Chapter 3
Patricia had warned me not to speak with Evelyn.
I remembered the conversation clearly.
It happened the morning after Evelyn first contacted me.
Patricia called while I was driving to work.
"Nia, sweetheart, Marcus's mother is going through a difficult time."
I asked what she meant.
She sighed.
"She's been confused about family matters."
Then she told me to ignore anything Evelyn said about Marcus's past.
At the time, I assumed she was trying to prevent wedding drama.
Now I stared at her face in the hospital photograph.
She had been there when Lily was born.
She knew the baby survived.
And she knew exactly who her father was.
I looked at Marcus.
"Where is Patricia?"
He glanced toward the hallway.
"Probably with the guests."
I held up the photograph.
"She was at the hospital."
Marcus stared.
His expression changed.
"What?"
I placed it in his hand.
He studied the picture.
Then he looked toward Evelyn.
"Aunt Patricia told me Danielle was gone."
Evelyn lowered her head.
Marcus stepped backward.
"She told me I should stop searching."
I felt my stomach twist.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
I took Lily's hand.
"Sweetheart, did your mother leave anything else?"
She shook her head.
"Just the letter and pictures."
I nodded.
Then I suggested she spend a little time in the garden with Mrs. Jenkins.
This time, Lily agreed.
Marcus kissed her forehead.
"I'll be right here when you come back."
She looked at him carefully.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"Really."
When the door closed, Marcus turned toward Evelyn.
"Tell me everything."
His mother began crying.
"I never wanted this."
I felt anger rising.
"Then why did it happen?"
Evelyn looked at me.
"Because Patricia convinced me Danielle was trying to destroy Marcus's future."
Marcus stared.
"What?"
His mother wiped her cheeks.
"After Danielle became pregnant, Patricia told me she had been contacting reporters."
I frowned.
"Reporters?"
"She said Danielle planned to expose private financial information about the family."
Marcus shook his head.
"Danielle wasn't like that."
Evelyn nodded.
"I know that now."
I looked toward the photograph.
Danielle was smiling at her newborn daughter.
Nothing about her expression suggested a woman plotting revenge.
Evelyn continued.
"Patricia said Danielle would demand money. She told me we needed legal protection."
Marcus clenched his fists.
"What legal protection?"
"An agreement."
I felt cold.
"The document with Marcus's signature?"
Evelyn nodded.
"I thought he had signed it."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Mom, I didn't!"
"I know."
Her voice broke.
"I know now."
I stared at her.
"When did you discover the truth?"
She looked away.
"Three years ago."
My heart sank.
"When Lily came to live with you?"
Evelyn nodded.
I struggled to contain my anger.
"You knew three years ago that Marcus hadn't signed?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"Yes."
Marcus stared at her.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
She whispered, "Because Patricia threatened me."
I felt a chill.
"What kind of threat?"
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
"She said she'd accuse me of helping commit the fraud."
Marcus looked stunned.
"Did you?"
His mother closed her eyes.
"I signed a witness statement."
The room went silent.
I felt my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Evelyn looked directly at her son.
"I signed a statement saying I watched you sign the agreement."
Marcus stepped away from her.
His face turned white.
"Mom..."
"I was told it was only a formality."
"You lied."
She began sobbing.
"Yes."
He stared at her.
"You helped take my daughter away."
Evelyn covered her face.
I watched my future mother-in-law collapse beneath the weight of her confession.
Part of me felt compassion.
But another part was furious.
She had spent seven years protecting herself while a little girl grew up without knowing her father.
"Why did you finally come forward?" I asked.
Evelyn looked toward the garden.
"Because Lily started asking about Marcus."
I waited.
"She found an old photograph of him."
Her voice broke.
"She asked why the man in the picture looked like her."
I swallowed.
Evelyn continued.
"I told her he was her father."
Marcus closed his eyes.
"And then?"
"She wanted to meet him."
I stared.
"Why wait until today?"
Evelyn looked at me.
"Because Patricia told me Marcus was getting married and would never accept Lily now."
I felt sick.
"Patricia said that?"
Evelyn nodded.
"She said the new bride wouldn't want a child from his past."
I looked down at my wedding gown.
The woman who had helped me choose this dress had apparently believed I would reject an innocent child.
Or perhaps she wanted me to.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Did Patricia arrange our introduction?"
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
He looked confused.
"She said we were perfect for each other."
I stared at the photograph.
Patricia had known about Lily.
She had helped hide her.
And she had introduced Marcus to a woman with no connection to his past.
Suddenly, the wedding felt less like a celebration and more like something someone had carefully arranged.
I reached for my phone.
"Marcus, we need an attorney."
He nodded.
"Yes."
I called Denise Whitaker, a family law attorney I'd worked with through the hospital's community outreach program.
She answered after two rings.
"Nia?"
"Denise, I need help."
I explained the situation.
She listened carefully.
Then she asked us to preserve the original envelope and every document inside.
She also advised that Marcus and Evelyn obtain separate legal representation because their interests might differ.
I understood.
Before ending the call, she asked one question.
"Nia, does the document identify the person who prepared it?"
I looked at the bottom.
A law firm's name appeared.
Whitmore Legal Associates.
I read it aloud.
Denise went silent.
Then she said:
"Nia, that firm was connected to a financial fraud investigation several years ago."
My stomach tightened.
"What kind of investigation?"
"Estate and trust documents."
I looked toward Marcus.
He was staring at Evelyn.
Denise continued.
"Don't assume it's connected. But we need to review this carefully."
I thanked her.
Then ended the call.
A moment later, the sitting-room door opened.
Patricia entered wearing an elegant red dress.
She smiled brightly.
"There you all are!"
Nobody answered.
She looked around.
"What's happening?"
I slowly held up the hospital photograph.
Her smile disappeared.
Marcus stepped toward her.
"Aunt Patricia, why were you at Lily's birth?"
She froze.
Then she looked at Evelyn.
"You told them?"
Evelyn began crying.
Marcus's voice hardened.
"Answer me."
Patricia stared at the letter in my hand.
Then she whispered something that made my skin crawl.
"You should have left that envelope sealed."
May you like
And I knew she wasn't surprised by the secret.
She was terrified that we had finally found proof.
