Chapter 5
I read my father's letter three times.
Each time, the words hurt differently.
He had written it while he was in the hospital.
I remembered visiting him after school.
He was thin and exhausted.
But whenever I entered the room, he smiled.
"My little princess."
I hated remembering that nickname.
Not because it was painful.
Because I had spent years behaving like the title meant everyone owed me something.
The letter continued.
"If I cannot walk you down the aisle, please let Evelyn stand beside you. She has been a mother to you in every way that matters."
My hands trembled.
I remembered the wedding.
Evelyn standing near the flower wall.
Her hopeful smile.
Her hands folded neatly.
Waiting to be included.
And me pulling her away.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
"Evelyn, why didn't you show me this years ago?"
She wiped her cheeks.
"I wanted you to love me because you chose to."
My heart broke.
"You thought I wouldn't?"
She looked down.
"After your father died, you were angry."
I nodded.
I remembered those years.
I was twelve.
I blamed everyone.
The doctors.
The hospital.
The world.
Sometimes I blamed Evelyn simply because she was still there.
She never stopped caring for me.
But I rarely thanked her.
She continued.
"You kept saying I wasn't your real mother."
Tears filled my eyes.
"I know."
"I thought if I showed you his letter, you'd feel like I was using his words to make you love me."
I covered my face.
Evelyn touched my shoulder.
"I wanted you to come to me when you were ready."
I looked at her.
"And I never did."
She smiled sadly.
"You did today."
I began crying again.
For several minutes, we sat together.
Then I asked something I'd never thought to ask before.
"Did you ever want to leave?"
Evelyn looked surprised.
"What?"
"After Dad died. When I was cruel to you."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Sometimes."
My heart tightened.
She continued.
"I was grieving too. I had lost my husband. I was trying to raise a frightened little girl who didn't know where to put her anger."
I stared at her.
"Why did you stay?"
She took my hand.
"Because your father and I had promised to raise you together."
I began sobbing.
"And because I loved you."
I leaned against her shoulder.
For the first time in years, I allowed myself to feel the full weight of that love.
Not as something embarrassing.
Not as an obligation.
As a gift.
Later that afternoon, Marcus called.
I almost didn't answer.
Then I remembered the promise I'd made to myself.
No more hiding.
"Hello?"
"Nia."
His voice was gentle.
"How's Evelyn?"
I looked at her.
She was making tea.
"She's okay."
"Did you talk?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
Then he asked, "How are you?"
I took a breath.
"Not good."
He remained silent.
I continued.
"I hurt her, Marcus."
"I know."
"I didn't understand how much she'd sacrificed."
He sighed.
"Nia, I tried to tell you."
My throat tightened.
"I know."
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I said, "I found a letter from Dad."
Marcus sounded surprised.
"What letter?"
I explained.
When I finished, he was silent.
Then he whispered, "I'm glad you found it."
I wiped my cheeks.
"Marcus, I don't expect you to forgive me."
He didn't answer.
I continued.
"But I'm going to make things right for Evelyn, whether you marry me or not."
There was another long pause.
Then he said, "That's the first thing you've said that makes me believe you understand."
My eyes filled.
I wanted to ask whether he still loved me.
Whether we had a future.
Whether he would come back.
But I didn't.
Instead, I asked, "Can you help me review the wedding accounts?"
He took a breath.
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"Thank you."
He continued.
"Rebecca has found another issue."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Tasha submitted an invoice for twelve thousand dollars through Luxe Event Services."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"Premium floral installation."
I looked toward the wedding photographs.
The enormous white flower wall had been beautiful.
But twelve thousand dollars?
Marcus continued.
"The florist says the actual installation cost was about four thousand."
My stomach dropped.
"Where did the rest go?"
"That's what we're investigating."
I closed my eyes.
Tasha had been my cousin and best friend since childhood.
She was the person I called when I got engaged.
The first person I showed my dress.
The woman who stood beside me at every fitting.
I had trusted her with everything.
And now she might have used my vanity to steal from Evelyn.
I felt sick.
Marcus continued.
"Rebecca also found suspicious payments connected to the photographer and entertainment company."
I stared at the floor.
"How much?"
"We don't know yet."
I took a shaky breath.
"Please keep going."
He paused.
"Nia, are you sure?"
"Yes."
I looked at Evelyn.
She was carefully arranging two cups of tea on the tiny table.
Her hands were slightly swollen from arthritis.
She had worked hard her entire life.
And I had allowed someone to use her sacrifice as an opportunity.
"I want every dollar accounted for."
Marcus's voice softened.
"Okay."
After the call, I helped Evelyn organize her belongings.
I noticed several envelopes stacked beneath her bed.
Medical bills.
Prescription receipts.
A letter from the landlord.
I hesitated.
"Evelyn, can I ask you something?"
She looked up.
"Of course."
"Are you having trouble paying for your medication?"
Her smile faded.
"Not really."
I sat beside her.
"Please tell me the truth."
She looked away.
"Sometimes I wait until the next pension payment."
My chest tightened.
"You skip doses?"
She shook her head quickly.
"Only when the prescription is delayed."
I felt sick.
She had given me fifty-eight thousand dollars.
And now she was struggling with medical expenses.
I took her hand.
"I'm arranging a proper place for you to live."
She shook her head.
"Nia, no."
"Please."
"I don't want you spending money you don't have."
I nodded.
"Then we'll do it responsibly. I'll work out a plan with Rebecca and my financial adviser."
She looked at me.
"Why?"
I stared at her.
"Because you deserve to feel safe."
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she said something that nearly broke me.
"I don't need a big house, sweetheart."
I nodded.
"I know."
"I just want to know I won't be thrown away when I'm inconvenient."
I covered my mouth.
For years, I had made Evelyn feel like she was only welcome when she was useful.
I pulled her into my arms.
"Never again."
She began crying.
I held her tightly.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Rebecca.
She had discovered a second bank account connected to Luxe Event Services.
The account had received several wedding payments.
And according to the registration documents, the secondary account holder wasn't Tasha.
It was someone I knew even better.
Someone who had stood beside Marcus during the ceremony.
I opened the attached document.
My heart stopped.
The name on the account was Daniel Carter.
Marcus's younger brother.
May you like
And suddenly, the theft wasn't just connected to my family.
It had reached into his.
