Chapter 4: The Envelope My Mother Kept Hidden
My mother stood beneath the stained-glass windows, holding an envelope addressed to the man I had almost married.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
The church was so quiet I could hear the soft ticking of the clock above the entrance.
"Mom," I whispered.
"What is that?""
She looked down at the envelope.
"Something I should have destroyed years ago.""
Marcus took one step toward her.
"Patricia, give it to me.""
My mother tightened her grip.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do.""
It was the first time I had ever heard her speak to Marcus that way.
He stopped.
I moved closer.
"Why does that envelope have his name on it?""
My mother swallowed.
"Because your father wanted him to have it.""
Marcus's face changed.
Daniel, the attorney, immediately looked up.
"Mrs. Carter, do you know what's inside?""
She nodded.
"Yes. I know exactly what's inside.""
"Then why haven't you given it to him?""
My mother looked at me.
"Because I was afraid of what would happen to you.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Mom, I'm standing in a church where my fiancé's affair has been displayed above an altar. I've discovered that someone stole my inheritance. My cousin apparently helped him. I think we're past protecting me from unpleasant information.""
A few guests shifted.
My mother closed her eyes.
Then she handed me the envelope.
"Read it yourself.""
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter and a small photograph.
The photograph showed my father sitting behind his desk at Carter Development.
Across from him sat Marcus's father, Richard Reed.
Both men looked serious.
On the back, my father had written:
The day Richard asked me to sell my daughter.
I read the words again.
"Sell me?""
My mother nodded.
"Your father discovered that Richard had been using the construction company to secure loans against properties he didn't own. When Robert confronted him, Richard threatened to destroy the business.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"That would explain several irregularities in the original property records.""
My mother continued.
"Richard offered your father a settlement. He wanted the Mercer Street property transferred to Reed Holdings. In exchange, he promised to clear the company's debts.""
"Why would Dad agree?""
"He didn't.""
She looked at Marcus.
"But Richard offered something else.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"What?""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"He offered to make sure Marcus married you.""
I stared at her.
The words sounded so absurd that for a moment I thought I had misunderstood.
"What?""
My mother looked at the floor.
"Richard believed that if Marcus became your husband, he could eventually control the property through you.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That would not automatically grant him legal ownership.""
"Richard didn't care about legal details," my mother replied.
"He believed he could pressure Robert into signing everything before his death.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Did your father arrange our relationship?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Not exactly.""
"Not exactly?""
He looked at me with desperate eyes.
"I met you because I wanted to meet you.""
"At the charity fundraiser?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where my father introduced us?""
Marcus hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
My mother spoke again.
"Robert knew something was wrong. He asked Marcus to stay away from you.""
I remembered that evening.
My father had called me after the fundraiser and asked whether I liked Marcus.
I had laughed and told him I thought Marcus was wonderful.
Dad had gone quiet.
Then he said, "Just take your time, sweetheart. You don't have to trust someone simply because they know how to make you smile.""
I had thought he was being overprotective.
Now those words felt like a warning I had ignored.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I asked my mother.
She began crying.
"Because your father made me promise not to involve you until we had proof. Then he died. Richard threatened to expose financial documents that could have made it look like your father had committed fraud.""
"And you believed him?""
"I was terrified. The company was already failing. Your brother was in college. I had creditors calling every morning.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Richard told me that if I signed the original agreement, he would leave you alone.""
I stared at her.
"What agreement?""
She pointed toward the envelope.
"There's a second page.""
I unfolded it.
It was a copy of an agreement dated six years earlier.
My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
The document stated that she would temporarily surrender her authority as executor of my father's estate in exchange for financial protection for the family.
But there was another clause.
A clause granting Reed Holdings an option to acquire the Mercer Street property if I married Marcus within five years.
My wedding day was the final day of that five-year period.
I looked at the date.
Then at Marcus.
"You needed me to marry you today.""
He didn't deny it.
My mother covered her face.
"I thought he loved you. I thought if he loved you, perhaps he would change.""
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"You let me plan a wedding with a man who was waiting for a deadline?""
"I didn't know about the deadline until last week.""
Marcus interrupted.
"That's not how it happened.""
I turned toward him.
"Then explain it.""
He stepped closer.
"My father made the original arrangement. I didn't know every detail when we first met.""
"When did you find out?""
He looked at the envelope.
"Three years ago.""
Three years.
We had been together for one year when he discovered the truth.
And he stayed.
He proposed.
He met my family.
He held my father's photograph at our engagement party and told everyone how much he wished he could have met him.
I felt physically sick.
"Did you ever love me?""
Marcus's eyes filled.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you keep going?""
"Because things changed.""
"What changed?""
He looked toward the projection screen.
"At first, I was doing what my father expected. Then I fell in love with you. I wanted to stop everything, but by then, the company was in serious trouble.""
I laughed bitterly.
"So you decided to marry me and take my inheritance?""
"I thought I could make everything right afterward.""
Vanessa spoke from behind us.
"That's what he told me, too.""
Marcus turned.
"Stay out of this.""
She held his gaze.
"You promised me you'd stop using women to clean up your family's mess.""
My mother suddenly reached for my arm.
"Nia, there's something else.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course there was.
"What now?""
She pointed to the photograph of my father and Richard.
"Look at your father's left hand.""
I examined the picture.
There was a small silver key between his fingers.
"What does that open?""
My mother whispered, "A safe deposit box.""
Daniel immediately looked interested.
"Do you know which bank?""
My mother nodded.
"First National. Downtown.""
"What's inside?""
She looked at me.
"Your father told me it contained the original company records, the original trust documents, and evidence that could prove exactly what Richard Reed did.""
I looked at Marcus.
His expression had changed again.
He wasn't frightened anymore.
He was furious.
"That box doesn't exist," he said.
My mother shook her head.
"Then why did you spend the last six years trying to find it?""
Marcus lunged toward her.
Daniel and two male guests moved between them.
"Enough!"" Daniel shouted.
But Marcus wasn't looking at him.
He was looking at me.
"Nia, listen carefully. Whatever your mother told you, don't go to that bank.""
"Why?""
He stared at me.
"Because the person who opened that box last week wasn't me.""
A cold sensation moved through my chest.
"Who was it?""
Marcus looked toward the church doors.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Your father.""
