Chapter 2
I could barely hold the document.
My cheek still burned where my mother had slapped me.
Marcus stood beside me, watching Diane carefully.
Tasha stared at the papers.
And every guest in that ballroom seemed to be waiting for me to reveal something terrible.
I looked at the first sentence.
The additional provision had been written at my grandfather's request.
It stated that my inheritance was intended to remain under my exclusive control.
Then came the explanation.
I leave this amount to Nia because I have already provided substantial financial assistance to Diane for Tasha's benefit.
My stomach tightened.
Substantial financial assistance?
I continued reading silently.
The document referred to payments totaling nearly one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
Money my grandfather had supposedly provided for Tasha's education, housing, and personal support.
I looked up.
"Tasha, did Grandpa give you money?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"Did he help pay for your college?"
Tasha shook her head.
"No. Mom said Grandpa couldn't afford to help."
Diane immediately interrupted.
"That's enough!"
I stared at her.
"Mom, what happened to the money?"
She folded her arms.
"Your grandfather helped the family. That doesn't concern you."
Tasha stepped forward.
"One hundred and eighty thousand dollars?"
Her voice was barely audible.
Diane glared at her.
"Tasha, stay out of this."
But my sister didn't move.
"Mom, you told me Grandpa refused to pay for my tuition."
Diane looked away.
"You don't understand."
I stared at the document.
The money had been transferred over several years.
Tuition payments.
Housing assistance.
Educational support.
Emergency funds.
My grandfather had kept detailed records.
And according to his final instructions, he believed Diane had failed to use those funds as intended.
I felt cold.
"Mom," I whispered, "where did it go?"
Diane's face twisted.
"This is ridiculous! Your grandfather was confused before he died."
I looked at her.
"Grandpa was perfectly clear when he signed these documents."
"He was old!"
"He was seventy-nine, not incapable."
Marcus touched my arm.
"Nia, you don't need to read everything here."
I looked at him.
He was right.
This wasn't simply a family argument anymore.
It involved private financial records and accusations that deserved proper review.
I turned toward the guests.
"I'm sorry this happened."
My voice trembled.
"Marcus and I invited everyone here to celebrate our engagement. You deserve better than this."
Marcus took the microphone from the bandleader.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to take a short break. Please enjoy the refreshments."
Then he signaled to the event coordinator.
The musicians resumed playing softly.
Guests began moving away.
Some looked embarrassed.
Others looked concerned.
But my mother remained in the center of the floor.
She pointed at me.
"You think you're better than your sister?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"Then give her the money!"
"Mom, stop!"
Tasha's voice rang across the room.
Diane turned.
My sister was crying.
"Please stop talking about me like I'm some helpless child."
Diane looked stunned.
"Tasha—"
"I never asked Nia for her inheritance."
The words surprised me.
I stared at my sister.
Tasha wiped her cheeks.
"Mom told me Grandpa wanted the money divided between us."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
Tasha nodded.
"She said the attorney made a mistake and you refused to correct it."
I felt anger rising.
"That's not true."
Tasha looked devastated.
"I know that now."
Diane stepped toward her.
"Sweetheart, you're upset."
Tasha backed away.
"Don't."
For the first time in my life, I saw my sister reject our mother's attempt to control the conversation.
Diane looked between us.
Then she turned toward Marcus.
"This is your fault!"
He stared at her.
"Excuse me?"
"Ever since Nia met you, she's become arrogant."
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Nia has spent years helping this family."
Diane laughed.
"You don't know anything about our family."
"I know enough to recognize when someone is being mistreated."
My mother opened her mouth.
Marcus raised his hand.
"You're leaving."
Diane stared at him.
"You can't throw me out!"
"This is our engagement party. You're no longer welcome tonight."
Security approached.
My mother looked toward the guests.
Nobody intervened.
She turned to me one final time.
"You will regret humiliating me."
I met her eyes.
"You're responsible for your own behavior."
Her expression filled with hatred.
Then she grabbed her handbag and followed security toward the exit.
The ballroom doors closed behind her.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Marcus pulled me gently into his arms.
I began crying against his chest.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He held me tighter.
"For what?"
"For ruining tonight."
He stepped back and looked directly into my eyes.
"Nia, you didn't ruin anything."
I shook my head.
"Everyone saw."
"Then everyone saw me stand beside the woman I love."
I began crying harder.
He kissed my forehead.
"You're not responsible for your mother's choices."
Those words felt unfamiliar.
Beautiful.
Almost impossible to believe.
Tasha approached slowly.
Her makeup had smudged beneath her eyes.
"Nia?"
I looked at her.
She held out her phone.
"I think you need to see something."
I wiped my cheeks.
"What?"
She opened an old message from our mother.
It had been sent three weeks earlier.
Grandpa's money belongs to you. Nia is keeping it because she's selfish. I'll make sure she gives it back.
My chest tightened.
Tasha scrolled down.
Another message appeared.
Don't contact the attorney. I'll handle everything.
I stared at the screen.
Then Tasha whispered, "There's more."
She opened a photograph.
It showed a bank statement.
A large transfer from my grandfather's account had been deposited into an account controlled by Diane.
The transfer was dated five years earlier.
And the amount was sixty thousand dollars.
Exactly the amount Grandpa had left me.
Tasha looked at me.
"Mom told me this was money from her retirement account."
I felt my stomach turn.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?"
"Nia Williams?"
"Yes."
"This is Attorney Samuel Brooks. I represented your grandfather."
My heart jumped.
"Mr. Brooks?"
His voice was serious.
"I apologize for calling during your engagement celebration, but I received a concerning message from your mother."
I glanced toward the ballroom doors.
"What message?"
He paused.
"She claimed you were voluntarily surrendering your inheritance."
I stopped breathing.
"I never agreed to that."
"I suspected as much."
May you like
Then he said something that made my knees weaken.
"Nia, your grandfather left additional evidence with instructions that it be released if Diane attempted to take your inheritance."
