Chapter 3 - THE RECORDING
Evelyn gave us a small recorder.
“My sister hid this before she died.”
I pressed play.
My mother's voice filled the room.
“If Lily ever marries Andrew Carter, the trust must be protected immediately.”
Then another voice.
Thomas.
“She won't marry him.”
Helen answered.
“She will if we make her believe Andrew needs her.”
I stopped the recording.
Andrew looked sick.
“My mother.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“She planned the marriage?”
“She planned the circumstances around it.”
I stared at him.
“So Vanessa…”
“Was part of the final stage.”
Jonathan nodded.
“They wanted Lily married into the family.”
“Why?”
“To make the trust vulnerable.”
Evelyn opened another box.
Inside was a legal document.
“If Lily's marriage becomes invalid because of fraud, the Carter family can claim damages against the trust.”
I understood.
The entire wedding had been designed as a trap.
Helen wanted to accuse me of fraud.
Vanessa would pretend to be Andrew's real fiancée.
The wedding would collapse publicly.
Then Helen would use the scandal to challenge my reputation and my inheritance.
But they had made one mistake.
They had underestimated Jonathan.
And they had underestimated my mother.
Because my mother had prepared one final safeguard.
The controlling shares would automatically transfer to the four heirs if anyone attempted fraudulent interference.
I stared at the list.
My name.
Another name.
Another.
Then Daniel Carter.
Andrew's name was not there.
“Who are the other heirs?”
Evelyn looked at me.
“Your siblings.”
I froze.
“I don't have siblings.”
“You do.”
“How many?”
“Two sisters.”
Andrew looked at me.
“You never knew?”
“No.”
My father whispered:
“We tried to protect you.”
I turned toward him.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
I was crying now.
“But nobody understands that secrets don't protect people.”
My father reached for me.
I stepped away.
Then Jonathan's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression became serious.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Vanessa escaped.”
“Where?”
“Back to Helen.”
I stood.
“Then we go there.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Helen isn't running.”
May you like
“What?”
“She wants you to come.”
