Chapter 6
I stood in the hospital lobby staring at Nia.
"What account?"
She looked toward the elevator.
Then whispered, "A line of credit."
My chest tightened.
"Against what?"
She began crying.
"Your mother's house."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I sat down.
Not because I wanted to.
Because my legs felt unsteady.
Nia stood in front of me.
"Marcus, I didn't know everything."
I looked up.
"Then tell me what you do know."
She swallowed.
"Mom said Evelyn's credit was excellent."
My stomach twisted.
"Of course it is. She's spent her entire life paying her bills."
Nia nodded.
"Mom said a temporary loan would cover the investment losses."
I stared at her.
"Did my mother agree?"
Nia looked down.
I felt my voice harden.
"Did she?"
"No."
The word was barely audible.
I closed my eyes.
"Then how did Celeste get her information?"
Nia began crying.
"From the wedding paperwork."
My heart pounded.
Mom had provided identification and financial records when she agreed to contribute.
She thought she was helping establish the payment schedule.
Instead, someone may have used those documents for another purpose.
I stood.
"Did you sign anything?"
Nia shook her head.
"No."
"Did Aaron?"
She hesitated.
"I don't know."
I stared at her.
"Are you telling me the truth?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"Yes."
I wanted to believe her.
But I'd believed too many things already.
I called Rachel immediately.
She listened.
Then instructed me to preserve Nia's statements and obtain copies of any relevant documents.
She also recommended that Mom's credit reports be reviewed and that appropriate fraud protections be placed on her accounts.
I agreed.
Then I looked at Nia.
"Will you give Rachel everything you know?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I took a breath.
"Then do it."
She reached for my hand.
"Marcus, can you ever forgive me?"
I looked at her.
The woman I almost married.
The woman I'd imagined standing beside me through old age.
The woman who'd humiliated my mother because she was afraid of being exposed.
I felt grief rise.
"I don't know."
She began sobbing.
I continued.
"But forgiveness won't make us husband and wife."
Her face collapsed.
I turned away.
And this time, I didn't look back.
Over the following week, Rachel uncovered more information.
A credit application had been submitted using Mom's personal details.
The amount requested was ninety thousand dollars.
The lender had flagged inconsistencies.
The funds had not been released.
I nearly collapsed with relief.
But the attempted application still needed investigation.
Mom was frightened when we told her.
She sat at her kitchen table, holding a cup of tea.
Her hands shook.
"Someone tried to borrow money in my name?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
She looked devastated.
"Why?"
I sat beside her.
"Because they thought they could use your good credit."
Her eyes filled.
"I spent my whole life trying to be responsible."
"I know."
She whispered, "Your father taught me that."
I smiled sadly.
Dad had always paid every bill before the due date.
He used to say peace of mind was worth more than expensive things.
Mom had lived by that rule.
And now someone had tried to exploit it.
I reached for her hand.
"We're securing everything."
She nodded.
"Thank you."
Then she looked toward the living room.
Her mint-green jacket hung beside the fireplace.
I followed her gaze.
"Mom?"
She smiled faintly.
"Your father would've been so upset about the wedding."
My throat tightened.
"He would've been upset with me for letting it happen."
She shook her head.
"No."
I looked at her.
"He would've been proud that you stood up."
I began crying.
Mom pulled me into a hug.
For a moment, I felt seventeen again.
Scared.
Unsure.
Looking for my mother's comfort after losing Dad.
Only now, I was a grown man trying to protect her.
I held her tightly.
"I love you."
She kissed my forehead.
"I love you too."
The investigation continued.
Celeste's financial records were reviewed by the appropriate authorities.
Aaron provided information about the investment account.
Nia cooperated with Rachel's requests.
The foundation's board began seeking recovery of the questionable transfers.
And Mom's credit application was formally disputed.
There were no instant solutions.
But the truth was coming into focus.
Celeste had been struggling financially for years.
Her expensive home carried a large mortgage.
Her lifestyle was supported by borrowed money.
She had promised Nia a spectacular wedding because she wanted their family to appear successful.
When the costs exceeded what she could afford, she turned to Mom.
First through the wedding contribution.
Then through the investment.
Then through the foundation.
And finally through the attempted credit application.
Each decision made the next one easier.
Until everything collapsed.
One afternoon, Aaron came to see me.
He looked exhausted.
"Marcus."
I nodded.
"Aaron."
He stood awkwardly in the doorway.
"Can we talk?"
I invited him into my office.
He sat across from me.
Then took a deep breath.
"I need to apologize."
I waited.
He continued.
"I helped move the money."
I nodded.
"I know."
He looked down.
"I thought Mom knew what she was doing."
I stared at him.
"Did you know the money belonged to Evelyn?"
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
My jaw tightened.
"Then you knew enough to ask permission."
He began crying.
"You're right."
I didn't comfort him.
He needed to sit with that truth.
After a moment, he reached into his bag.
He removed a folder.
"These are the investment statements."
I took them.
He continued.
"I also found emails from Mom."
My stomach tightened.
"What emails?"
"She was telling the investment manager to keep the withdrawals hidden from Evelyn."
I stared at him.
Aaron's voice broke.
"I want to help make things right."
I looked at the folder.
Then back at him.
"Give these to Rachel."
He nodded.
"I will."
I studied his face.
For the first time, he looked genuinely ashamed.
But shame wasn't enough.
He would need to cooperate.
Face consequences.
And help restore what could be recovered.
As he stood to leave, he hesitated.
"Marcus?"
I looked up.
"Yes?"
He swallowed.
"There's something you should know about Nia."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
Aaron looked down.
"She didn't just know Mom was using the wedding money."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"She came up with the plan to ask Evelyn for it."
I felt cold.
Then he said something worse.
"She told us Evelyn would never refuse her son."
May you like
I stared at Aaron.
And suddenly, I understood how carefully my mother's love had been used against her.
