Chapter 6
The morning after my wedding, I sat in my hotel suite wearing pajamas and reviewing financial records instead of packing for our honeymoon.
Marcus stood beside the window, speaking with his father.
My laptop was open.
Three separate loan guarantees appeared on the screen.
Each carried my company's name.
Each contained a signature that looked like mine.
And each represented money I had never agreed to borrow.
I felt sick.
My design firm, Carter Creative Group, employed thirty-two people.
Thirty-two families depended on those paychecks.
I wasn't going to let Daniel use my company's reputation to cover his financial mistakes.
Rachel joined the video call.
"Nia, we've confirmed that the lender is reviewing the authenticity of the guarantees."
I nodded.
"Good."
She continued.
"We've also secured the company's financial accounts and notified our legal team."
I took a breath.
"What about payroll?"
"Protected."
Relief washed through me.
"Thank you."
Then Rachel hesitated.
"There's something else."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Several payments connected to Evelyn Carter's foundation appear to have been routed through one of Daniel's companies."
I closed my eyes.
Grandma's foundation.
The place she had dreamed of helping young women learn design.
The place she had trusted us to protect.
Daniel had used it too.
I looked at Marcus.
He ended his call and came toward me.
"What happened?"
I explained.
His expression darkened.
"Nia, I'm so sorry."
I took his hand.
"Stop apologizing for him."
He nodded.
"You're right."
I looked back at Rachel.
"Can we trace the money?"
"We're working with independent accountants."
I nodded.
"Do everything by the book."
After ending the call, I leaned back.
For a moment, I felt overwhelmed.
My wedding day had been beautiful.
But the consequences of Vanessa and Daniel's decisions were spreading.
I wondered whether we would ever get to enjoy being newlyweds.
Marcus sat beside me.
"Hey."
I looked up.
"Yeah?"
"Come here."
He pulled me into his arms.
I rested my head against his chest.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "We can postpone the honeymoon."
I sighed.
"I know."
"But we don't have to postpone being happy."
I looked at him.
He smiled.
"You're my wife."
I laughed softly.
"Yes, I am."
He kissed my forehead.
"And I'm your husband."
I smiled.
"Unfortunately."
He burst out laughing.
For the first time that morning, I felt lighter.
We spent the next several days working with attorneys and investigators.
Olivia helped preserve the original documents.
Financial experts reviewed the transfers.
And the lenders began examining how the guarantees had been created.
Meanwhile, Vanessa contacted me.
I almost ignored the call.
But something made me answer.
"Nia?"
Her voice sounded small.
I took a breath.
"Hello, Vanessa."
She hesitated.
"Can we talk?"
I looked toward Marcus.
He nodded gently.
I sighed.
"About what?"
"Grandma's foundation."
My chest tightened.
"What about it?"
Vanessa began crying.
"I know where some of the money went."
I sat upright.
"Where?"
"Daniel bought property."
I frowned.
"What kind?"
"Land outside Atlanta."
My heart jumped.
"Do you have documents?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
I took a breath.
"Then give them to your attorney and have them preserved."
She began sobbing.
"Nia, I'm scared."
I looked down.
I could hear genuine fear in her voice.
But I also knew she had to face the consequences of her decisions.
I spoke gently.
"Vanessa, telling the truth is the first step."
She cried harder.
"I don't want to lose everything."
I swallowed.
"Neither did Grandma."
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered, "I know."
I continued.
"She trusted us to protect her work."
Vanessa began sobbing.
"And I failed her."
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I remembered us as little girls.
Sitting in Grandma's sewing room.
Playing with fabric scraps.
Watching her work.
Vanessa used to love designing dresses.
She would make little outfits for her dolls.
Grandma always praised her creativity.
Somewhere along the way, my sister had started believing being second meant being worthless.
I felt sad.
But I couldn't fix that for her.
She had to decide who she wanted to become.
I took a breath.
"Vanessa, I hope you choose honesty."
She nodded through the phone.
"I will."
After we ended the call, Marcus sat beside me.
"How are you feeling?"
I sighed.
"Complicated."
He smiled sadly.
"That makes two of us."
We looked at each other.
Then laughed softly.
The following week, investigators located several properties purchased through companies connected to Daniel.
Some funds appeared traceable to the foundation.
Other money came from disputed loans.
The financial picture was complicated.
But for the first time, there was a possibility of recovering some of what had been stolen.
Then something unexpected happened.
A woman named Alicia Bennett called me.
Daniel's wife.
I had been dreading that conversation.
She had two young sons.
She was a nurse.
A kind, hardworking woman who believed her husband was building a successful investment business.
Now she was learning that he had been unfaithful and potentially involved in serious financial crimes.
When I answered, her voice trembled.
"Nia?"
I swallowed.
"Alicia."
She began crying.
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"For what happened at your wedding."
My heart tightened.
"Alicia, you didn't do anything wrong."
She sobbed.
"I feel so stupid."
I closed my eyes.
"Please don't call yourself that."
She took a shaky breath.
"I trusted him."
I nodded slowly.
"I know."
She continued.
"And Vanessa..."
Her voice broke.
I felt sick.
"I wish there were words that could make this easier."
She cried harder.
"There aren't."
I sat quietly.
Then I asked, "Are you and the boys safe?"
She nodded.
"We're staying with my mother."
Relief washed through me.
"Good."
She took a breath.
"I've hired an attorney."
I nodded.
"That's wise."
Then she said something unexpected.
"Nia, I found documents in Daniel's office."
My chest tightened.
"What documents?"
She hesitated.
"Files with your name on them."
I sat upright.
"What kind?"
"Loan applications. Copies of your signature. Business records."
My stomach twisted.
I looked toward Marcus.
He was watching me.
Alicia continued.
"I think Daniel had been planning to use your company for months."
I felt cold.
"How long?"
She swallowed.
"Since before you got engaged."
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Daniel had been using information about me before Marcus and I were officially engaged.
Had he planned to exploit our relationship?
Was Vanessa's involvement part of that?
I took a breath.
"Alicia, please preserve those documents and give them to your attorney."
She nodded.
"I will."
Then she whispered, "Nia, I'm sorry my husband hurt your family."
My eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry he hurt yours."
For a moment, we cried together.
Two women whose lives had been disrupted by the same man's choices.
When the call ended, I looked at Marcus.
He took my hand.
"What happened?"
I told him.
His face went pale.
Then he whispered, "Daniel was planning this before the wedding?"
I nodded.
"Apparently."
He looked devastated.
I squeezed his hand.
"Marcus, listen to me."
He raised his eyes.
"Your brother's choices aren't yours."
He nodded slowly.
"And we aren't going to let him define our marriage."
Tears filled his eyes.
He pulled me close.
"Thank you."
I held him.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Olivia.
NIA, WE HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH.
I opened it.
Another message followed.
THE DOCUMENTS ALICIA FOUND MAY PROVE DANIEL FORGED YOUR SIGNATURES.
My heart jumped.
Then came a third message.
AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT VANESSA WAS NOT THE ONLY FAMILY MEMBER WHO KNEW.
I stared at the screen.
My stomach tightened.
Because there was only one other person who had been closely involved in both the foundation and the wedding finances.
My mother.
Claire.
I slowly looked toward Marcus.
He noticed my expression.
"What?"
I swallowed.
"Olivia says someone else knew."
His face changed.
"Who?"
I stared at my phone.
May you like
Then whispered, "I think we need to talk to Mom."
For the first time, I wondered whether the woman who taught me to trust my family had been keeping the biggest secret of all.
