Chapter 2: The Money Behind the Baby
I didn't leave the church immediately.
I stood near the entrance with Lily beside me, staring at the anonymous message.
My first wife's insurance money.
Sarah had died after a fourteen-month battle with ovarian cancer. The insurance payout had been substantial, but every dollar had gone toward medical bills, the mortgage, Lily's future, and the expenses of rebuilding our lives.
At least, that was what I believed.
"Marcus?"" Daniel said.
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
"Take Lily to Mom.""
"What's going on?""
"I need five minutes.""
Daniel studied my expression.
"Don't do anything stupid.""
"I'm not planning to.""
He looked toward the altar.
"Then don't go back in there alone.""
He was right.
But I couldn't leave without answers.
I asked my mother to take Lily to the bridal preparation room, away from the guests. Then Daniel and I returned to the sanctuary.
Vanessa was standing beside the altar, arguing with Ethan.
She was no longer pretending to cry.
"You're supposed to help me!"" she hissed.
Ethan adjusted his expensive navy suit.
"I told you not to let the kid get involved.""
"You think I wanted her to find the belly?""
"Well, she did. So what now?""
I stepped into the aisle.
"What happened to Sarah's insurance money?""
Both of them froze.
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa looked at me.
Then she laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
I held up my phone.
"Someone just sent me a message about it.""
"Who?""
"That's what I'm trying to find out.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Marcus, your wife's death has nothing to do with our relationship.""
"Then this should be easy. Tell me what happened to the money.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Listen, man. This is a private family matter.""
I turned toward him.
"You're not my family.""
His jaw tightened.
"Careful.""
Daniel moved beside me.
"That's enough, Ethan.""
Ethan glanced at him, then looked back at me.
"You're making a huge mistake. Vanessa was trying to build something with you.""
"By pretending to carry a child?""
"People do crazy things when they're desperate.""
"Desperate for what?""
Neither answered.
I took another step toward Vanessa.
"How did you know about Sarah's policy?""
Vanessa's eyes flickered.
That tiny movement told me more than any confession could have.
"Marcus," she said, "you need to calm down.""
I pulled out my phone and opened the banking application.
"Four years ago, the insurance company paid out three hundred and eighty thousand dollars. I placed most of it in a trust for Lily. I kept a separate amount for household expenses.""
I looked at her.
"You told me we couldn't afford a second property. You told me the money was tied up.""
"Because it was.""
"Then why did you ask me to transfer money into an account controlled by your brother?""
Her face changed.
Ethan suddenly became very interested in the stained-glass windows.
I remembered the transfer.
Eight months earlier, Vanessa had told me she needed help paying a medical specialist because her pregnancy was considered high-risk.
She had shown me an invoice.
I had transferred forty-two thousand dollars.
At the time, I hadn't questioned the account details.
She was carrying my child.
Or so I believed.
I searched my banking history.
Another transfer.
Thirty thousand dollars.
Then twenty-five thousand.
Then fifteen thousand.
My stomach tightened.
"How much?"" Daniel asked quietly.
I showed him the screen.
He swore under his breath.
"That's over a hundred thousand.""
Vanessa stepped toward me.
"I was going to pay you back.""
"With what?""
She looked at Ethan.
He immediately shook his head.
"Don't bring me into this.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You're already in the video.""
Ethan's face reddened.
"That video was taken out of context.""
"Which context makes stealing money acceptable?""
He took another step toward me.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
He looked at Vanessa again.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Marcus, I needed the money.""
"For what?""
"My brother had debts.""
Ethan exploded.
"Don't put this all on me!""
Vanessa flinched.
Daniel crossed his arms.
"So the pregnancy was a way to keep Marcus transferring money?""
"No!"" Vanessa protested.
"I loved him before any of this happened.""
I stared at her.
"When?""
She looked confused.
"What?""
"When did you start loving me? Before or after you found out about Sarah's insurance policy?""
Her silence was answer enough.
A memory suddenly surfaced.
The first time I met Vanessa had been at a charity dinner organized by a local business association. I had been there with Daniel, who had introduced me to several people.
Vanessa had approached me near the bar.
She knew Sarah had died.
She knew I had a daughter.
At the time, I had thought she was simply being thoughtful.
Now I wondered who had told her.
And why.
I turned to Ethan.
"How did you know about the insurance money?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"Vanessa told me.""
"How did she know?""
No answer.
I opened my contacts and called the insurance company.
After verifying my identity, I requested a copy of the original policy, payout details, and all subsequent beneficiary or account changes.
The representative told me something that made my skin go cold.
"There was an authorized inquiry into the policy about seven months ago," she said.
"Who made it?""
"I can't disclose all details over the phone, but I can confirm the inquiry came from a representative claiming to act on your behalf.""
"Did you authorize that?""
A pause.
"No, sir. Our records show that the authorization documentation was submitted electronically. It will require a formal review.""
I looked directly at Vanessa.
She was staring at me.
The representative continued.
"There's also a pending request concerning the beneficiary arrangement for your daughter's trust.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What request?""
"A request to change the designated trustee.""
"Who was named?""
The woman hesitated.
"An individual named Ethan Cole.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stared at me.
"Marcus?""
I couldn't speak.
Ethan was no longer pretending to be calm.
"That was temporary," he said.
I slowly turned toward him.
"You tried to get control of my daughter's trust?""
"Vanessa said you wanted it handled that way.""
I looked at her.
"Did you?""
She began shaking her head.
"I can explain.""
"Stop saying that.""
I took a deep breath.
"You're going to tell me everything.""
Vanessa glanced toward the church doors.
A few guests were still standing nearby, pretending not to listen.
She lowered her voice.
"Not here.""
"Then where?""
"Somewhere private.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. You're not going anywhere with him.""
Ethan scoffed.
"You can't keep us here.""
Daniel pulled out his phone.
"Nobody said I was going to.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know about the insurance policy before you met me?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
She didn't answer.
I repeated the question.
"Vanessa.""
Finally, she whispered, "Yes.""
The sanctuary seemed to become colder.
"Who told you?""
She glanced at Ethan.
He looked away.
Then she said something that made me forget how to breathe.
"Your first wife.""
I stared at her.
"Sarah?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She contacted me before she died.""
I stepped backward.
"That's impossible.""
"She knew you were going to need help raising Lily.""
"You're lying.""
"She gave me information about the policy. She told me where the documents were.""
My mind raced.
Sarah had been sick for months. Toward the end, she had struggled to speak for long periods.
I remembered her holding my hand in the hospital.
I remembered her asking me to promise I would eventually find happiness again.
But I didn't remember her mentioning Vanessa.
"Why would Sarah contact you?""
Vanessa's lips parted.
Then she looked toward Ethan.
He whispered, "Don't.""
I heard him.
So did Daniel.
"What don't you want her to say?"" Daniel demanded.
Ethan grabbed Vanessa's arm.
She pulled away.
"Sarah knew about the money," Vanessa said.
"But she also knew something else.""
"What?""
Vanessa looked directly into my eyes.
"She knew who had been stealing from you before I ever entered your life.""
I felt my blood run cold.
Before I could ask another question, a woman approached us from the entrance.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a dark green coat over a simple dress.
I recognized her immediately.
Dr. Helen Morris.
Sarah's oncologist.
She had attended the wedding as a guest because she and my mother had remained friends.
Her face was pale.
"Marcus," she said.
"I need you to come with me.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Helen looked at Vanessa.
May you like
Then at Ethan.
"I was the one who sent you that message.""
