Chapter 5
I stared at Denise.
"Adrian was holding Bianca's ring?"
She nodded.
"That's what the video appears to show."
My heart began pounding.
"Does he know about the recording?"
"Not yet."
I looked toward the window.
For four years, I had trusted my husband.
I knew his habits.
His favorite foods.
The way he smiled when he was nervous.
The way he rubbed his forehead when he was worried.
But I suddenly realized how little I knew about the conversations he had when I wasn't present.
"Can I see it?" I asked.
Denise hesitated.
"Are you feeling well enough?"
I took a breath.
"I need to know."
She opened her laptop.
The recording began.
The private bridal suite.
Three hours before the reception.
Adrian entered carrying a small jewelry box.
Margaret stood near the window.
Bianca sat at a dressing table.
He placed the box in front of her.
"Here's the ring you asked me to pick up from the jeweler."
Relief washed through me.
It sounded innocent.
Bianca opened the box.
She smiled.
"It's perfect."
Then Margaret spoke.
"Adrian, we need to discuss Serena."
My husband sighed.
"Not today, Mom."
Margaret folded her arms.
"She still hasn't signed the investment papers."
Adrian looked uncomfortable.
"Because she hasn't agreed."
My heart tightened.
He knew.
He knew I'd never agreed.
Bianca turned toward him.
"Can you just talk to her again?"
He shook his head.
"She's eight months pregnant. I'm not pressuring her over business."
For one brief moment, hope flooded my chest.
Then Margaret said something that made me freeze.
"You need to decide whether you're loyal to your wife or this family."
Adrian looked down.
"Mom, please."
The recording continued.
Bianca closed the jewelry box.
"Maybe Serena needs to understand how much damage she can cause."
Adrian frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Margaret answered.
"It means we won't let her ruin everything we've worked for."
Adrian stepped backward.
"I don't want any part of this."
He turned and left.
The recording showed Margaret watching the door close.
Then she looked at Bianca.
"He's getting soft."
Bianca smiled coldly.
"Then we'll handle Serena ourselves."
The video ended.
I sat motionless.
My feelings were tangled.
Relief.
Anger.
Confusion.
Adrian hadn't agreed to the ring scheme in that recording.
But he had known about the investment.
He had known his mother was pressuring me.
And he'd never told me how far things had gone.
I looked at Denise.
"He tried to stop them."
She nodded.
"In that conversation, yes."
I swallowed.
"But he still signed the witness statement."
"That's an important issue we need to examine."
I stared at my hands.
For the first time since the wedding, I felt something other than rage toward Adrian.
I felt sadness.
He had tried to avoid conflict.
And by avoiding it, he'd left me alone to face the consequences.
That evening, he called.
I almost ignored him.
Then I answered.
"Serena?"
His voice was quiet.
"Can we talk?"
I looked toward the hospital door.
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"I spoke with Denise."
My chest tightened.
"About the video?"
"Yes."
I waited.
"I didn't know they were planning to accuse you of stealing."
"I believe that."
He exhaled.
"Thank God."
I took a breath.
"But Adrian, you knew they wanted my money."
Silence.
"You knew they were discussing my trust."
His voice broke.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He hesitated.
"Because Mom said it would be a family investment."
I closed my eyes.
"Adrian, my money isn't a family resource your mother gets to distribute."
"I know."
"Do you?"
He began crying.
"Serena, I was wrong."
I waited.
He continued.
"I thought I could keep everyone happy."
My throat tightened.
"You watched your mother tear my dress."
He went silent.
I felt tears rise.
"Why didn't you stop her?"
His voice cracked.
"Because I froze."
I looked down.
"I needed you."
"I know."
"Our daughter needed you."
He began sobbing.
"I'm so sorry."
For a moment, I wanted to comfort him.
Then I remembered something my mother used to say.
"An apology isn't a repair plan."
I took a breath.
"Adrian, what are you going to do?"
He went quiet.
Then he answered.
"I'm going to tell investigators everything."
I swallowed.
"Even if it hurts Margaret?"
"Yes."
"Even if it hurts Bianca?"
"Yes."
I looked toward the window.
"And what about the trust document you signed?"
He took a breath.
"I've contacted an attorney."
I felt relief.
"Good."
He continued.
"I told him I signed without witnessing your signature."
My eyes filled.
For once, Adrian wasn't hiding.
But that didn't mean I was ready to trust him again.
"I need time," I whispered.
"I know."
"And I need space."
"I'll give you both."
We ended the call.
The next morning, I was discharged from the hospital.
Dad had prepared a guest suite at his home.
Naomi was waiting when we arrived.
She rushed toward me.
"Serena!"
I fell into her arms.
She held me tightly.
"I wanted to drive to that ballroom and drag Margaret out myself."
I laughed through tears.
"Please don't."
She pulled back.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
She looked at my belly.
"How's my niece?"
I smiled.
"Doing wonderfully."
Naomi knelt.
"Hi, Grace."
My daughter kicked.
Naomi gasped.
"She heard me!"
We laughed.
For the first time in days, the sound felt natural.
That afternoon, Dad asked to speak privately.
We sat in his study.
He looked tired.
"Serena, there's something I need to tell you."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"The trust administrators discovered another attempted transaction."
I stared.
"Another one?"
He nodded.
"This one was submitted four months ago."
My heart pounded.
"Four months?"
"Yes."
He placed a statement on the desk.
The requested amount was three hundred thousand dollars.
The beneficiary was a company I didn't recognize.
WMR Consulting.
I frowned.
"Who owns that?"
Dad looked at me.
"We're investigating."
Then he turned the page.
An address appeared.
It was Margaret's residential address.
My hands went numb.
"She tried before?"
Dad nodded.
"Apparently."
I stared at the document.
Then something caught my attention.
A second name was listed as an authorized contact.
Not Adrian.
Not Bianca.
Someone else.
I read it aloud.
"Julian Brooks."
Bianca's new husband.
I looked at Dad.
"Julian was involved?"
His expression darkened.
"We don't know yet."
I leaned back.
May you like
For the first time, I realized the financial scheme might reach far beyond Margaret and Bianca.
And that the wedding itself may have been designed to bring one more person into it.
