Chapter 1
My sister stole the microphone during my first dance and announced her pregnancy in front of three hundred wedding guests.
But what she didn't know was that I had a message on my phone that could destroy the perfect little performance she'd planned.
And when I finally raised that phone, the smile disappeared from her face.
My name is Nia Carter.
I was twenty-nine years old, wearing the wedding dress I'd dreamed about since I was a little girl, and standing in the arms of the man I loved.
My husband, Marcus Bennett, looked unbelievably handsome in his black tuxedo.
His arms were wrapped around my waist.
The crystal chandeliers glowed above us.
White roses surrounded the dance floor.
Soft pink smoke drifted around our feet.
Everything was perfect.
For approximately forty seconds.
Then my younger sister Vanessa decided that my wedding needed to become her personal celebration.
"EVERYONE!"
Her voice exploded through the speakers.
The music stopped.
Marcus froze.
I turned.
Vanessa was rushing toward us in her sparkling rose-gold gown, waving one hand while gripping the microphone she'd snatched from the wedding host.
Her boyfriend, Elijah, hurried after her.
He looked confused.
"Vanessa, what are you doing?"
She ignored him.
I felt my stomach tighten.
I knew that expression.
The bright smile.
The raised chin.
The excitement shining in her eyes.
Vanessa wore that expression whenever she was about to take something that belonged to me.
"Everyone, we have our own announcement!"
I stared at her.
Not tonight.
Please.
Not tonight.
Vanessa grabbed Elijah's hand and pulled him toward the center of the dance floor.
Then she practically shouted.
"WE'RE EXPECTING A BABY!"
For one terrible second, nobody moved.
Then my mother jumped out of her chair.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Diane Carter, sixty-one years old, wearing an expensive champagne-colored beaded gown, began clapping wildly.
"I'm going to be a grandmother!"
A few guests followed her applause.
Others looked at me.
Some whispered.
Someone gasped.
And I stood there in my wedding dress, watching my first dance disappear beneath another one of Vanessa's performances.
Marcus leaned toward my ear.
"She promised she wouldn't do this."
His voice was shaking with anger.
I nodded slowly.
Because he was right.
Three weeks earlier, Vanessa had hinted that she had exciting news.
I asked her directly whether she planned to announce anything at the wedding.
She laughed.
"Relax, Nia. Not everything is about you."
Then Marcus spoke to her privately.
She promised him she wouldn't interrupt our ceremony or reception.
Apparently, promises meant nothing when Vanessa wanted attention.
My mother rushed onto the dance floor.
She hugged Vanessa.
Then Elijah.
Then Vanessa again.
"Oh, sweetheart, this is wonderful!"
Vanessa laughed dramatically.
"I know, Mom!"
I watched my mother's face.
Pure happiness.
The kind of happiness I had spent my entire childhood trying to earn.
When I graduated with honors, she complained that my dress was too plain.
When I got my first promotion, she asked whether I could help Vanessa find work.
When Marcus proposed, she said, "Well, at least one of my daughters is settling down."
But when Vanessa announced a pregnancy during my wedding?
My mother acted as though heaven had personally opened.
Marcus tightened his arm around me.
"Nia, we can have the host take the microphone back."
I shook my head.
"No."
He looked at me.
I swallowed the tears burning behind my eyes.
"I'm handling this."
Vanessa was still speaking.
"We wanted to share our happiness with all the people we love!"
My mother shouted from beside her.
"Let her have her moment!"
Something inside me went completely still.
Her moment.
At my wedding.
During my first dance.
After Marcus and I had spent eighteen months planning this day.
After saving money.
After working overtime.
After personally paying for almost everything.
I stepped forward.
Vanessa noticed.
Her smile widened.
"Oh, here comes the bride!"
A few people laughed nervously.
I held out my hand.
"The microphone."
She blinked.
"Nia, don't be dramatic."
"Give it to me."
Her smile tightened.
"Can't you just be happy for me?"
I looked directly at her.
"At my wedding?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't be selfish, Nia."
There it was.
The word my family had used against me for twenty-nine years.
Selfish.
Whenever I wanted something.
Whenever I said no.
Whenever I refused to make Vanessa's life easier.
I was selfish.
I gently but firmly took the microphone from her hand.
Then I looked around the ballroom.
Three hundred faces stared back.
My best friend, Tasha, stood beside the bridal table.
Her expression was furious.
Marcus moved beside me.
He didn't touch the microphone.
He simply placed his hand against my back.
Letting me know he was there.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Congratulations."
She blinked.
I continued.
"I hope your baby is healthy and loved."
Some guests nodded.
Vanessa smiled again.
But I wasn't finished.
I reached into the small pocket hidden inside my wedding gown.
And pulled out my phone.
"Since everyone is listening..."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
I unlocked the screen.
"Vanessa, should I read the message you sent me this morning?"
Her face changed instantly.
Not embarrassment.
Not surprise.
Fear.
Real fear.
My mother's applause stopped.
"Nia, what are you doing?"
I ignored her.
Vanessa took one step toward me.
"Don't you dare."
I looked down at the message.
It had arrived at 7:16 that morning.
While my makeup artist was working.
While my bridesmaids were laughing.
While I was trying to believe that nothing could ruin the happiest day of my life.
The message said:
"If you don't agree to give me my share of Grandma Ruth's money by tonight, I'll make sure nobody remembers your wedding."
I had read it six times.
Then I'd shown Marcus.
He told me to save it.
I did.
Now Vanessa was standing in front of everyone, pretending her interruption had been an innocent celebration.
I raised the phone.
"Then tell them why you really came tonight."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Nia, stop."
My mother moved toward us.
"Put that phone away!"
I looked at her.
"Why?"
She stopped.
I felt my heart pounding.
"Because you already know what Vanessa threatened to do?"
Mom's face went pale.
Marcus moved closer.
And suddenly I understood something.
My mother wasn't surprised by Vanessa's announcement.
She had known.
She had known exactly what my sister planned.
I looked from one woman to the other.
May you like
Then asked the question that made Vanessa's hands begin to shake.
"Mom, what did you and Vanessa do with Grandma Ruth's money?"
