Chapter 3
I stared at my mother.
"What did you invest in?"
She adjusted the pearl bracelet around her wrist.
"Nia, this isn't the place."
I looked around the private room.
The wedding music sounded faintly through the wall.
My husband stood beside me.
My sister's boyfriend was staring at her in disbelief.
And my mother was still trying to decide when I was allowed to hear the truth.
"Then where is the place, Mom?"
She looked away.
I continued.
"At Grandma's funeral? When you told me Vanessa was struggling?"
Silence.
"At the estate meeting? When you asked me to give her half the house?"
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Stop bringing up the house."
I stared.
"That's what this is about."
She shook her head.
"You got everything."
"No, Vanessa."
I took a slow breath.
"You got forty thousand dollars. I got forty thousand dollars and a house Grandma specifically wanted me to keep."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Exactly. You got more."
"Because I cared for her."
She glared.
"I had a life!"
I felt the familiar pain.
For four years, Grandma Ruth had needed increasing help.
I drove her to medical appointments.
Managed groceries.
Helped with medications.
Sometimes I slept on her sofa because she was frightened of being alone.
Marcus helped whenever he could.
Vanessa visited on holidays.
Occasionally.
My mother said I was being dramatic whenever I admitted feeling exhausted.
But Grandma never did.
She always thanked me.
I missed her so badly that my throat hurt.
Elijah looked toward Vanessa.
"What happened to your money?"
She said nothing.
My mother finally sighed.
"We invested in a beauty business."
I blinked.
"What?"
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"Mom!"
Diane turned sharply.
"Well, somebody needs to explain!"
I looked between them.
"What beauty business?"
Vanessa whispered, "A salon."
I stared.
"You bought a salon?"
She shook her head.
"We were going to."
Elijah looked stunned.
"You told me you were saving for our apartment."
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I turned toward Mom.
"How much did you invest?"
She hesitated.
"Thirty-five thousand."
My stomach tightened.
"Of Vanessa's inheritance?"
"Yes."
I looked at Vanessa.
"And the remaining five?"
She began crying.
"I had bills."
Elijah stepped backward.
"Vanessa, we've been splitting rent while you told me you had no savings."
She reached toward him.
"Baby, please."
He shook his head.
"I've been working overtime to help you pay for things."
Her face crumpled.
I looked toward my mother.
"What happened to the salon?"
Mom swallowed.
"The deal fell apart."
"Why?"
"Because the person arranging it disappeared."
I stared.
"You gave thirty-five thousand dollars to somebody without verifying the business?"
Vanessa snapped.
"We verified it!"
"Then where is the money?"
Neither answered.
My mother looked away.
I suddenly remembered something.
Three months earlier, Mom had called me crying.
She said she needed ten thousand dollars for emergency repairs to her house.
I offered to send a contractor to inspect the problem.
She became angry.
She said I didn't trust her.
I refused to transfer the money without understanding the repairs.
She hung up.
The next day, Vanessa called me selfish.
I felt cold.
"Mom, was that why you asked me for ten thousand dollars?"
Her expression changed.
I knew the answer.
"That money wasn't for repairs."
She shook her head.
"Nia..."
"It was for Vanessa."
My mother began crying.
"I was trying to help your sister recover her investment."
I stared at her.
"By lying to me?"
She didn't answer.
"And when I refused, you decided to pressure me for Grandma's house?"
Vanessa suddenly shouted.
"You don't even need that house!"
I turned toward her.
She pointed at Marcus.
"Your husband makes good money! You have a beautiful home!"
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Our finances have nothing to do with Grandma's wishes."
Vanessa looked at him.
"Stay out of it!"
He stepped closer.
"No. You've been using my wife's kindness against her for years."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
I had never told Marcus every painful childhood memory.
He knew enough.
But hearing him defend me without hesitation made my eyes fill.
Vanessa looked toward our mother.
"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?"
Mom opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Something had changed.
For the first time, Marcus wasn't willing to play along.
And I wasn't either.
Elijah sat heavily in a chair.
He looked devastated.
"Vanessa, is the pregnancy real?"
The question shocked me.
Vanessa stared at him.
"Of course it is!"
He rubbed his forehead.
"Then why didn't you tell me privately before announcing it to three hundred people?"
She swallowed.
"I wanted it to be special."
He looked at her.
"Special for who?"
Silence.
Then Elijah asked another question.
"Did you know you were going to announce it tonight?"
My mother looked down.
Vanessa didn't answer.
He stared at both women.
"You planned this?"
Finally, Mom whispered, "Vanessa said it would help Nia understand how much support she needs."
I felt sick.
My sister had turned her pregnancy announcement into a weapon.
And Mom had helped.
Elijah stood.
"I need some air."
Vanessa rushed toward him.
"Please don't leave."
He looked at her.
"I'm not leaving the baby."
Then his expression hardened.
"But I need to know who I'm having a baby with."
He walked out.
Vanessa burst into tears.
My mother immediately hugged her.
Then looked at me.
"Look what you've done."
I stared.
There it was again.
Everything was my fault.
Even now.
Even after the threats.
Even after the lies.
I took Marcus's hand.
"No, Mom."
She blinked.
"Vanessa made these decisions. You helped her."
My voice steadied.
"And I am finished paying for them."
Then I walked toward the door.
But before I reached it, Vanessa spoke.
Her voice was cold.
"You think Grandma's house is safe because it's in your name?"
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa wiped her tears.
My mother looked terrified.
May you like
And my sister smiled.
"Maybe you should check the paperwork Mom signed last month."
