Chapter 5: The Daughter-In-Law’s Hidden Deal
The wedding ceremony never started.
Not officially.
The guests remained seated in the ballroom, confused and restless, while the three of us stood in the preparation room surrounded by questions nobody wanted to ask.
Marcus kept staring at the photograph.
I kept staring at Vanessa.
And Vanessa kept staring at the floor.
Finally, Marcus spoke.
“Who sent this?””
Nobody answered.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Did you know about this?””
Her head snapped up.
“No.””
“You’re sure?””
“Yes.””
“Because someone broke into my mother’s house.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“And you think I did it?””
“I think I don’t know who to trust right now.””
That hurt her.
I could see it.
But I also saw something else.
Guilt.
Not the guilt of someone caught committing a crime.
The guilt of someone hiding something.
I walked to the table and placed the handwritten note beside the photograph.
“The person who did this wanted us fighting each other.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Why?””
“Because while we were distracted, they had time.””
“To steal the money?”” he asked.
“Maybe.””
The door opened.
A security officer entered.
“Mrs. Gloria?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
“We checked the safe room.””
“And?””
He hesitated.
“There was no forced entry.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“It means whoever opened the safe had access.””
The words landed heavily.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“I didn’t say anything,” Marcus replied.
“But you’re thinking it.””
The room became tense.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
They both looked at me.
“This is exactly what someone wants.””
Marcus looked away.
Then his phone rang.
Again.
This time, the caller ID was hidden.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
Not his father.
Someone else.
“Marcus, you need to stop asking questions.””
His face changed.
“Who is this?””
The woman laughed softly.
“You really don’t remember me?””
Marcus looked confused.
“No.””
The voice continued.
“You should ask your mother why she never told you about your sister.””
My entire body froze.
Marcus slowly looked at me.
“My what?””
I reached for the phone.
“Hang up.””
But it was too late.
The call ended.
The damage was done.
Marcus stared at me.
“Mom.””
I couldn’t speak.
“Do I have a sister?””
My silence answered him.
He stepped back.
“Wow.””
“Marcus—”
“No.””
His voice shook.
“How many things don’t I know?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I looked at my son.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“That’s what everyone says.””
His words broke something inside me.
Because I knew.
I had made decisions for him.
Even good intentions could create wounds.
“There was a baby,” I whispered.
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
“Before you.””
The room became silent.
“I had a daughter.””
His eyes widened.
“Where is she?””
I looked down.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus stared at me like he didn’t recognize me.
“How do you not know where your own daughter is?””
The question was painful.
But fair.
“I was young. Your father made choices. Bad choices.””
“What choices?””
I looked at the door.
Because some memories are buried because they hurt.
Not because they are forgotten.
“Your sister was taken from me.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Taken?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
Her face became pale.
“By who?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the truth was complicated.
And because the person who knew the most was standing closer than anyone realized.
Marcus noticed something.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“You looked at Vanessa.””
My heart stopped.
“No.””
“You did.””
Marcus turned toward his bride.
Vanessa stepped back.
“Marcus, I don’t understand.””
But I did.
Something about her reaction.
Something about her fear.
Something about the way she had reacted when my past was mentioned.
I walked closer.
“Vanessa.””
She looked at me.
“Where did you grow up?””
She blinked.
“What?””
“Answer me.””
“My parents raised me in Chicago.””
“Your biological parents?””
The question made her freeze.
Marcus noticed.
“Vanessa?””
She looked away.
“I don’t know why this matters.””
“It matters because your last name before marriage wasn’t always yours.””
The room went silent.
Marcus looked shocked.
“What are you talking about?””
I stared at Vanessa.
Because twenty-five years ago, before my daughter disappeared, I remembered one thing.
A hospital bracelet.
A name.
A tiny newborn hand wrapped around my finger.
And the name written on that bracelet was the same name Vanessa had before she met my son.
Vanessa whispered:
“Gloria…”
I felt my heart breaking.
“How do you know my daughter’s name?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
May you like
And then she said the one thing I never expected to hear.
“Because my mother told me about you.””
