Chapter 7: The Confession in Room 412
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and burnt coffee.
I stood outside Room 412, staring through the narrow glass window at Vanessa Whitmore.
She looked nothing like the woman who had walked into my bridal suite wearing a champagne-colored gown.
Her perfectly styled blonde hair was tangled against the pillow. An IV ran into her left hand, and a heart monitor beeped steadily beside her bed.
Marcus stood near the window.
He hadn't shaved. His shirt was wrinkled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
When he saw me, he stepped forward.
"Nia.""
I didn't move.
"Why did you call me?""
He glanced toward his mother.
"She won't speak to anyone else.""
"That's interesting. She seemed perfectly comfortable speaking to me yesterday.""
"Nia, please.""
I folded my arms.
"Your mother destroyed my wedding dress. She stole my mother's letter. She tried to interfere with my inheritance. And now I'm supposed to come here because she wants to talk?""
Marcus looked down.
"I know.""
"No, I don't think you do.""
He swallowed.
"She had a panic attack after arguing with my father last night. Then she collapsed this morning. The doctors say she's stable, but she's been demanding to see you.""
"Why?""
"She says there's something you need to know.""
I looked through the window again.
Vanessa was awake.
Her eyes were fixed on me.
She slowly lifted one hand and motioned for me to come inside.
I hesitated.
Then I entered.
The moment I stepped beside her bed, she began crying.
"Nia.""
I said nothing.
She reached toward me.
I stepped back.
"Don't.""
Her hand dropped.
"I know you hate me.""
"You have no idea.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"I made mistakes.""
I stared at her.
"Cutting my mother's wedding dress into pieces was a mistake?""
Her lips trembled.
"I didn't know you would find the footage.""
I let out a bitter laugh.
"That's what you're sorry about?""
She closed her eyes.
Marcus moved closer.
"Mom, just tell her what you told me.""
Vanessa looked at her son.
"Your father is coming.""
"Edward?"" Marcus asked.
She nodded.
"He's going to destroy everything.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Then tell us what happened twenty years ago.""
Vanessa looked toward the door.
"Not with him here.""
I pulled a chair closer to the bed.
"Start talking.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your mother and I were friends. Real friends, Nia. She was the first person who ever helped me without asking for something in return.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you betray her?""
Vanessa began twisting the hospital blanket between her fingers.
"Edward had debts. He was involved with people who were threatening him. He asked me to help move money through accounts that looked legitimate.""
"And my mother found out.""
"Yes.""
"She offered you a way out.""
Vanessa nodded.
"She wanted me to testify. She said she would protect me.""
I leaned forward.
"And you chose Edward.""
"I was afraid.""
"So you helped him.""
Vanessa began crying harder.
"Yes.""
Marcus turned away.
I watched him.
He looked as though every word was tearing something out of him.
"Why did you destroy my dress?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"Because I believed the key was sewn into the original lace.""
My stomach tightened.
"You knew about the key.""
"Your mother told me about it years ago. She thought I was still her friend.""
I gripped the edge of the chair.
"Did you find it?""
"No.""
"Then why take the dress?""
"I thought I could search it before you arrived. I thought I could remove the key and destroy anything that connected me to the original documents.""
"Where is my mother's letter?""
Vanessa looked away.
"I gave it to Edward.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"You what?""
"He said he needed it.""
"What did he need it for?""
Vanessa started shaking.
"To prove that Thomas had been involved in the fraud.""
I looked at her.
"My father was innocent.""
"I know that now.""
"Now?""
She covered her face.
"I always knew Thomas wasn't the one who stole the money. Edward forged his signature. Your mother discovered it.""
Marcus looked sick.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father told me that if I ever exposed him, he would make sure you lost everything.""
I stood.
"Then why are you telling me now?""
Vanessa lowered her hands.
"Because Edward is going to kill Thomas.""
The room went completely silent.
My father had been sitting in the hospital waiting area with James and Olivia.
I pulled out my phone.
"Where is he?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Then how do you know?""
She looked at Marcus.
"Your father received a call this morning. He said the original ledger was about to surface.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"Who called him?""
"I don't know.""
I immediately called my father.
He answered on the second ring.
"Nia?""
"Where are you?""
"At the hospital. What's wrong?""
"Edward knows about the ledger.""
A pause.
Then my father said, "Get away from Vanessa.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because she isn't telling you everything.""
I turned toward the bed.
Vanessa was staring at me.
Her face had gone white.
My father continued.
"Listen carefully. Edward has been looking for the original ledger, but that's not the only thing he's after.""
"What else?""
"Your mother's final recording.""
I stared at Vanessa.
"What recording?""
My father lowered his voice.
"Your mother recorded a conversation the night she disappeared.""
I stopped breathing.
"Disappeared?""
There was a long silence.
Then he corrected himself.
"The night she died.""
Vanessa suddenly began pulling at her IV.
Marcus rushed toward her.
"Mom! Stop!""
She pushed his hand away.
"He's lying!""
I turned.
"Who is?""
"Thomas!""
She looked at me with terrified eyes.
"Your father knows exactly what happened that night.""
My father was still on the phone.
"Nia, leave that room.""
Vanessa grabbed the bedrail.
"Your mother didn't die in an accident!""
Her voice cracked.
"She was murdered!""
Marcus froze.
I felt the floor disappear beneath my feet.
Then Vanessa looked straight at me and whispered:
"And the person who drove the car that night was not Edward.""
May you like
She pointed toward the doorway.
"It was your father.""
