Chapter 5: My Sister Was Never the Chosen One
Brielle took a step backward.
"What does that mean, Mom?""
Mom reached for her.
"Come here.""
"Don't touch me.""
My sister's voice was barely recognizable.
She looked at Marcus, then at the email in my hand.
"Tell me what it means.""
Marcus straightened his jacket.
"It's a business document. You're misunderstanding it.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"Of course. Everything is always a misunderstanding with you.""
Brielle shook her head.
"You told me you loved me.""
Marcus looked irritated.
"Not now.""
"You said you were going to leave Nia.""
"I said we'd figure things out.""
"You told me we could start over after the wedding.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Brielle, please.""
She moved closer.
"Did you ever mean it?""
For the first time, Marcus looked directly at her.
And his answer was worse than silence.
"You're not thinking clearly.""
Brielle began crying again.
I watched her.
A strange feeling settled inside me.
I had imagined this moment differently.
I had imagined confronting my sister and seeing her beg for forgiveness. I had imagined telling her that she had ruined everything.
But now I was watching her discover that the man she'd betrayed me for had never intended to choose her.
It didn't make me feel better.
It made me tired.
I turned toward Vanessa.
"What does the email mean?""
Vanessa opened another folder.
"Marcus was planning to acquire control of your family property company through your trust. Your mother agreed to help him obtain the necessary signatures.""
She placed a printed spreadsheet on the vanity.
"But there was another agreement.""
I looked at the highlighted section.
Brielle's name appeared beside a financial amount.
$150,000.
I frowned.
"What's this?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Your sister was promised money.""
Brielle looked up.
"What?""
Vanessa pointed to the spreadsheet.
"After the transfer, Marcus was supposed to pay you $150,000 from the development company.""
Brielle stared at her.
"I never agreed to that.""
"I know. The email suggests the arrangement was made without your knowledge.""
Mom immediately interrupted.
"That money was intended to help Brielle.""
I turned.
"Why would she need money from my inheritance?""
Mom's expression hardened.
"Because she has always struggled financially.""
Brielle wiped her cheeks.
"Mom, stop.""
"You know how much debt you have.""
"Stop!""
My sister's voice echoed through the room.
She looked at Mom.
"Did you promise him my name too?""
Mom blinked.
"What?""
"Did you tell him I'd keep quiet in exchange for money?""
Mom didn't answer.
Brielle started shaking.
"I never asked for anything. I never asked you to do this.""
Mom sighed.
"Sweetheart, you don't understand how much your father and I have sacrificed.""
Dad looked at her.
"Don't bring me into this.""
Mom turned sharply.
"You agreed that we needed a solution.""
"I agreed to protect our daughters.""
"And that's what I was doing!""
Dad's voice rose.
"By selling one daughter to a man who was sleeping with the other?""
The room went silent.
I looked at my mother.
"Was this your idea?""
She sat down.
For the first time, the perfect woman in the pale-blue dress seemed smaller.
"Last year, the company had problems," she said.
Dad shook his head.
"Patricia.""
She ignored him.
"The commercial property portfolio was losing money. We had loans coming due. Your father didn't tell you because he didn't want you worrying.""
I looked at Dad.
"How bad?""
He hesitated.
"Bad enough that I considered selling two properties.""
Mom continued.
"Marcus came to me with a proposal. He said he could bring investors into the business and restructure everything.""
"Why did he need to marry me?""
"Because your grandfather's trust controlled the voting shares.""
I looked at the documents.
"And because you thought I'd sign whatever you put in front of me.""
Mom looked away.
That was the answer.
She had watched me grow up.
She knew I trusted her.
She knew I would never question a document she placed in front of me.
She knew I'd probably sign it between wedding appointments and work meetings.
I felt something inside me harden.
"Did Dad know?""
"No," Dad answered immediately.
Mom looked at him.
"Robert—"
"Don't.""
He turned toward me.
"I knew Marcus was interested in the company. I didn't know he was planning to marry you to get control of it. I certainly didn't authorize anyone to forge your signature.""
Vanessa opened her folder again.
"There's something else.""
She pulled out a printed photograph.
It showed Marcus entering a hotel lobby with another woman.
The date was from two weeks earlier.
I looked at him.
"Who is she?""
Vanessa answered.
"An investor.""
Marcus laughed.
"You're seriously going to believe a photograph?""
Vanessa placed a second photograph beside it.
Then a third.
In the final picture, Marcus was kissing the woman outside an elevator.
I looked at Brielle.
Her face had become completely blank.
"How many women?"" she whispered.
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus grabbed his phone.
"I've had enough.""
He walked toward the door.
Dad blocked his path.
"You're not going anywhere until we discuss the forged documents.""
Marcus laughed.
"You think you can threaten me?""
"I think the police will be very interested in these records.""
Marcus's expression changed.
He looked at me.
"Nia, don't do this.""
I stared at him.
"You did this.""
"I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
He stepped closer.
"Your father was going to lose the company. I was trying to protect everyone.""
"By taking my inheritance?""
"By investing it.""
"With my forged signature?""
He lowered his voice.
"Nobody was going to lose anything.""
I held up the email.
"You wrote that you wanted to stop pretending Brielle was the priority.""
He looked at my sister.
Then back at me.
"That was taken out of context.""
Brielle let out a broken laugh.
"Was the kiss taken out of context too?""
Marcus said nothing.
She approached him.
"Did you ever love me?""
He looked annoyed.
"Brielle, I can't do this right now.""
She slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Nobody stopped her.
Marcus touched his cheek.
"You've lost your mind.""
Brielle stepped back.
"No. I think I'm finally getting it.""
He turned toward me again.
"Nia, we can still work this out. We don't have to let Vanessa destroy our relationship.""
I looked at the man I had once planned to spend my life with.
Then I took off my engagement ring.
The diamond caught the chandelier light.
I placed it on the vanity.
"Our relationship ended when I opened that door.""
Marcus stared at the ring.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No," I said.
"I made one three years ago.""
He leaned closer.
"You're going to regret humiliating me.""
I met his eyes.
"You should be more worried about the documents.""
His jaw tightened.
He reached for the door again.
This time, Dad stepped aside.
"Go," he said.
"But don't contact either of my daughters again.""
Marcus walked out.
The door slammed behind him.
Brielle sank into the chair and covered her face.
Mom approached her.
"Sweetheart...""
Brielle pushed her away.
"Don't.""
I looked down at the ring.
Then at the forged papers.
Then at the recording device.
My wedding was over.
But the truth was only beginning.
Vanessa's phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
She answered the call.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Vanessa, it's Daniel. I found the original trust amendment.""
She stood up.
"Where?""
"At the county records office. And there's a problem.""
"What problem?""
He hesitated.
"The amendment was filed six months ago. It names someone else as the beneficiary if Nia's marriage takes place.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Who?""
May you like
The man answered.
"Brielle Bennett.""
Related Stories
