at him.
"Postpone?""
"Just for tonight.""
"Your mother destroys the last thing I have from my mother, and your solution is to postpone our wedding?""
"I didn't say I agree with her.""
"You haven't said anything against her either.""
Marcus looked down.
That silence told me more than his words ever could.
I walked toward the window.
Below us, the hotel courtyard was glowing with white lights. Guests were taking photographs near the flower arch. The string quartet continued playing the song I had chosen for my entrance.
People were waiting for me.
Some had traveled across the country.
My best friend, Olivia, had flown in from Seattle.
My father had taken the morning train because he wanted to arrive early enough to see me before the ceremony.
And somewhere downstairs, there was an empty chair reserved for my mother.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass.
Marcus came closer.
"Nia.""
"Please don't.""
"I love you.""
I turned.
"Then why am I standing here defending myself while your mother gets to destroy my life?""
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Olivia appeared.
Where are you? Your dad is asking for you. The ceremony starts in thirty minutes.
I typed a reply.
Come upstairs. Please.
Three minutes later, Olivia burst through the door.
She stopped when she saw the dress.
"Oh, my God.""
She rushed toward me.
"Nia, what happened?""
I couldn't speak.
I simply pointed at Vanessa.
Olivia's expression changed.
"Did you do this?""
Vanessa looked offended.
"Excuse me?""
"Did you destroy her dress?""
"Watch your tone, young lady.""
Olivia stepped between us.
"My tone? Look at what you've done!""
Marcus rubbed his temples.
"Can everyone calm down?""
Olivia turned toward him.
"Don't you dare ask her to calm down.""
Vanessa picked up her clutch.
"This conversation is over.""
Daniel stepped toward the door.
"Ms. Whitmore, I still need a statement.""
She ignored him and walked out.
But before leaving, she stopped beside Marcus.
"Your grandfather is not thinking clearly. Remember that.""
Then she disappeared into the hallway.
Olivia watched her go.
"That woman is unbelievable.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Are you going with her?""
He hesitated.
Then he looked at his phone.
"I need to call Grandpa.""
"Of course you do.""
"Nia, please.""
I nodded toward the door.
"Go.""
He looked as though he wanted to argue, but eventually he left.
The moment the door closed, Olivia wrapped her arms around me.
I finally broke.
I cried into her shoulder until my knees weakened again.
"I can't believe she did this," I whispered.
Olivia held me tighter.
"You're not marrying that family just because you spent six months planning a wedding.""
I looked at the dress.
"I spent six months restoring it.""
My mother had bought the original gown from a small bridal shop in Boston. After she died, I found it in a storage box with a handwritten letter tucked inside.
The lace around the neckline was her favorite part.
She had once told me that she chose it because it reminded her of ocean waves.
When I redesigned the dress, I kept those original lace details.
I had even asked the seamstress to preserve every original pearl she could.
Now they were scattered across the carpet.
Olivia followed my gaze.
"We can still fix something.""
I shook my head.
"Not in time.""
She looked at the ruined train.
"Then we find something else.""
Before I could answer, Daniel knocked.
"Ms. Carter?""
I wiped my eyes.
"Yes?""
He entered carrying a small cardboard box.
"We found this in the service corridor.""
He placed it on the table.
Inside was a torn piece of paper.
I recognized Vanessa's handwriting immediately.
It was the same elegant script she used on birthday cards.
There were only three lines.
If she wears that dress, the ceremony cannot happen.
Marcus must understand what is at stake.
Make sure the original document is gone.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
Olivia leaned over my shoulder.
"What original document?""
I looked at Daniel.
"Where exactly did you find this?""
"Near the service elevator. It appears to have been torn from a larger sheet.""
My hands began trembling again.
Then I remembered something.
The letter.
My mother's letter had been placed inside the garment box with the dress.
I had taken it out earlier that afternoon because I wanted to read it before walking down the aisle.
I had left it inside the top drawer of the dressing table.
I rushed toward it.
The drawer was open.
The envelope was gone.
"Daniel," I whispered.
"Can you check the footage again?""
"Of course.""
"Look at what she was carrying when she entered the room the second time.""
He enlarged the recording.
Vanessa entered at 3:26.
She left at 3:37.
This time, something small was visible beneath her pearl clutch.
A cream-colored envelope.
My mother's letter.
I felt sick.
"She took it.""
Olivia looked at me.
"Why would she want your mother's letter?""
I stared at the handwritten note.
Make sure the original document is gone.
The pieces were beginning to connect.
But I didn't know what document Vanessa was talking about.
Then my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke quietly.
"Ms. Carter? My name is James Whitmore. I'm Richard's attorney.""
I straightened.
"Yes?""
"I understand your wedding has been interrupted.""
I looked at the destroyed dress.
"That's one way to describe it.""
He paused.
"Your mother left something with Mr. Whitmore many years ago. Something he was supposed to give you on your wedding day.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"The document your future mother-in-law is looking for.""
I gripped the phone.
"What document?""
May you like
James lowered his voice.
"Your mother's original trust agreement.""
