Chapter 3
I removed my wedding ring before Marcus answered.
It slid off more easily than I expected.
I held it between my fingers.
The diamond caught the light from the chandeliers.
Two hours earlier, I'd looked at that ring and imagined growing old beside him.
Now I could barely stand to touch it.
"Nia," Marcus whispered.
I placed the ring on the table.
"Answer my question."
He stared at it.
"Please don't do this."
"Did you plan to make me look unstable?"
Vanessa started crying again.
I didn't look at her.
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"It wasn't supposed to go this far."
My heart dropped.
I hadn't expected him to admit anything.
Not in front of everyone.
Not on our wedding day.
"What wasn't supposed to go this far?"
He glanced at Vanessa.
"She thought your mother was interfering."
I stared at him.
"Interfering with what?"
"Our marriage."
I laughed in disbelief.
"We got married today!"
He lowered his voice.
"Your mother never liked Vanessa."
"Because Vanessa spent the entire engagement insulting her!"
Vanessa shouted, "She judged me from the beginning!"
My mother had been standing near the bridal suite doorway.
She turned around.
Her eyes were wet, but her voice was steady.
"I never judged you, sweetheart."
Vanessa scoffed.
"Don't call me sweetheart."
Mom looked wounded.
I stepped closer.
"Then don't speak to her."
Marcus raised his hands.
"Enough. Everybody needs to calm down."
I looked at him.
"No, Marcus. You don't get to decide when this becomes inconvenient."
He stared at the guests.
Several were recording on their phones.
I knew those videos would probably be online before sunset.
But I couldn't worry about that.
Not now.
I turned to the wedding coordinator.
"Please stop the reception."
Her eyes widened.
"Mrs. Carter?"
I flinched at the name.
I'd been Mrs. Carter for less than two hours.
"Please."
She nodded and hurried toward the staff.
Marcus grabbed my hand.
"Nia, don't cancel everything."
I pulled away.
"Why not?"
"Because people traveled for this."
I stared at him.
"My mother was attacked."
"And I said I'm sorry!"
"No. You said you didn't know Vanessa would cut her hair."
He looked frustrated.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Tell the truth."
He looked away.
That was when Uncle Raymond spoke.
"Marcus, I think you've said enough."
Marcus turned.
"With respect, sir, this isn't your business."
My uncle walked closer.
"It became my business when you let someone humiliate my best friend's widow."
Marcus fell silent.
Uncle Raymond looked at Mom.
"Evelyn, come sit with me."
She shook her head.
"I need to hear this."
I turned toward her.
"Mom, you don't have to."
She took my hand.
"Neither do you, baby. But here we are."
My eyes filled.
I'd spent so much time believing I was protecting her.
But even now, she was protecting me.
The photographer, a quiet man named David, approached us.
"Excuse me."
I turned.
He looked uncomfortable.
"I think there's something you should see."
Marcus immediately stiffened.
"What?"
David hesitated.
"I was taking candid photographs near the bridal suite earlier."
I nodded.
"And?"
"I got several pictures of Vanessa speaking to Marcus."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"So?"
David looked at me.
"They were arguing."
My stomach tightened.
"About what?"
"I couldn't hear everything."
He glanced toward Marcus.
"But Vanessa was holding some papers. Marcus looked upset."
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's private."
David moved back.
I stared at my husband.
"What papers?"
"Nothing important."
Vanessa suddenly interrupted.
"They were seating arrangements."
I looked at her.
"Why would seating arrangements make Marcus angry?"
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I turned back to David.
"Can I see the pictures?"
He nodded.
We walked toward his equipment table.
Marcus followed.
Vanessa stayed behind, staring at us.
David opened his laptop.
The first image showed Marcus near the side entrance.
Vanessa stood in front of him.
Her hand was pressed against his chest.
The next photograph showed her holding a cream-colored envelope.
Then another.
Marcus was reaching for it.
In the final image, Vanessa was smiling while Marcus looked away.
I recognized the envelope.
I'd seen one just like it in our bedroom the previous week.
Marcus had told me it contained routine paperwork from our financial adviser.
I looked at him.
"What was in that envelope?"
His face turned pale.
"Nia."
"What was in it?"
He looked at David.
"Can we have some privacy?"
I folded my arms.
"No."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Then Vanessa appeared beside us.
She glanced at the laptop.
Her face changed.
"Delete those."
David frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"Those are private pictures."
He looked at me.
"I'm the hired wedding photographer. I'm not deleting anything without the client's approval."
I felt a small surge of gratitude.
Vanessa turned toward Marcus.
"Say something!"
He snapped, "Vanessa, stop talking."
I looked between them.
Again, that secret understanding.
Again, the same fear.
I turned to Jasmine.
"Can you find my purse?"
She nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I have a feeling those papers have something to do with my money."
Marcus stared at me.
"What?"
I looked at him.
"My savings account. The one we discussed last month."
He shook his head.
"Nia, don't start."
I remembered how he'd encouraged me to combine our finances immediately after the wedding.
He said married people shouldn't keep separate accounts.
I'd agreed to discuss it after our honeymoon.
Then Vanessa began telling people my mother was controlling and I couldn't make decisions without her.
At the time, I'd thought she was simply jealous.
Now I wasn't so sure.
Jasmine returned with my purse.
I pulled out my phone.
I opened my banking application.
Nothing looked immediately wrong.
Then I remembered an email from Marcus's financial adviser.
I'd ignored it because wedding preparations had consumed my time.
I searched my inbox.
There it was.
Subject: Joint Investment Authorization.
My hands started shaking.
I opened it.
The email referred to a proposed transfer of ninety thousand dollars.
My personal savings.
Money I'd earned before meeting Marcus.
Money my father had helped me start saving before he died.
I stared at the screen.
Then I looked at my husband.
"Marcus."
He went still.
"Why is someone preparing paperwork to transfer ninety thousand dollars from my account?"
Vanessa stopped moving.
Marcus swallowed.
"Nia, I can explain."
I looked at the woman who'd attacked my mother.
Then at the man who'd defended her.
And a terrible possibility entered my mind.
They hadn't only wanted to ruin my wedding.
May you like
They wanted something that belonged to me.
Something worth far more than a diamond ring.
