THE WOMAN MY GROOM WAS KISSING

The officer repeated his question.

"Ms. Bennett, did you authorize this transfer?""

I looked at the document in his hands.

My name appeared beneath a transaction involving $350,000. The date was October 30, the day before my wedding. The receiving company was Mitchell Advisory Services, the same company Lauren had told us was being used to steal her identity.

"No," I said.

The officer studied my face.

"You're certain?""

"Absolutely. I've never seen this document before.""

Marcus stood several feet away, looking almost relaxed.

That frightened me more than his earlier anger.

He had anticipated this.

He had prepared for it.

And he was watching to see whether his final move would work.

Dad stepped forward.

"Officer, that signature is forged. We have already discovered multiple fraudulent documents connected to Mr. Reed.""

The officer glanced at him.

"Do you have evidence?""

"Yes. We have bank records, recordings, and an independent witness.""

Marcus laughed.

"Independent witness? You mean my former fiancée, who has spent years trying to destroy my reputation?""

Vanessa stepped forward.

"I'd be happy to repeat everything under oath.""

Marcus pointed at her.

"You're the one who stole company records.""

Vanessa's expression didn't change.

"I preserved evidence you tried to destroy.""

The first officer raised his hand.

"Everyone needs to calm down. We'll be taking statements.""

I looked at the document again.

Something about the transaction bothered me.

The account number.

I recognized the last four digits.

It belonged to an account I'd opened when I was twenty-two.

A savings account my grandfather had helped me establish.

I hadn't used it in years.

"Officer, may I see that page?""

He handed it to me.

I checked the account number again.

It was definitely mine.

But the transaction authorization showed a digital signature.

A signature I had never created.

"Who submitted this?"" I asked.

The officer checked his notes.

"Your bank reported the transaction.""

I looked at Dad.

"Can we contact the bank?""

He nodded.

"Of course.""

Marcus shifted his weight.

For the first time, his expression looked less confident.

I turned toward him.

"How did you get access to my old account?""

He shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about.""

"Someone transferred money using my account.""

"Then perhaps you should ask your bank.""

I stepped closer.

"You know something.""

He lowered his voice.

"Be careful, Nia. You're making accusations you can't prove.""

I looked at the man I'd almost married.

"That's what you said when I caught you with my sister.""

He said nothing.

Dad approached the officers.

"My attorney is on his way. We can provide all relevant documents.""

The older officer nodded.

"We'll need everyone involved to remain available.""

Marcus immediately protested.

"Am I being detained?""

"Not at this time.""

He exhaled.

Then he looked at me.

"See? Nobody is arresting me. This is all a misunderstanding.""

Vanessa quietly took out her phone.

"Actually, Marcus, I think there's something you should see.""

She opened an email.

The sender was a bank employee.

The subject line read:

*Unauthorized Access Alert — Account Review.*

Vanessa handed the phone to Dad.

He read the message.

His expression changed.

"What is it?"" I asked.

Dad looked at me.

"The bank detected an attempt to change the account's recovery information yesterday.""

"Who requested it?""

He checked the email again.

"Someone using your mother's personal email address.""

I turned toward Patricia.

She was standing near the ballroom doors.

Her clutch was pressed against her chest.

"Mom?""

She shook her head.

"I didn't do anything.""

Dad held up the phone.

"Your email address was used.""

"That doesn't prove I sent it.""

The older officer approached her.

"Mrs. Bennett, we'd like to ask you a few questions.""

Mom looked at Marcus.

He immediately looked away.

That was when I understood something.

She was no longer useful to him.

He had already decided to let her take the fall.

"Marcus," she whispered.

He didn't respond.

"Marcus, tell them what we agreed.""

He stared at the floor.

My mother began trembling.

"What did we agree?"" Dad demanded.

Mom's eyes filled.

"Nothing.""

Dad shook his head.

"Patricia, this is your last chance to tell the truth.""

She looked at me.

For a second, I saw the mother who used to sit beside my bed when I had nightmares.

Then she spoke.

"I didn't transfer the money.""

"Then who did?"" I asked.

She swallowed.

"Marcus gave me access instructions. He said it was part of the investment process.""

The officer took out his notebook.

"What instructions?""

"He asked me to confirm Nia's account information and send him a verification code.""

I stared.

"You had access to my email?""

Mom nodded.

"You gave me permission to help with the wedding arrangements. I had your phone when we were booking vendors.""

I remembered.

Three weeks earlier, I'd left my phone with her while I went to collect my wedding dress.

She'd said she needed it to confirm a payment.

I had handed it over without thinking.

"You used my phone?""

"I didn't know what he was doing.""

I felt tears gathering.

"You knew enough to hide it.""

She lowered her head.

The older officer asked her to accompany him to a quieter area for questioning.

As she walked away, she turned back.

"Nia.""

I didn't answer.

"I love you.""

I looked at her.

"Then why did you keep choosing everyone else over me?""

She had no response.

A few minutes later, my father's attorney arrived.

His name was David Harris, and he carried a leather briefcase filled with documents.

After reviewing the bank records, he requested copies of everything.

He also made one important observation.

"The digital authorization appears to have been created from a device associated with the Reed development office.""

Marcus stiffened.

"That's impossible.""

David looked at him.

"Then you should have no problem allowing investigators to examine your company records.""

Marcus said nothing.

The officers continued taking statements.

Vanessa sat beside me while Dad spoke with the attorney.

For the first time that afternoon, I allowed myself to cry.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just enough for the tears to fall onto the white fabric of my wedding dress.

Vanessa handed me a tissue.

"You're going to get through this.""

I shook my head.

"I don't even know who my family is anymore.""

She looked at me.

"I know that feeling.""

I wiped my cheeks.

"How did you survive what he did to you?""

She was quiet for a moment.

"By accepting that the person I loved and the person who hurt me were the same person.""

I looked toward Marcus.

He was speaking with his lawyer now.

His face had returned to its familiar expression of confidence.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

*Nia, I work at Reed Property Development. I have access to the original transaction files. You need to know that Marcus didn't transfer the money yesterday. He transferred it six months ago.*

My heart stopped.

A second message appeared.

*The October 30 transaction was only created to make it look like you were responsible.*

Then came a photograph.

It showed a bank transfer authorization.

The original transfer had been made six months earlier.

And the person who approved it was not Marcus.

It was someone whose name I had seen on the company documents all afternoon.