Chapter 13: The Money Trail
Marcus stared at the notification on his phone.
For several seconds, he didn’t understand what he was seeing.
The words were simple.
Too simple.
A transfer.
An amount.
A recipient.
But the name attached to the transaction made his entire body go still.
Everyone watched his expression change.
Brielle noticed first.
“Marcus?””
He didn’t answer.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
“The money moved.””
Brielle’s face went pale.
“What?””
“The transfer.””
His eyes locked onto her.
“The money you said you needed.””
Her breathing became uneven.
Marcus looked around the garden.
“The money didn’t go to your debt.””
Nobody spoke.
He held up the phone.
“It went to him.””
Everyone followed his gaze.
Slowly.
One by one.
Until they saw who Marcus was looking at.
Caleb.
The color drained from his face.
Brielle immediately stepped between them.
“No.””
Marcus stared.
“No?””
She shook her head.
“Marcus, wait.””
He looked at Caleb.
“Your brother.””
Brielle closed her eyes.
“Please.””
Caleb looked devastated.
“I can explain.””
Marcus gave a small, painful laugh.
“That’s what everyone says.””
The garden went silent.
Caleb took a step forward.
“I didn’t ask her to do this.””
“But you accepted the money.””
Caleb looked down.
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“You knew?””
She whispered:
“Yes.””
The answer hurt more because she didn’t deny it.
“How long?””
Brielle wiped her face.
“Since before we met.””
Marcus looked away.
The truth had stopped surprising him.
Now it only confirmed what he feared.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Marcus, there’s something you need to understand.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Another thing?””
Daniel accepted the anger.
“Yes.””
He looked at Caleb.
“Victor wasn’t the only person involved.””
Caleb’s face tightened.
“Don’t.””
Daniel ignored him.
“Caleb borrowed money from Victor.””
Marcus nodded.
“I know.””
“But when Victor demanded repayment, Caleb couldn’t pay.””
Daniel looked at Brielle.
“So she found another way.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“Me.””
Her eyes filled.
“I never wanted you to be hurt.””
“But you wanted my resources.””
“No.””
“Then what did you want?””
She couldn’t answer.
That silence was the loudest answer.
Tasha stepped forward.
“Marcus, there’s something else.””
He looked exhausted.
“What now?””
She held up her phone.
“I found the original messages between Brielle and Caleb.””
Brielle’s face changed.
“Tasha, don’t.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
Because she was afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
Tasha opened the messages.
“The first time Brielle mentioned you wasn’t because she met you.””
She looked at Marcus.
“It was because she researched you.””
The guests whispered.
Marcus closed his eyes.
A memory flashed.
The first time he met Brielle.
The way she already knew small details about his life.
The way she seemed to understand him immediately.
He had called it chemistry.
Now he wondered if it had been preparation.
Tasha continued.
“She knew where you worked.””
“She knew your family.””
“She knew you were generous.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“Was I just a solution?””
“No.””
Her answer came immediately.
But he saw the pain in her eyes.
Because part of him believed she meant it.
And that made everything worse.
“If you loved me,” he said quietly, “why did you start with a lie?””
Brielle cried.
“Because I thought if you saw the truth, you’d never give me a chance.””
Marcus nodded.
“And you were right.””
The words broke her.
A sudden movement came from the edge of the crowd.
A wedding guest stepped forward.
Marcus recognized him.
The man who had been recording.
Andre looked at him.
“I need to tell you something.””
Marcus sighed.
“What?””
Andre hesitated.
“I wasn’t recording the wedding for entertainment.””
“Then why?””
Andre looked at Brielle.
“Because someone asked me to document what happened.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
Andre looked down.
“Victor.””
Everyone froze.
Brielle whispered:
“No.””
Andre continued.
“He wanted proof.””
Marcus looked at the phone still connected.
“Proof of what?””
Andre looked at him.
“That Brielle would choose the money over telling you the truth.””
Brielle shook her head.
“That’s not why.””
Andre looked sad.
“Then why didn’t you tell him before today?””
She had no answer.
Victor’s voice suddenly came through the phone again.
“You finally understand.””
Marcus picked up the phone.
“You planned this?””
Victor laughed.
“No.””
A pause.
“I predicted it.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Victor’s voice became colder.
“It means Brielle was never the biggest secret.””
Everyone looked at her.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
Victor continued.
“The biggest secret is who actually created the account.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
Then Caleb.
Then the documents.
“Who?””
Victor answered:
“Ask your mother.””
The entire garden went silent.
Marcus slowly turned.
“Mom?””
Evelyn’s face changed.
May you like
And for the first time that day…
She looked afraid.
