Chapter 5 - BROOKE CAME BACK FOR THE WEDDING ANYWAYSaturday morning arrived.
The day Dominic was supposed to marry Brooke.
The mansion should have been filled with flowers.
Music.
Champagne.
Instead, security stood at every entrance.
Natalie thought the matter was over.
Dominic knew better.
At 10:14 a.m., a white Bentley appeared at the gate.
Brooke.
Wearing her wedding dress.
Dominic almost laughed when security called him.
She actually came.
“Let her in,” he said.
Natalie stared.
“Why?”
“Because she thinks she still has leverage.”
Brooke walked into the grand foyer carrying a bouquet.
Behind her came her mother.
Her brother.
Two attorneys.
She looked at Dominic.
“You’re embarrassing yourself.”
He leaned against the staircase.
“You wore the dress.”
“I’m getting married today.”
“No, you’re not.”
One attorney stepped forward.
“Mr. Mercer, Miss Langley has certain contractual rights—”
Dominic held up one hand.
The attorney stopped.
Brooke smiled.
“You signed a prenuptial agreement.”
“I did.”
“You also signed property restructuring documents.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
“What documents?”
Her attorney opened a folder.
More signatures.
Dominic’s.
Again.
Apparently transferring management rights over several Mercer assets after marriage.
Marcus took the pages.
His face changed.
“Forged.”
Brooke laughed.
“Prove it.”
Dominic smiled.
That unsettled her.
“I intend to.”
Then the front doors opened.
Not guests.
Federal financial investigators.
State police.
And two attorneys representing the trust.
Brooke’s bouquet slowly lowered.
Dominic said:
“You really picked the wrong Saturday.”
Investigators served warrants connected to fraud, forgery, and suspected theft from the trust.
Brooke’s mother began shouting.
Her brother backed away.
Brooke looked at Dominic.
“You did this.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You did.”
The same lesson he had given her Thursday.
But then Brooke smiled.
“You still don’t know everything.”
“What?”
“Ask your sister about Ethan.”
Natalie froze.
Dominic turned.
Brooke saw it.
That was what she wanted.
One final wound.
“What about Ethan?” Dominic asked.
Brooke smiled.
“Your sister’s dead husband knew about the missing money before I ever did.”
Natalie went white.
Dominic stared at her.
“Natalie?”
May you like
She whispered:
“She’s telling the truth.”
