Chapter 7: The Trust
The attorney held the folder against his chest.
“My name is Daniel Brooks. I represent the Marcus Davis Family Trust.””
Marcus stared at him.
“I never told you to come here.””
“I know.””
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
“She did.””
Vanessa’s face went blank.
“No, I didn't.””
Daniel opened the folder.
“You contacted my office six weeks ago using Marcus’s personal information.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Six weeks?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know what he was talking about.””
Daniel pulled out a printed email.
“You asked for instructions on transferring assets after marriage.””
“I never sent that.””
“You also attached a copy of Marcus's identification.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Show me.””
Daniel handed him the page.
Marcus recognized the photograph.
His driver's license number.
His address.
His signature.
Everything was real.
Except one thing.
The email address.
Marcus stared at it.
“That isn't mine.””
Daniel nodded.
“Correct.””
Maya leaned closer.
“Whose is it?””
Daniel looked at Derek.
“His.””
Derek's expression changed.
Rochelle stepped forward.
“You used Marcus's identity?””
Derek rubbed his forehead.
“I wasn't trying to steal everything.””
Marcus laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars isn't everything?””
Derek looked at Vanessa.
“She said it would be enough.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“You told him how much was in my trust?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I knew about the trust.””
“When?””
“Your mother told me.””
Elaine stepped forward.
“I told her nothing.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You did.””
“I told you Marcus was financially secure. That's all.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Mrs. Davis, that may be true. But somebody accessed your private financial records.””
Elaine frowned.
“How?””
Daniel removed another sheet.
“This is the access log.””
Marcus looked down.
A username appeared.
Then another.
Then a date.
His mother's account had been accessed from a device registered to Vanessa.
Elaine's hand flew to her mouth.
“You were in my house.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I never touched your computer.””
Rochelle looked at Derek.
“You did.””
Derek's jaw tightened.
“Stop blaming me for everything.””
“You used her computer.””
“I needed the documents.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You broke into my mother's account.””
Derek didn't answer.
Daniel closed the folder.
“There's a bigger issue.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
“The transfer wasn't initiated tonight.””
Daniel pointed to the bank notification.
“It was scheduled yesterday.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Yesterday?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did I only get the notification now?””
“Because the trust requires final authorization after the marriage is legally recorded.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“So once I married her…”
“The transfer would have completed.””
Vanessa whispered, “No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your wedding ceremony wasn't just a ceremony.””
Marcus looked at the marriage license.
“What happens now?””
Daniel's expression became serious.
“That depends on whether the license was filed.””
Marcus's stomach dropped.
He looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Was it?””
Daniel hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Maya suddenly looked at Vanessa.
“You do.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Maya walked closer.
“Where's the marriage license?””
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward the table where the wedding documents had been placed.
Marcus followed her gaze.
A white envelope sat beneath a floral arrangement.
He reached for it.
Vanessa lunged.
Marcus pulled it away.
“Don't!””
He opened the envelope.
The license was inside.
Stamped.
Signed.
Filed.
Marcus stared at the date.
His voice barely came out.
“We're legally married.””
Vanessa began crying.
“Marcus…”
He stepped backward.
Daniel looked at the document.
Then at Marcus.
“There's something wrong.””
“What?””
Daniel pointed at the signature line.
Marcus looked down.
His signature was there.
But beneath it was another signature.
The witness.
Marcus recognized the name.
His mother.
Elaine shook her head.
“I never signed that.””
Daniel went pale.
“Then someone forged both signatures.””
The ballroom fell silent.
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
“Who had access to the document?””
Nobody answered.
Then Maya's phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
A new message appeared.
*CHECK THE CAKE TABLE.*
Maya looked toward the wedding cake.
Something had been slipped beneath its silver serving stand.
A small black envelope.
Marcus walked toward it.
Vanessa whispered:
“Don't open that.””
Marcus stopped.
He looked back at her.
“Why?””
May you like
Vanessa's face had lost every trace of color.
“Because I know what's inside.””
