Chapter 4
Patricia's expression changed the moment Marcus stepped closer.
"Tell me what happened."
She lifted her chin.
"Not here."
I almost laughed.
For seven years, this family had avoided the truth.
Now Patricia wanted another private conversation.
I stood.
"No. You don't get to decide when we're allowed to ask questions."
She glared at me.
"Nia, this is family business."
I looked at her.
"A seven-year-old girl is family."
Patricia's face tightened.
Marcus stepped beside me.
"Why did you help separate me from my daughter?"
His aunt crossed her arms.
"Because someone had to protect you."
He stared.
"Protect me from what?"
"From Danielle."
I felt anger rise.
"She's dead, Patricia. Stop blaming her."
Patricia looked away.
Marcus took a breath.
"What did she supposedly do?"
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said, "She discovered something she shouldn't have."
The room fell silent.
I looked toward Evelyn.
Her face was pale.
"What did Danielle discover?"
Patricia shook her head.
"That's not relevant anymore."
Marcus's voice grew cold.
"It is to me."
She looked at him.
"Marcus, your father trusted me."
He didn't move.
"Don't use Dad."
Patricia's expression changed.
For a moment, she looked genuinely frightened.
Then she stepped backward.
"I need my attorney."
I nodded.
"That's probably wise."
She turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked directly at Evelyn.
"You have no idea what you've started."
Then she disappeared into the hallway.
Marcus stood motionless.
I touched his arm.
"Marcus?"
He looked at me.
His eyes were filled with tears.
"I don't know who these people are anymore."
My heart broke.
I wanted to hold him.
But I also needed answers.
And I wasn't ready to pretend our wedding could continue as though nothing had happened.
"We need to think about Lily first," I said.
He nodded.
"Yes."
We brought her back inside.
She ran toward Marcus.
"Daddy!"
He knelt and caught her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
I watched them.
For years, this little girl had been waiting for him.
And now he was holding her.
I felt tears fill my eyes.
But then Lily asked something that made the room go quiet.
"Can I come home with you?"
Marcus froze.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
I knelt beside them.
"Sweetheart, we need to make sure everything is arranged safely."
Lily looked confused.
"Why?"
I gently touched her hand.
"Because grown-ups have paperwork to figure out. None of it is your fault."
Her lower lip trembled.
"I don't want Daddy to disappear."
Marcus pulled her close.
"I won't."
I looked at him.
He was crying.
Then he whispered, "I promise, Lily."
I knew he meant it.
But promises weren't enough.
We needed to make sure she could trust them.
That afternoon, we canceled the reception.
I spoke with the venue coordinator.
I apologized for the disruption.
She looked at me kindly.
"Miss Carter, family comes first."
I nodded.
"It does."
Marcus remained with Lily while I arranged for the guests to leave.
Some people asked questions.
I didn't answer.
I wasn't going to turn a child's pain into entertainment.
When the chapel finally emptied, I returned to the sitting room.
Marcus was on the floor playing with Lily's stuffed bunny.
She was laughing.
A real laugh.
The sound made my chest ache.
I sat nearby.
For a few minutes, everything felt peaceful.
Then Evelyn approached.
"Nia, may I speak with you?"
I looked at her.
"Of course."
We stepped into the hallway.
She looked exhausted.
"I know you must hate me."
I took a breath.
"I don't hate you."
Her eyes filled.
"But I don't understand you."
She nodded.
"I know."
I continued.
"You knew Lily needed her father."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Yes."
"And you knew Marcus was being lied to."
She lowered her head.
"Yes."
I looked at her carefully.
"Why was protecting Patricia more important than protecting Lily?"
Evelyn began sobbing.
"It wasn't."
I waited.
"I was afraid."
My throat tightened.
"Afraid of what?"
She wiped her face.
"Patricia said if the truth came out, Marcus would lose his inheritance."
I stared.
"What inheritance?"
Evelyn looked toward the closed door.
"His father's company."
I felt cold.
She continued.
"Marcus's father left a trust that was supposed to transfer control of the business when Marcus turned thirty-five."
I frowned.
"Marcus is thirty-two."
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes."
I stared at her.
"What does Lily have to do with that?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Danielle discovered that Patricia had been taking money from the trust."
My stomach dropped.
"How much?"
Evelyn looked away.
"I don't know."
I felt sick.
"Did Danielle report it?"
Evelyn nodded.
"She tried."
I took a breath.
"And Patricia threatened her?"
Evelyn began crying harder.
"Yes."
I looked toward the sitting room.
Lily was still laughing with Marcus.
Seven years earlier, her mother had apparently discovered financial wrongdoing.
And somehow, that discovery led to her being separated from the man she loved.
I looked back at Evelyn.
"Did Patricia have anything to do with Danielle's death?"
Evelyn froze.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she whispered:
"I don't know."
My heart began pounding.
"Why not?"
Evelyn looked at me.
"Because the last time I saw Danielle alive, she told me someone had been following her."
I stared at her.
"What?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"She was terrified."
I felt cold.
"Did you tell the police?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"No."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Why?"
She covered her face.
"Because Patricia told me Danielle was trying to manipulate us."
I stepped backward.
For the first time, I understood how dangerous this family's silence had been.
It wasn't just about money.
It wasn't just about custody.
A young mother had died.
And the people around her had ignored warnings that might have mattered.
I looked toward the sitting room.
Then I whispered:
"Evelyn, we need to find out what really happened to Danielle."
She nodded through tears.
May you like
"I know."
And I realized our canceled wedding was only the beginning of a much larger investigation.
