THE WOMAN MY GROOM WAS KISSING

The recording device hit the marble floor and split open.

Nobody moved to pick it up.

I stood with my phone pressed against my ear, listening to the silence left behind by Marcus's final words.

Ask your mother what happened to the first woman who tried to stop this marriage.

I slowly lowered the phone.

Vanessa was staring at me.

My father had gone completely still.

And my mother...

My mother was crying.

Not the quiet, controlled tears she'd shed when I was a child and disappointed her.

She was trembling.

"Who was he talking about?"" I asked.

Nobody answered.

I looked at Vanessa.

"You know something.""

She swallowed.

"His first fiancée wasn't the first woman he was involved with.""

"Who was she?""

"Her name was Lauren Mitchell.""

I waited.

Vanessa continued.

"Lauren worked in the accounting department of one of Marcus's previous development companies. She discovered that he was moving money between accounts without authorization.""

My father frowned.

"What happened to her?""

"She reported him.""

"And?""

Vanessa looked at my mother.

"Three weeks later, Lauren was arrested for financial misconduct.""

I blinked.

"Was she guilty?""

"No. The charges were eventually dropped, but by then she'd lost her job, her apartment, and most of her savings defending herself.""

My stomach tightened.

"What does that have to do with Mom?""

Vanessa opened another folder.

"Patricia signed a statement supporting Marcus's allegations.""

I turned.

Mom shook her head.

"It wasn't like that.""

I stared at her.

"You testified against a woman who exposed him?""

"Marcus showed me documents.""

"Did you verify them?""

She looked down.

That was her answer.

Dad stepped toward her.

"Patricia, what did you do?""

"I was trying to help.""

"Again?""

Mom wiped her cheeks.

"Marcus told me Lauren had stolen money. He said the police were already investigating her. He asked me to confirm that she'd attended a meeting at our company.""

"Did she?""

Mom didn't answer.

I stepped closer.

"Did she?""

"I don't remember.""

Vanessa let out a sharp breath.

"She never attended that meeting. The meeting was invented.""

Mom looked at her.

"You don't know what happened.""

"I know because I was the one who found the original attendance records.""

Vanessa reached into her bag and produced a photograph.

It showed a young woman standing outside an office building, holding a cardboard box.

Lauren.

On the back was a handwritten note.

Last day at work. They took everything.

I felt sick.

"Where is she now?""

Vanessa hesitated.

"She lives in Ohio. She hasn't spoken publicly about Marcus since the case ended.""

My father took the photograph.

"Can we contact her?""

"I already did.""

Vanessa checked her phone.

"She's willing to speak to Nia.""

Mom suddenly stood.

"No.""

Everyone turned.

She looked directly at Vanessa.

"You cannot bring that woman into this.""

Dad's voice was cold.

"Why not?""

"Because she has a history of making accusations.""

I stared at my mother.

"She's the person Marcus ruined, isn't she?""

Mom pressed her lips together.

"She was involved in something she didn't understand.""

"And you helped him destroy her.""

"I did what I thought was necessary.""

I stepped backward.

For a moment, I couldn't recognize the woman standing in front of me.

This was the same mother who had held my hand during my first heartbreak.

The same woman who had taught me never to let anyone make me feel small.

Yet she had apparently spent years helping a man manipulate women and steal their futures.

My phone vibrated.

A text from an unknown number.

*My name is Lauren Mitchell. Vanessa gave me your number. Please don't trust anyone who tells you your wedding was the first time Marcus planned something like this.*

A second message followed.

*He has done this before. And your mother knows why.*

I looked up.

"Lauren wants to talk.""

Mom shook her head.

"Don't.""

I turned toward her.

"Why are you so afraid of this woman?""

She whispered something I almost didn't hear.

"Because she knows about the money.""

Dad looked at her.

"What money?""

Mom closed her eyes.

Vanessa pulled out a chair.

"Patricia, I think it's time you stopped pretending this is about protecting your family.""

Mom sat down.

"I didn't steal anything.""

"Then tell us where the two million dollars went.""

She looked at Dad.

Then at me.

Finally, she spoke.

"Marcus promised to invest it in a commercial property project. He said the returns would pay off the company debt.""

Dad shook his head.

"That was never an authorized investment.""

"He told me you would approve it.""

"Why would I approve something I didn't know existed?""

Mom began crying again.

I looked at Vanessa.

"Can we get the original bank records?""

"Yes. But there's a problem.""

"What?""

"The account received a second transfer yesterday.""

My blood ran cold.

"From where?""

Vanessa turned her phone toward me.

The transfer was for $350,000.

The recipient was a company called Mitchell Advisory Services.

I looked at the name.

"Is that Lauren's company?""

Vanessa nodded.

"That's what I thought.""

Mom suddenly grabbed the phone.

"That's impossible.""

Dad took it from her.

"Why?""

Mom looked horrified.

"Because Lauren was never supposed to receive that money.""

The room went silent.

I looked at her.

"Why would Marcus send money to the woman he supposedly ruined?""

Mom didn't answer.

Then Vanessa's phone rang.

She put it on speaker.

A woman's voice came through.

"Nia? It's Lauren.""

I stepped closer.

"Yes.""

"I need you to listen carefully. Marcus didn't send that money to me.""

My stomach tightened.

"Then who received it?""

Lauren hesitated.

"Someone opened a company using my identity. The account is connected to your mother's business.""

I looked at Patricia.

Her hands were shaking.

Lauren continued.

"And there's something else. I found an old contract in my files. It proves your mother and Marcus were working together long before you ever met him.""

I couldn't speak.