Chapter 6
I stared at the phone.
Deliberately weakened.
Those words echoed through my mind.
The replacement gown hadn't simply been uncomfortable.
Someone had altered it.
Someone had created a situation where it might fail in front of hundreds of guests.
I remembered Vanessa's smile when the zipper began separating.
The satisfaction in her eyes.
The way she'd pretended to be shocked.
My stomach twisted.
"Celeste, are you sure?"
The boutique owner hesitated.
"Our staff documented unusual damage to the zipper before the gown left the shop. A specialist believes the stitching had been compromised."
I closed my eyes.
"Do you still have the inspection notes?"
"Yes."
"Can you send them to my attorney?"
"Of course."
I thanked her.
Then I ended the call.
Marcus was sitting across from me.
He studied my expression.
"What happened?"
I told him.
His jaw tightened.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, "She wanted to humiliate you."
I nodded.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"On my wedding day."
Marcus moved beside me.
He wrapped his arms around me.
I pressed my face against his chest.
For years, Vanessa had treated me like competition.
She wanted the better grades.
The more expensive clothes.
The bigger birthday parties.
The attention.
But I never imagined she'd deliberately sabotage my wedding dress.
I pulled back.
"Why does she hate me so much?"
Marcus looked at me.
"I don't know."
His honesty hurt.
Then he continued.
"But whatever is happening inside her doesn't excuse what she did."
I nodded.
For the first time, I understood that I might never receive an explanation that made sense.
Some people hurt others because they believe they're entitled to control everything.
And sometimes the people who suffer spend years searching for a reason that doesn't exist.
Rachel added the boutique records to our case file.
She explained that the dress incident and the estate dispute were separate matters, but the evidence might help establish a broader pattern of conduct.
I agreed.
Then something unexpected happened.
Maya called.
Not Vanessa.
Not Diane.
Maya was my cousin, twenty-four years old, and one of Vanessa's closest friends.
She had served as a bridesmaid.
At the wedding, she'd barely spoken to me after the zipper incident.
Now her voice shook.
"Nia, can we talk?"
I hesitated.
"About what?"
She took a breath.
"Your sister."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
Maya began crying.
"I knew she took your dress."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Then she continued.
"But I didn't know she was going to damage the replacement."
My heart pounded.
"What do you mean?"
Maya hesitated.
"I saw her messing with the zipper."
I sat upright.
"When?"
"The morning of the wedding."
My stomach twisted.
I remembered Vanessa entering the bridal suite with the crystal gown.
She'd held it carelessly.
Almost triumphantly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Maya sobbed.
"I was scared."
I felt anger rising.
"Scared of what?"
"Vanessa said she'd tell everyone about something I did if I interfered."
I took a breath.
"What did you do?"
There was a pause.
"I helped her get your wedding dress from the boutique."
I closed my eyes.
Maya continued.
"She told me you approved the change."
I swallowed.
"And you believed her?"
"At first."
I looked toward Marcus.
He was watching me carefully.
Maya's voice broke.
"Then I saw her smiling while she damaged the zipper."
I felt sick.
"Why are you telling me now?"
She hesitated.
"Because she's planning something else."
My heart pounded.
"What?"
"She's trying to move money out of one of her business accounts."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Maya lowered her voice.
"She says your lawyers are getting too close."
I stared at the wall.
Then Maya whispered, "Nia, I think she's preparing to leave."
I felt cold.
"Leave where?"
"I don't know."
"Are you sure?"
Maya began crying again.
"She's been talking about selling her car and closing accounts."
I looked at Marcus.
He immediately reached for his phone.
I told Maya to contact Rachel directly.
She agreed.
After the call, Marcus looked at me.
"We need to tell your attorney."
I nodded.
Rachel answered immediately.
When I explained what Maya said, she became serious.
"We'll verify the information and take appropriate steps to protect any assets that may be subject to recovery."
I took a breath.
"Can Vanessa just disappear?"
Rachel hesitated.
"People can travel. But courts have procedures for preserving assets and enforcing orders when the evidence supports it."
I nodded.
Then she continued.
"Nia, I need you to do something."
"What?"
"Stop communicating with Vanessa directly."
I looked down.
"Okay."
"Let us handle the legal issues."
I agreed.
The next morning, Marcus and I flew to Jamaica.
I almost canceled.
My stomach was full of anxiety.
But when we landed, the warm air and ocean breeze made me feel something I hadn't felt in weeks.
Peace.
We spent our first afternoon walking along the beach.
Marcus held my hand.
The water was bright blue.
The sky was clear.
And for the first time since the wedding, I laughed without forcing it.
That evening, we ate dinner beside the ocean.
Marcus looked at me.
"How are you feeling?"
I smiled.
"Like I can breathe."
He reached for my hand.
"Good."
Then he said something I'll never forget.
"Nia, you don't have to spend our marriage proving you're worthy of love."
My eyes filled.
"Sometimes I don't know how to stop."
He smiled gently.
"Then we'll learn together."
I leaned across the table and kissed him.
For a few beautiful hours, I forgot about Vanessa.
Forgot about the trust.
Forgot about the lies.
Then my phone vibrated.
Rachel.
I answered immediately.
Her voice was urgent.
"Nia, we need to talk."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"We've obtained additional bank records."
I sat upright.
"And?"
"Vanessa has been moving money between accounts."
My heart pounded.
"How much?"
Rachel hesitated.
"Several hundred thousand dollars."
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Then she said something worse.
"And one of the accounts receiving those funds was opened using your personal information."
