Chapter 9: The Witness Among Us
Marcus scanned the crowd.
Every face looked different now.
Earlier, they were friends.
Family.
People who came to celebrate.
Now they were witnesses.
Possible secrets.
Possible lies.
The garden felt smaller.
The white canopy overhead suddenly felt like a stage.
A place where everyone had been watching him walk toward a future that wasn’t real.
“Who?”” Marcus asked again.
Nobody answered.
Brielle wiped her tears.
“Marcus, please don’t do this.””
He looked at her.
“Don’t do what?””
“Turn everyone here into suspects.””
He stared.
“Everyone here already knew more than I did.””
That silence hurt because it was true.
Andre looked uncomfortable.
Daniel looked at the guests.
Evelyn stood beside Marcus.
Then someone finally spoke.
“I didn’t threaten her.””
Everyone turned.
A woman near the back of the garden stepped forward.
Marcus didn’t recognize her.
She looked to be around Brielle’s age, dressed in a simple but elegant formal outfit.
Brielle’s face changed.
“You.””
The woman looked at her.
“Yes.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Who is she?””
The woman answered herself.
“My name is Tasha Morgan.””
Brielle whispered:
“Marcus, don’t listen to her.””
Tasha’s expression hardened.
“That’s exactly what she said when I tried to warn you.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“You know her?””
Brielle didn’t answer.
Tasha stepped closer.
“We used to work together.””
Marcus frowned.
“At where?””
Tasha looked at Brielle.
“At the company where she created the debt.””
Brielle shook her head.
“Stop.””
Tasha ignored her.
“She convinced people to invest in a project that didn’t exist.””
Marcus stared.
“No.””
Brielle looked at him.
“Marcus—”
“Is that true?””
She hesitated.
A hesitation that destroyed another piece of trust.
Tasha continued.
“She wasn’t planning to steal from you at first.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Tasha sighed.
“She was planning to use your name.””
Brielle looked furious.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Tasha pulled out her phone.
“I saved everything.””
Marcus looked at the phone.
Another person.
Another collection of evidence.
Another hidden story.
He almost couldn’t believe how many pieces of his life existed outside his control.
“What did she do with my name?””
Tasha looked at him.
“She told investors she was connected to you.””
Marcus frowned.
“I never approved that.””
“I know.””
Tasha looked at Brielle.
“That’s why I contacted Evelyn.””
Marcus turned.
“You contacted my mother?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before the wedding.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Everyone had been trying to protect him.
But everyone had also been keeping secrets.
He looked at Evelyn.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
She answered honestly.
“Because I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.””
That hurt.
Because she was right.
If she had told him a week ago, he might have defended Brielle.
He might have accused his mother of jealousy.
He might have destroyed the relationship with the only person trying to help him.
Marcus looked back at Brielle.
“Did you ever love me?””
The question silenced everyone.
Brielle broke down.
“Yes.””
The answer came instantly.
“I did.””
Marcus looked away.
“But?””
She cried.
“But I was scared.””
“Scared of what?””
“That if I told you everything, you would leave.””
He nodded.
“And instead, you built a relationship on a lie.””
Brielle had no response.
Tasha looked at Marcus.
“There’s one more thing.””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“What?””
She hesitated.
“Brielle wasn’t just trying to pay off her debt.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What are you saying?””
Tasha looked at Marcus.
“She was trying to protect someone.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Tasha looked directly at Brielle.
“You never told him about your brother.””
Brielle froze.
Marcus noticed immediately.
“My brother?””
Tasha nodded.
“He was involved too.””
Brielle whispered:
“Don’t.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What brother?””
Brielle looked at him.
Her face showed something different now.
Not guilt.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Marcus…”
He waited.
“Tell me.””
She looked toward the wedding guests.
Then at the documents.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, she whispered:
“My brother is the reason I was trying to get money.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
Brielle’s voice became barely audible.
“Because he’s the person who caused all of this.””
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus heard movement behind him.
Someone approaching.
A man’s voice came from the crowd.
“Brielle.””
Her eyes widened.
Marcus turned.
And the man standing there was someone nobody expected to see.
Someone who should not have been at the wedding.
Someone connected to every secret that had been uncovered.
May you like
And Brielle whispered his name.
“Caleb…”
