Chapter 5: My Sister's Price
At 8:30 the following morning, I received a message from Brielle.
*Brielle: We need to talk. Don't let Mom poison you against me.*
I stared at the screen while sitting at my mother's kitchen island.
Outside, rain tapped against the windows.
Mom was speaking with Rebecca in her study, arranging for the documents to be preserved and reviewed.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Marcus standing beneath the wedding arch.
I saw my mother wiping wine from her dress.
And I saw Brielle holding that empty glass.
I typed a reply.
*Me: Come to Mom's house. 10 a.m.*
She responded almost immediately.
*Brielle: Fine. But I want you to hear my side first.*
At ten precisely, Brielle arrived.
She was wearing sunglasses, despite the cloudy weather, and carrying a designer handbag I recognized from a photograph she had posted the previous week.
She walked into the kitchen without greeting our mother.
"Where is Nia?""
"Right here.""
She looked at me.
Then at the cup of coffee in front of me.
"Can we talk alone?""
"No.""
Her lips tightened.
"Of course. You always need an audience.""
I placed my phone on the table.
"Sit down, Brielle.""
She dropped into the chair opposite me.
For a few seconds, she studied my face.
Then she sighed.
"Look, yesterday got out of hand.""
"That's one way to describe it.""
"I didn't mean to ruin Mom's dress.""
"You poured wine on her.""
"It slipped.""
"You emptied an entire glass.""
She rolled her eyes.
"Are we seriously going to discuss the wine all morning?""
"No. We're going to discuss the documents.""
Her expression changed.
"What documents?""
"The ones Marcus submitted using my signature.""
Brielle reached for her handbag.
"That has nothing to do with me.""
"Marcus said you gave him the paperwork.""
She stopped moving.
Then she laughed.
"Marcus is panicking. He's blaming everyone.""
"Did you give him a copy of my signature?""
"No.""
I leaned forward.
"Brielle, this is serious.""
"So am I.""
She crossed her arms.
"Do you know how exhausting it is being your sister?""
I blinked.
"What?""
"Everything has always been about you. Your wedding. Your engagement.
Your perfect relationship. Your wonderful mother.""
I stared at her.
"Is that why you helped Marcus?""
She looked away.
"I didn't help him.""
"Then tell me how he got my signature.""
She remained silent.
Mom entered the kitchen carrying a folder.
"Brielle, I think you should answer your sister.""
Brielle's expression hardened.
"Of course. You two have already decided I'm guilty.""
Mom placed the folder on the table.
"I haven't decided anything. I simply want the truth.""
Brielle glanced at it.
Then she looked at me.
"Fine. I gave Marcus a copy of your signature.""
The words landed heavily.
I felt my fingers go cold.
"Why?""
"He said he needed it for a preliminary financial document.""
"Did you know what the document was?""
She hesitated.
"I knew it involved the family business.""
"Which family?""
"His family.""
"And did you know they intended to use it to access Mom's money?""
Brielle looked at the window.
"I didn't think it would happen.""
I laughed without humor.
"That isn't an answer.""
She suddenly became defensive.
"Marcus told me everything would be legitimate. He said you and he would eventually share the assets anyway.""
"Why would you believe that?""
"Because he promised to help me.""
There it was.
I sat back.
"Help you with what?""
Brielle pressed her lips together.
Mom opened the folder.
Inside were printed bank statements and copies of several messages.
"Brielle, I believe we should talk about the payments you received.""
My sister's face drained of color.
"What payments?""
Mom slid one page toward her.
"Three transfers from a company connected to Patricia's husband. Eight thousand dollars. Twelve thousand dollars. And another fifteen thousand dollars.""
Brielle stared at the page.
"How did you get that?""
"Your name appeared in the records during our review of the proposed investment.""
I looked at my sister.
"Thirty-five thousand dollars?""
She looked furious now.
"It wasn't a payment for the documents.""
"Then what was it?""
"Money I borrowed.""
"From whom?""
"From them.""
"Why?""
Her eyes filled.
For a moment, I thought she might actually cry.
Then she spoke.
"I had debts.""
"What debts?""
"Credit cards. Shopping. Some personal loans.""
I closed my eyes.
Brielle had always spent money as though it were unlimited.
When we were younger, she would borrow my clothes and return them stained. She had once convinced our mother to pay off a credit card by claiming she needed the money for university books.
But thirty-five thousand dollars was different.
"Did they tell you what to do in exchange for the money?""
She hesitated.
"Patricia asked me to help make sure the wedding happened.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"She wanted you and Marcus married before the end of October.""
"Why?""
"Because of the trust.""
My mother slowly sat down.
"What did Patricia tell you about the trust?""
Brielle swallowed.
"She said that once Nia was married, Marcus would have a stronger claim to the family assets.""
"That's not how the trust works," Mom said.
"I know that now!""
"You knew enough to help them obtain her signature.""
Brielle suddenly stood.
"Do you think I wanted to do this? Do you think I enjoyed watching you give everything to Nia?""
Mom looked up.
"What does your sister have that you don't?""
Brielle laughed bitterly.
"Everything!""
Her voice cracked.
"She got the attention. She got the opportunities. She got the nice house, the education, the perfect fiancé.
Even when Dad died, everyone worried about Nia because she was the oldest. Nobody noticed how I was doing.""
Mom's eyes filled with tears.
"Brielle, I was your mother too.""
"Then why did you always make me feel second?""
Mom stood slowly.
"I paid for your education. I helped you buy your first apartment. I covered your debts twice. I never stopped loving you.""
Brielle shook her head.
"You don't understand.""
"Then help me understand.""
My sister looked at me.
"Marcus said that if the investment went through, he could arrange a position for me in the new company. I wouldn't have to depend on anyone anymore.""
"And the thirty-five thousand?""
"That was an advance.""
"An advance for helping them steal my identity?""
She looked down.
Nobody spoke.
Then Mom asked the question I hadn't thought to ask.
"Brielle, did you know Patricia was planning to humiliate me at the wedding?""
My sister's eyes flickered.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"Brielle?""
She reached for her handbag.
"I have to go.""
I stood.
"Answer the question.""
She turned toward the door.
"Ask Patricia.""
"Why?""
Brielle stopped.
Then she looked over her shoulder.
"Because she told me that if Mom embarrassed herself in front of the guests, everyone would finally understand why she didn't belong in that family.""
My mother went pale.
I felt a rush of anger so intense that I could barely speak.
"You deliberately poured wine on her?""
Brielle shook her head.
"I didn't plan the whole thing. Patricia said we needed to teach her a lesson.""
"A lesson?""
"She said your mother was becoming too comfortable.""
Mom lowered herself into the chair.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked at my sister and asked the only question that mattered.
"Did Marcus know about the plan?""
Brielle hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed her phone.
"I have something you should see.""
She opened a conversation and placed the screen in front of me.
It was a message from Patricia, sent the night before the wedding.
*Patricia: Tomorrow, make sure Evelyn understands her place. After the reception, Nia will have no choice but to stand with Marcus's family.*
Beneath it was Brielle's reply.
*Brielle: And my money?*
Patricia had responded:
*Patricia: Once the papers are signed, you'll get everything we promised.*
I looked up.
"Why didn't you show us this yesterday?""
Brielle's voice trembled.
"Because there's something else.""
She scrolled further down.
Then she showed me a message sent by Marcus.
It was dated two days before the wedding.
*Marcus: Make sure Nia doesn't find out about the trust until after the ceremony. If she knows beforehand, she might refuse to sign.*
My sister lowered the phone.
"I think you need to know that Marcus wasn't planning to tell you about any of this.""
I stared at the message.
Then another notification appeared on Brielle's screen.
A new message from Patricia.
*Patricia: Tell Nia to stop asking questions. Her mother's company is being audited tomorrow. By Monday, Evelyn won't be in a position to threaten anyone.*
May you like
My mother slowly reached for the phone.
And for the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
