Chapter 6: The Second Marriage
Marcus couldn't move.
The woman walked toward him.
Her navy dress brushed against the polished floor with every step.
Vanessa backed away.
“No.””
The woman stopped beside Maya.
She looked at Marcus.
“My name is Rochelle.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Who is your husband?””
Rochelle looked at Derek.
Derek’s face had gone blank.
Marcus followed her gaze.
Then everything clicked.
“You?””
Derek didn't answer.
Rochelle lifted the folder.
“He's my husband.””
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“This isn't happening.””
Rochelle looked at her.
“You said the same thing when I confronted you.””
Marcus stared at Derek.
“You're married to her?””
Derek finally spoke.
“It's not that simple.””
Rochelle laughed bitterly.
“You always say that.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“How did you know him?””
Vanessa whispered, “I didn't know he was married.””
Rochelle immediately stepped forward.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“You came to my house.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
Rochelle continued.
“You stood on my porch and told me Derek was leaving me.””
Derek closed his eyes.
“Rochelle, stop.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I'm done protecting you.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
Maya remained silent.
Rochelle opened the folder.
Inside were bank records, photographs, and copies of legal documents.
She placed them on a nearby table.
“I started investigating after Vanessa came to my house.””
Marcus looked down.
“What am I looking at?””
“Proof.””
Rochelle pointed to one document.
“Derek and Vanessa opened a joint account.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“Under whose name?””
“Yours.””
He stared.
“My name?””
Rochelle nodded.
“They were preparing to move money into it after your wedding.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You don't understand.””
Rochelle turned.
“I understand everything.””
“No, you don't.””
“You promised Derek you'd marry Marcus, take his money, and disappear.””
Vanessa looked at Derek.
“You told me Rochelle would never find out.””
Derek's face tightened.
“I said I'd handle it.””
“You said everything was handled!””
Marcus slammed his palm onto the table.
“Enough!””
Everyone fell silent.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Was any of it real?””
Vanessa stared at him.
“What?””
“Our relationship.””
Her lips trembled.
“Marcus…”
“Was I ever anything more than a bank account to you?””
Vanessa took one step toward him.
“I loved you.””
“Then why did you lie?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She couldn't answer.
Marcus looked toward the wedding cake.
Its white frosting was still untouched.
The sight almost made him laugh.
Twenty minutes ago, he'd been cutting that cake with the woman he planned to spend his life with.
Now he was standing in the wreckage of a marriage that hadn't even started.
Maya approached him.
“Marcus.””
He turned.
She held out her phone.
“One last thing.””
Vanessa immediately shouted:
“No!””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“What is it?””
Maya pressed play.
The recording began with Vanessa's voice.
“I don't care if he signs it.””
Derek answered.
“And if he doesn't?””
Vanessa paused.
“Then we use his mother.””
Marcus looked at Elaine.
His mother covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
Vanessa's voice became colder.
“She'll sign anything if she thinks it's for Marcus.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
Then came a second voice.
A voice he recognized.
His own.
Except he hadn't spoken those words tonight.
On the recording, his voice said:
“I trust her.””
Marcus froze.
Maya stopped the audio.
“That was recorded yesterday.””
Marcus stared at the phone.
“That sounds like me.””
“It is you.””
“I never said that.””
Maya nodded.
“I know.””
Rochelle looked at Derek.
“What did you do?””
Derek's silence answered her.
Marcus's face hardened.
“You recorded me?””
Derek stepped backward.
“Marcus, listen—”
“You manipulated my voice.””
“It wasn't supposed to go this far.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed Derek's jacket.
“You said nobody would know!””
Derek pushed her away.
“You were the one who wanted the money!””
Marcus watched them argue.
Then his phone buzzed.
Everyone stopped.
He looked down.
A message appeared from his bank.
*TRANSFER REQUEST RECEIVED.*
Marcus's blood ran cold.
He opened the notification.
A second message appeared immediately beneath it.
*$850,000 TRANSFER PENDING.*
He looked at Vanessa.
Her face went pale.
“I didn't do that.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Then who did?””
Maya stepped closer.
“Marcus…”
He looked at her.
She pointed toward the ballroom's private entrance.
A man in a black suit was standing there.
Marcus didn't recognize him.
But the stranger was holding a folder.
And on the folder was Marcus's full legal name.
The stranger raised his eyes.
“You need to come with me.””
Marcus didn't move.
“Who are you?””
The man opened the folder.
“I’m the attorney handling your trust.””
May you like
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
“And we have a very serious problem.””
