Chapter 6
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Denise standing beside me at our wedding.
I remembered her vows.
Her tears.
The way she squeezed my hand when the minister pronounced us married.
I had believed every word.
Now I didn't know what had been real.
At eight the next morning, Raymond called.
"I've obtained the publicly available marriage records," he said.
My heart pounded.
"And?"
"Denise Carter married Terrence Holloway in 2017."
I closed my eyes.
Four years before she married me.
"Was there a divorce?"
"I haven't found a recorded divorce decree yet. We're requesting certified records from the relevant courts."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.
"So we don't know for certain."
"Not yet. But the possibility is serious."
I looked toward the kitchen.
Jordan was making breakfast.
He had no idea what I was hearing.
"Raymond, what happens if she was still married?"
"We'll need to examine the legal effect under Georgia law. It may affect the validity of your marriage and any claims involving property."
I rubbed my forehead.
"I trusted her."
"I know."
"She lived with us. She ate at our table. She called Jordan her son."
Raymond let me finish.
Then he said quietly, "Marcus, focus on what you can prove."
I took a breath.
He was right.
Anger wouldn't recover Jordan's money.
It wouldn't undo the years of manipulation.
And it wouldn't protect us from further damage.
I needed facts.
Two days later, Raymond called again.
The certified records showed Denise's earlier marriage.
They also showed no divorce before the date of our ceremony.
Additional court checks were still underway, but the evidence was becoming difficult to explain away.
I sat at my desk for a long time.
Then I called Denise.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus?"
"We need to talk."
She sighed.
"Finally."
"Not at the house."
"Why?"
"Raymond's office. Tomorrow afternoon."
Her tone changed.
"Why is your lawyer involved?"
"Because the situation requires it."
She was silent.
Then she said, "You're being dramatic."
I didn't respond.
"Marcus, we can work this out."
I looked at our wedding photograph.
"That depends on whether you're willing to tell the truth."
She hung up.
The next afternoon, Denise arrived at Raymond's office wearing a cream blazer and dark trousers.
She looked composed.
Almost cheerful.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Marcus."
I didn't stand.
She glanced at Raymond.
"Is this really necessary?"
He gestured toward a chair.
"Please sit."
Denise lowered herself carefully.
I placed a folder on the table.
"We need to discuss Jordan's accounts."
She sighed.
"Again?"
"Yes."
Raymond opened the documents.
"We have records of payments from Jordan's accounts to entities associated with you."
Denise folded her arms.
"He authorized those payments."
"That's one of the issues we're reviewing."
She looked at me.
"Marcus, you're letting lawyers turn a family disagreement into something ugly."
I leaned forward.
"Did you take money from Alicia's insurance proceeds?"
Her expression tightened.
"I helped Jordan manage his finances."
"Did you transfer money into your company?"
"Some of it was invested."
"Without my knowledge?"
"Jordan was legally an adult."
I stared at her.
"And the forged signature?"
She blinked.
"What forged signature?"
Raymond placed the family financial agreement in front of her.
"Mr. Williams disputes signing this document."
Denise examined it.
Then she shrugged.
"I don't remember every form."
I felt anger rise.
"That's my name."
She looked at me.
"Then perhaps you signed it and forgot."
I shook my head.
"I was in Jacksonville that day."
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Raymond continued.
"We're preserving the document for expert examination."
Denise straightened.
"I want my own attorney."
"You're entitled to one," Raymond said.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
"Who is Terrence Holloway?"
Denise froze.
I watched the color leave her face.
"What?"
"Terrence Holloway."
She looked at Raymond.
"Why are you asking about him?"
"Because money from Jordan's accounts went to a company connected to him."
She swallowed.
"He's a business associate."
I held her gaze.
"Anything else?"
"No."
I opened another folder.
Inside were copies of marriage records.
I placed them on the table.
Denise looked down.
For the first time since entering the room, she seemed unable to speak.
"You married Terrence in 2017," I said.
She stared at the paper.
"And I haven't found a divorce before our wedding."
Denise slowly looked up.
"Marcus, I can explain."
I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
"Then explain."
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
"Were you still married to him when you married me?"
Her eyes filled.
"It's complicated."
I shook my head.
"That's not an answer."
She looked toward Raymond.
"I need legal advice."
He nodded.
"Then we should stop here."
Denise stood.
I remained seated.
She looked at me.
"Marcus, I love you."
I closed my eyes.
For years, I had wanted those words to mean something.
Now they sounded like another way to avoid answering.
I opened my eyes.
"Then why did you make my son afraid of losing his home?"
She said nothing.
"Why did you take money his mother left him?"
Her chin trembled.
I stood.
"And why did you marry me while hiding another husband?"
She began crying.
I wanted to believe the tears.
That was the frightening part.
Some part of me still remembered the woman I loved.
The woman who sat beside me when I was sick.
The woman who laughed with me while decorating the Christmas tree.
The woman who kissed me goodbye every morning.
But I could no longer let those memories outweigh what we had found.
"Denise, I'm done accepting explanations without evidence."
She reached for my arm.
I stepped back.
Her face collapsed.
Then she whispered, "Terrence told me everything would be fine."
I stared at her.
"What?"
She looked away.
I felt my heart pounding.
"Denise, what did Terrence tell you?"
Her breathing quickened.
"He said Jordan wouldn't notice."
My stomach turned.
"Notice what?"
She covered her mouth.
Then she started crying harder.
"That the money was being used."
I stared at her.
"Used for what?"
She shook her head.
"Marcus, please."
"Tell me."
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Terrence said we'd replace it before Jordan graduated."
I couldn't speak.
My son's education money had been treated like a temporary loan.
A loan he never knowingly agreed to make.
I looked at Raymond.
He was taking careful notes.
Denise suddenly grabbed her purse.
"I shouldn't have said anything."
She hurried toward the door.
I didn't follow.
But before she left, I heard her whisper something that made me turn.
"Terrence is going to kill me when he finds out."
The door closed.
I looked at Raymond.
He looked back at me.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered whether Denise was not only involved in the scheme.
She might also be afraid of the man who helped create it.
