Chapter 11: The Recording My Mother Never Wanted Me to Hear
I stared at the photograph until the words began to blur.
My mother had authorized the original transfer.
Not yesterday.
Not during the wedding preparations.
Six months ago.
The same month Marcus and Brielle had begun their affair.
The same month Mom had first discovered them together.
I looked at Dad.
"Can I speak to you?""
He immediately excused himself from the attorney.
We moved toward a quiet corner near the restaurant's service entrance.
I showed him the photograph.
He studied it carefully.
"Where did you get this?""
"Someone from Marcus's company sent it.""
Dad enlarged the image.
His face tightened.
"That's Patricia's authorization code.""
I swallowed.
"So she really did it.""
He looked toward the ballroom.
"Apparently.""
I wanted to feel angry.
Instead, I felt strangely empty.
"Why would she do this?""
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know she was having financial problems?""
He nodded slowly.
"I knew she had taken out some loans. I didn't know the amount. She told me she was managing a private investment account.""
"How much did she owe?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Almost $600,000.""
I closed my eyes.
Six hundred thousand dollars.
That explained the urgency.
But it didn't explain why she'd chosen Marcus.
My phone vibrated again.
The sender had written:
*My name is Ethan Brooks. I'm the former financial controller at Reed Property Development. I need to meet you before Marcus finds out I've contacted you.*
I read the message aloud.
Dad immediately shook his head.
"Don't meet him alone.""
David Harris joined us.
He read the message and nodded.
"We can arrange a meeting with counsel present.""
I typed a response.
*Where?*
The reply came quickly.
*Tomorrow morning. The old downtown office. Bring the original trust documents.*
I hesitated.
Then another message appeared.
*And don't tell Patricia. She already knows I have the files.*
I looked toward the area where the officers were speaking with my mother.
She was sitting alone, her pale-blue dress wrinkled, her pearl earrings slightly crooked.
For a moment, I wanted to go to her.
I wanted to ask whether any part of our relationship had been real.
But before I could move, Vanessa approached.
"Nia, I think there's something you should hear.""
She held out her phone.
"I found another recording in the backup folder.""
"What recording?""
"The conversation between Marcus and your mother from the day they discussed your wedding.""
I looked at Dad.
He nodded.
"Let's hear it.""
Vanessa pressed play.
Marcus's voice came first.
"Once she signs, the trust becomes accessible.""
Mom answered.
"And Brielle?""
"She's not a problem.""
"She's your girlfriend.""
Marcus laughed.
"She's a distraction.""
My stomach tightened.
Mom spoke again.
"She thinks you're going to marry her after Nia.""
"She can think whatever she wants.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She lowered her eyes.
The recording continued.
Mom asked, "And if Nia refuses?""
Marcus answered without hesitation.
"Then we'll use the medical paperwork.""
My blood went cold.
"What medical paperwork?"" Dad whispered.
The recording continued.
Mom said, "I don't want her committed.""
Marcus laughed.
"Nobody is talking about that. We just need documentation suggesting she's unstable. If she becomes difficult, we can challenge her ability to make financial decisions.""
I felt sick.
My mother's voice returned.
"That could destroy her.""
Marcus answered:
"Only if she finds out.""
The recording ended.
I couldn't move.
Dad looked toward the officers.
"That's enough. We need to give them this immediately.""
David nodded.
"Agreed.""
But I was still thinking about the medical document.
The one from the clinic.
The one Mom had signed.
It wasn't simply an attempt to protect herself from questions.
It was part of a plan to make me appear incapable of managing my own inheritance.
If I had discovered the financial scheme and refused to cooperate, they could have challenged my decision-making capacity.
And if that worked, Marcus could have gained control through the alternate trustee arrangement.
I looked at Vanessa.
"How did you get this recording?""
"It was in an old cloud backup from Marcus's previous company.""
"Does he know you have it?""
"I don't think so.""
A voice interrupted us.
"Nia?""
I turned.
Brielle stood a few feet away.
Her makeup was ruined.
Her champagne dress was wrinkled.
She looked nothing like the confident maid of honor who had walked into the bridal room that morning.
"Can we talk?""
I hesitated.
Vanessa stepped back.
Dad looked at me.
"Do you want me to stay?""
I shook my head.
"Just nearby.""
Brielle approached.
"I heard the recording.""
I nodded.
She looked down.
"I knew Marcus wanted to marry you. I didn't know why.""
I didn't respond.
"He told me he loved me. He said he was trapped in a relationship he couldn't escape because of your family.""
I looked at her.
"And you believed him?""
She nodded.
"I wanted to.""
I took a breath.
"Did you know he was using you to pressure me?""
"No.""
"Did you ever tell him to stop?""
She looked at me.
"Yes.""
"How many times?""
Her eyes filled.
"More than I can count.""
I looked away.
She continued.
"Three months ago, I told him I couldn't keep seeing him. He said he'd leave you. Then he promised we'd have a future together.""
I swallowed.
"And when he didn't?""
"He said he needed more time.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She began crying.
"Because I was ashamed.""
I nodded slowly.
"At least that's honest.""
She wiped her face.
"There's something else.""
I looked at her.
"Last week, Marcus asked me to take something from Mom's office.""
"What?""
"A folder.""
"What was in it?""
"I don't know. I didn't open it.""
"Where is it?""
Brielle hesitated.
"At my apartment.""
My heart started beating faster.
"What did Marcus want you to do with it?""
"He told me to keep it somewhere safe until after the wedding.""
I looked toward Dad.
He had heard enough to approach us.
"What's in the folder?""
Brielle shook her head.
"I don't know, Dad.""
He exhaled.
"Then we're going to find out.""
We arranged for David to accompany Brielle to her apartment.
Before leaving, I approached my mother.
She was still seated beside the officers.
"Mom.""
She looked up.
Her eyes were swollen.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
I hated that she still called me that.
"Did you plan to have me declared mentally unstable?""
She began crying.
"No.""
I waited.
She lowered her head.
"Marcus said it would only be temporary.""
I stared.
"Temporary?""
"He said if the bank questioned the documents, we'd need someone to manage the trust until everything was settled.""
"And you agreed?""
She nodded.
I stepped backward.
"You were willing to take away my ability to make decisions about my own life.""
"I was trying to save the company.""
"You could have asked me for help.""
"You wouldn't have understood.""
I laughed quietly.
"You're right. I wouldn't have understood why my own mother wanted to take everything from me.""
She reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
Then I walked out of the ballroom.
The wedding guests were leaving.
Some hugged me.
Others avoided my eyes.
My flowers were still arranged at the entrance.
White roses.
Gold ribbons.
A beautiful ceremony that would never happen.
I stopped beside the display and removed one rose.
Then I placed it in my purse.
I didn't know why.
Perhaps because I wanted to remember that something beautiful could still exist in the middle of an ugly day.
My phone rang.
It was David.
"We found the folder.""
I stopped walking.
"What's inside?""
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
"Original trust documents. Bank authorizations. And a letter from your grandfather.""
My heart began racing.
"What does the letter say?""
David took a breath.
"It says your grandfather suspected someone in the family would try to steal your inheritance.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who did he suspect?""
May you like
David answered quietly.
"Your mother.""
