Chapter 1
The Bride Who Tried to Kill My Grandmother
I watched my bride shove my seventy-two-year-old grandmother toward the edge of a rooftop.
For one horrifying second, I couldn't move.
Then I heard Grandma Evelyn scream.
And everything I thought I knew about the woman I was marrying shattered.
The wedding was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
Two hundred guests had gathered on the rooftop terrace of the Sterling Grand Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
White roses decorated the glass railings.
Crystal chandeliers hung beneath the covered reception area.
The city skyline stretched beyond the terrace.
And my bride, Nia Carter, looked absolutely breathtaking.
Her white lace gown shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.
Her long black waves fell perfectly over her shoulders.
She smiled like an angel.
But I was about to discover that the woman behind that smile was capable of something monstrous.
My name is Marcus Williams.
I'm thirty-two years old.
And until that afternoon, I believed I was marrying the love of my life.
I had known Nia for almost three years.
She was beautiful, intelligent, charming, and confident.
She knew exactly what to say to make people feel special.
At least, that's what I'd believed.
My grandmother had never trusted her.
Evelyn Williams raised me after my parents died in a car accident when I was twelve.
She worked two jobs to keep food on our table.
She paid for my education.
She stayed awake through every fever, every nightmare, and every heartbreak.
When I built my first successful company, the first thing I did was buy her a house.
When I proposed to Nia, Grandma smiled and congratulated us.
But later, when we were alone, she held my hand.
"Marcus, sweetheart, promise me something."
"Anything, Grandma."
"Never let love make you blind to someone's character."
I laughed.
"You're worried about Nia?"
She looked away.
"I'm worried about you."
I thought she was being overprotective.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The disaster began fifteen minutes before our wedding ceremony.
I was near the ballroom entrance speaking with Arthur Brooks, the hotel's head of security.
Arthur had known my family for years.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his forties who rarely smiled, but I trusted him completely.
"Everything ready?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Security is in position. Guests are seated. Weather looks good."
I laughed nervously.
"Then I guess there's no turning back."
Arthur smiled.
"That's usually how weddings work."
Then his radio crackled.
A staff member reported an argument near the rooftop's western railing.
Arthur frowned.
"Excuse me."
I followed his gaze.
Across the terrace, I saw Grandma Evelyn standing beside Nia.
Grandma wore a beautiful champagne-gold beaded gown.
Her silver curls moved gently in the breeze.
She appeared to be speaking calmly.
But Nia's expression was furious.
I couldn't hear what they were saying.
Then Grandma reached toward her handbag.
Nia grabbed her wrist.
My heart skipped.
"Arthur," I said.
He turned.
And then it happened.
Nia placed both hands against my grandmother's shoulders.
And shoved.
Hard.
Grandma stumbled backward.
Her body struck the glass railing.
The upper edge caught her at the waist as she lost her balance.
Then she tipped toward the open drop beyond it.
She screamed.
"Marcus!"
I ran.
But someone moved faster.
A young hotel server named Maya Johnson dropped the champagne tray she was carrying.
Crystal glasses shattered across the marble floor.
She lunged toward the railing.
And caught Grandma's wrist.
With her other hand, she grabbed the back of Grandma's gown.
"HELP ME!"
Her scream cut through the music.
I sprinted toward them.
Arthur was already moving.
Grandma was hanging dangerously beyond the railing, her weight dragging Maya forward.
Maya's shoes scraped against the floor.
Her face twisted with effort.
"PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP!"
Arthur grabbed Grandma's upper arm.
I reached around him and caught her other arm.
Together, we pulled.
For several terrible seconds, I thought we were going to lose her.
Then Grandma's body cleared the railing.
We lowered her onto the terrace.
She collapsed against me.
Her breathing was rapid.
Her eyes were wide with terror.
"Grandma!"
I held her trembling shoulders.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
But she couldn't speak.
Maya dropped to her knees beside us.
Her black server uniform was torn at the sleeve.
Blood trickled from a small cut on her palm where broken glass had scratched her.
She was crying.
"Thank God."
I looked at her.
"You saved her."
Before she could answer, Nia screamed.
"GET THAT GIRL AWAY FROM HER!"
I turned.
My bride stood several feet away.
Her beautiful face was twisted with anger.
She pointed directly at Maya.
"She caused this!"
I stared at her.
"What?"
Nia began crying.
"The server pushed your grandmother!"
Maya looked up in disbelief.
"What?"
Nia stepped closer.
"I saw her!"
Maya stood.
"I SAVED HER!"
My head spun.
I looked from Nia to Maya.
Then back at Grandma.
"What happened?"
Nia rushed toward me.
"Marcus, baby, you have to believe me."
She grabbed my arm.
"That server attacked Evelyn. I tried to stop her!"
Maya shook her head.
"That's a lie!"
Nia turned toward her.
"How dare you!"
Maya's voice trembled with fury.
"I watched you shove that woman!"
The entire terrace fell silent.
Guests stared.
Someone dropped a champagne flute.
I felt Nia's hand tighten around my arm.
"Marcus, don't listen to her. She's trying to ruin our wedding."
Maya looked directly at me.
"Then check the rooftop camera."
Nia froze.
I noticed immediately.
The tears stopped.
Her fingers loosened around my sleeve.
Arthur looked toward the security camera mounted above the terrace.
Its small red indicator light was blinking.
Recording.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"Arthur."
He nodded.
"Already checking."
He pulled out his phone and contacted the surveillance desk.
Grandma slowly pushed herself upright.
I tried to help her.
"Don't move yet."
She shook her head.
Then she reached for Maya's hand.
Maya knelt beside her.
Grandma squeezed her fingers.
"She's telling the truth."
Nia's face went pale.
"Grandma, you're confused."
Evelyn looked directly at her.
"No, child."
Her voice was weak.
But firm.
"I know exactly what happened."
I stared at my bride.
"Nia?"
She stepped backward.
"Marcus, please."
Arthur's phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
Then raised it.
"The footage is ready."
My heart pounded.
Nia's eyes widened.
I stepped toward her.
"If that camera shows you pushed my grandmother..."
My voice broke.
I couldn't finish.
Nia backed away.
"Marcus, please don't."
Grandma tightened her grip on Maya's hand.
Then she looked at Arthur.
"Play it."
Arthur touched the screen.
And the first frame appeared.
My bride.
My grandmother.
The railing.
Everything.
But before I saw what happened next, I noticed something that made my blood turn cold.
Nia wasn't looking at Grandma in the recording.
May you like
She was looking directly at the security camera.
And she was smiling.
