Chapter 6: The Father Neither Daughter Remembered
“My father is dead,” Nia said.
The words came out automatically.
Her father had left when she was four. Her mother had raised her alone, working long shifts and stretching every paycheck until there was enough for rent, groceries, and school supplies.
Nia remembered very little about him.
A deep voice.
A pair of polished brown shoes beside the front door.
A photograph her mother kept inside a drawer and never displayed.
By the time Nia was old enough to ask questions, her mother had stopped answering them.
When Nia was sixteen, she had finally asked whether her father was still alive.
Evelyn had looked at her for a long time before saying, “Some people leave a family long before their bodies leave this world.””
Nia had never asked again.
Now, standing beneath a wedding arch surrounded by broken glass and stunned guests, she stared at the letter in Brielle's hand.
“Read it,” Nia said.
Brielle shook her head.
“I don't know if I can.””
“Read it.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“Give me that letter.””
Brielle clutched it to her chest.
“No.””
“You don't understand what's written there.””
“Then explain it!””
“I can't do that here.””
“Why not?””
“Because you're surrounded by people who want to destroy me!””
Brielle looked around at the guests.
“Ryan, you destroyed your own wedding before the ceremony even started.””
Several people lowered their phones.
Others continued recording.
Officer Cole moved between Ryan and Brielle.
“Mr. Mitchell, take three steps back.””
Ryan obeyed, but his eyes never left the letter.
Brielle unfolded the page again.
Her voice trembled as she began reading.
“To the woman who marries Ryan Mitchell: If you are reading this, then he has finally brought you into the circle he has spent years trying to enter.””
She stopped.
Nia's heart pounded.
“Keep going.””
Brielle swallowed.
“The marriage was never the objective. It was the means by which Ryan intended to establish control over a family asset that he could not access through his former wife.””
Ryan's expression turned murderous.
“That's enough.””
Brielle continued.
“The child born to Nia Brooks is connected to the original trust. Any attempt to establish legal authority over that child without the mother's informed consent must be examined carefully.””
Nia looked at Marcus.
“What trust?””
He stepped closer.
“Your grandmother established it decades ago. The trust holds several properties and investments. Your mother was one of its beneficiaries, and you were named as the next beneficiary under certain conditions.””
“Why didn't I know about it?””
“Because the original documents were sealed while a dispute over their administration remained unresolved.””
“And Ryan knew?””
Marcus looked at the letter.
“Someone appears to have told him enough to make him believe that marrying Brielle would give him access to information or authority he couldn't otherwise obtain.””
Brielle looked at Ryan in disbelief.
“You proposed to me because of money?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I love you.””
She gave a broken laugh.
“You memorized my coffee order. You remembered my mother's birthday. You flew my sister home for Christmas when she couldn't afford the ticket.””
Her voice cracked.
“You made me believe you loved every part of me.””
“I do.””
“Then why does this letter say you were looking for a way into my family before we even met?””
Ryan stared at her.
For the first time, he looked as though he had run out of explanations.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Because your family has been connected to the trust for years, Brielle.””
Brielle turned toward her.
“My family?””
“Your grandmother was involved in its original administration.””
“My grandmother died when I was twelve.””
“I know.””
Brielle shook her head.
“She never mentioned a trust.””
“Neither did mine.””
The two women looked at each other.
For a moment, the anger between them disappeared, replaced by the same bewilderment.
Nia adjusted Amara against her chest.
“So both our families are connected to this trust, and Ryan somehow knew?””
Marcus nodded.
“That's what the available records suggest.””
“And the filing with my signature?””
“I suspect it was intended to create the appearance that you had voluntarily accepted an arrangement affecting your parental rights. But I need the complete document and its legal history before I can determine its precise purpose.””
Nia looked at Ryan.
“Did you forge my signature?””
“No.””
“Did you submit the document?””
“I didn't personally submit anything.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Ryan's face tightened.
“I signed what my attorney gave me.””
“Did you know my signature was on it?””
He hesitated.
The pause lasted less than two seconds.
It was enough.
Nia's eyes filled with tears, but she did not look away.
“You knew.””
Ryan rubbed his jaw.
“I was told you had already agreed to the arrangement.””
“By whom?””
“I don't remember.””
“You don't remember who told you to sign a document involving my newborn?””
“It was complicated.””
“No. It was a decision.””
She stepped closer, keeping Amara safely supported.
“You had a choice. You could have called me. You could have asked me. You could have told me about the trust, the filing, and whatever arrangement you believed existed.””
Ryan looked down.
“But you didn't.””
His voice dropped.
“I was trying to protect myself.””
The admission was so quiet that Nia almost missed it.
Brielle heard it.
She slowly removed her veil.
“Protect yourself from what?””
Ryan looked at her.
“Brielle, please.””
“From what?””
He glanced at Marcus.
Then at Evelyn.
Finally, he looked at Nia.
“Your father.””
Nia's blood ran cold.
“My father is dead.””
Ryan shook his head.
“That's what everyone was told.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Brielle took a step backward.
“Oh, my God.””
Nia looked at her mother.
“Is he alive?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Mom!””
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I believe he is.””
Nia felt as though the garden had tilted beneath her feet.
For years, she had believed her father had abandoned them and disappeared into a life that no longer included them.
She had spent her childhood watching other girls dance with their fathers at school events, then pretending she didn't care when her mother collected her afterward.
She had stopped asking why he never called.
She had stopped expecting birthday cards.
She had even stopped wondering whether he knew she had grown up, married, and divorced.
Now she was being told that both her parents might have been alive while she mourned one and forgot the other.
“Why?”” she whispered.
Evelyn reached toward her.
Nia stepped back.
“Don't touch me yet.””
Her mother lowered her hand.
“Your father was involved in the original trust dispute. When I discovered what he was doing, I tried to stop him.””
“What was he doing?””
“Moving assets. Changing records. Making arrangements that would allow him to control property that wasn't his to control.””
Marcus interrupted gently.
“We have indications of irregularities, but we need to distinguish documented facts from allegations.””
Nia nodded once.
“Fine. What do we know?””
Marcus looked at Ryan.
“We know that a disputed document was submitted using your name. We know that it references a declaration attributed to your mother. We know that the filing history contains inconsistencies. And we know that someone has attempted to link the matter to your child.””
“Do we know who filed it?””
“Not conclusively.””
“Do we know who forged the signature?””
“Not yet.””
“Do we know whether my father is alive?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Not from the records I have.””
Nia turned toward Evelyn.
“But you believe he is.””
“Yes.””
“Because you saw him?””
Evelyn nodded.
“When?””
“Two months ago.””
Nia stared at her.
“You saw my father two months ago, and you didn't tell me?””
“I couldn't.””
“Couldn't, or wouldn't?””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“I was afraid.””
Nia laughed through her tears.
“Everyone is afraid. Everyone has a secret. Everyone has a reason I can't know the truth.””
She looked down at Amara.
“But my daughter doesn't get to grow up in this mess.””
Ryan seized on the statement.
“Exactly. That's why we need to settle the arrangement now.””
Nia looked up sharply.
“What arrangement?””
“The one that protects her future.””
“No.””
“You haven't even heard the proposal.””
“I've heard enough.””
Ryan's voice grew desperate.
“Nia, listen to me. If you cooperate, I can make sure Amara never has to worry about money. You can have a house.
Security. Anything you want.””
She stared at him.
“You think you can buy your way back into my life?””
“I think we can find a solution.””
“You mean one where you control the paperwork, the money, and my child?””
“That's not what I said.””
“It's what you've been doing.””
Officer Cole stepped closer as Ryan began to raise his voice.
“Mr. Mitchell, lower your voice.””
Ryan ignored him.
“You're throwing away an opportunity because you're angry!””
Nia's answer came quietly.
“I would rather raise my daughter in a tiny apartment with honest walls than let her grow up in a mansion built on lies.””
Brielle removed the last pin holding her veil.
Then she placed it beside the engagement ring.
“The wedding is over.””
Ryan turned toward her.
“You can't be serious.””
“I have never been more serious about anything.””
“Brielle, don't make a decision you'll regret.””
She looked at him with tears streaming down her face.
“You made your decisions long before you ever met me.””
Ryan's shoulders sagged.
For one brief moment, Nia almost felt sorry for him.
Then he looked at Amara and said, “You don't understand what will happen if you walk away from this.””
Nia's sympathy vanished.
“Is that another threat?””
“No.””
“Then what is it?””
Ryan looked at the driveway.
The black sedan was still there, but its rear door was now closed.
The driver had disappeared.
Ryan lowered his voice.
“Your father doesn't forgive people who interfere with his plans.””
Evelyn went rigid.
Marcus immediately pulled out his phone.
“Officer Daniels, we need to secure the entrance and preserve the vehicle information.””
Daniels nodded and spoke into her radio.
Nia stared at Ryan.
“Where is he?””
Ryan shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“You said he was alive.””
“I said that's what I was told.””
“By whom?””
Ryan looked at Brielle.
She was watching him with a strange, devastated expression.
Then she spoke.
“My father.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Brielle wiped her face.
“My father told me Ryan was the perfect man for me. He arranged our first meeting. He encouraged Ryan to propose. He even paid for part of this wedding.””
Her voice broke.
“He said it was important for our families to become connected.””
Nia felt a chill move through her.
“What's your father's name?””
Brielle looked at her.
“Charles Whitmore.””
Evelyn's face went completely white.
Marcus whispered something under his breath.
Nia looked between them.
“What?””
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
“Charles Whitmore is the man I saw two months ago.””
Brielle covered her mouth.
“No.””
Evelyn looked directly at her.
“He was with Nia's father.””
Nia's heart hammered.
“My father has a name.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.””
“Then say it.””
Her mother looked at the white-flower arch, the scattered champagne glasses, and the guests who had gathered around them.
Then she turned back to her daughter.
“His name is Daniel Brooks.””
Nia had not heard that name spoken aloud in twenty-seven years.
And before she could ask another question, Officer Daniels approached with her phone held out.
“Officer Cole,” she said, “we have a problem.””
Cole took the phone.
“What is it?””
Daniels looked at Nia.
“Someone has just accessed the estate's security system remotely.””
“Who?””
“The system administrator is tracing the connection.””
She paused.
“Every camera covering the driveway has been disabled.””
Nia looked toward the gate.
The black sedan was gone.
Then her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
*Your mother was supposed to stay dead. Now both of you have made the same mistake.*
A second message arrived before she could breathe.
*Ask Evelyn what happened to the woman in the casket.*
Nia slowly raised her eyes toward her mother.
Evelyn read the message over her shoulder.
Her face crumpled.
And for the first time since she had returned from the dead, she looked more frightened of her own daughter than of anyone standing in the garden.
“Mom,” Nia whispered.
“Who was in that casket?””
Evelyn opened her mouth.
Then a woman's scream erupted from the estate entrance.
Everyone turned.
A wedding guest was pointing toward the gate.
On the stone driveway, beneath the bright afternoon sun, someone had left a small white box.
A box Nia recognized immediately.
It was the same kind her mother used to keep her jewelry in.
Officer Cole hurried toward it.
Evelyn grabbed Nia's arm.
“Don't let him open that box,” she whispered.
Nia stared at her.
“Why?””
May you like
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Because the last time Daniel sent one, someone died.””
