Chapter 2
"Read it aloud."
Marcus's voice echoed through the breakfast room.
Mr. Harris looked uncomfortable.
I sat perfectly still.
For the first time since breakfast began, nobody was telling me to sign anything.
The notary adjusted his glasses.
"The Whitmore Family Trust establishes that any proposed transfer of controlling interests to a spouse requires independent approval from the designated successor trustees."
Richard frowned.
"So get approval."
Mr. Harris continued.
"It also prohibits direct or indirect transfer of controlling interests to any entity affiliated with the spouse or the spouse's immediate family without a full conflict-of-interest review."
Marcus slammed his hand against the table.
"That's ridiculous!"
I looked at him.
"Why?"
He turned toward me.
"Because we're married!"
"Yes, Marcus. I remember yesterday."
Evelyn inhaled sharply.
I continued.
"But marriage doesn't erase my grandmother's instructions."
Mr. Harris studied the next paragraph.
"There's also a mandatory disclosure requirement."
Richard's expression changed.
"What disclosure?"
"All financial interests held by the proposed recipient and related parties must be disclosed before approval."
I looked at Marcus.
"That includes Bennett Capital."
His face tightened.
"Don't start."
I hadn't mentioned Bennett Capital by accident.
It was the family investment firm Richard operated.
For months, Marcus had insisted that my grandmother's company needed outside management.
He said Whitmore Holdings was growing too slowly.
He claimed his father's experience could double our profits.
Every time I asked for audited financial statements, Marcus changed the subject.
Now I understood why those requests had made him angry.
Mr. Harris closed the folder.
"I cannot notarize this transfer under the circumstances presented."
Richard stood.
"You're being paid to witness signatures, not give opinions."
The notary remained calm.
"My responsibility includes confirming the signer is acting voluntarily and that the notarization is appropriate. I will not proceed."
Marcus pushed his chair back.
"Fine. We'll find someone else."
I stood too.
"No, Marcus."
He turned.
"What?"
"There won't be another transfer."
He stared at me.
Then his expression softened.
Too quickly.
"Baby, you're upset."
"I'm disappointed."
"We can discuss this privately."
"We are discussing it."
He reached for my hand.
I stepped back.
His smile disappeared.
"Simone, don't ruin our marriage over paperwork."
I looked at the untouched breakfast plates.
Then at the white roses arranged along the windows.
Yesterday, those flowers had decorated our wedding ceremony.
I remembered walking down the aisle.
Marcus had cried when he saw me.
I believed those tears were real.
Now I wondered whether he was crying because he loved me or because he thought he had finally secured my inheritance.
I looked at his parents.
"Did either of you know about this agreement before yesterday?"
Richard crossed his arms.
"Of course."
Evelyn quickly touched his sleeve.
He looked at her.
And something passed between them.
A warning.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How long have you been planning this?"
Marcus sighed.
"You're making accusations."
"I'm asking a question."
He leaned toward me.
"You know what your problem is, Simone?"
I remained silent.
"You let your grandmother control your life even after she died."
The words hurt more than I expected.
My grandmother, Eleanor Whitmore, had raised me after my parents died in a highway accident.
She taught me how to read financial statements before I learned to drive.
She took me to construction sites.
She introduced me to employees by name.
She never treated her company as a trophy.
She treated it as a responsibility.
And Marcus had just reduced her life's work to an inconvenience.
I looked at him.
"Leave."
His expression froze.
"What?"
"I want you and your parents to leave my house."
Evelyn gasped.
"Simone!"
Richard laughed bitterly.
"That house was supposed to become part of the family arrangement."
I turned toward him.
"What arrangement?"
He went silent.
Marcus stepped between us.
"Enough."
But I had heard him.
I walked closer to Richard.
"What arrangement?"
He looked away.
I turned to Evelyn.
She was suddenly fascinated by her coffee.
Finally, Marcus spoke.
"You're being paranoid."
I reached into my robe pocket and removed my phone.
"Then you won't mind if I call my attorney."
Marcus lunged toward the table.
"Don't!"
I froze.
He stopped himself.
For one terrible second, I saw naked panic in his eyes.
Then he forced another smile.
"Let's handle this between us."
I looked at him.
"No."
I dialed the number.
My attorney, Angela Price, answered on the second ring.
"Simone? Aren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon?"
"I need you at the mansion."
Her voice changed.
"What happened?"
"Marcus tried to make me transfer Grandma's company."
Silence.
Then Angela said something that made my heart race.
"Did you sign anything?"
"No."
"Good. Don't."
Marcus stared at me.
Angela continued.
"Keep the documents. I'll be there."
I ended the call.
Richard picked up his briefcase.
"This is a misunderstanding."
I looked at him.
"Then why are you leaving?"
He ignored me.
Evelyn hurried after him.
Marcus remained.
He stood beside the table, staring at the black folder.
Finally, he looked at me.
"You've made a serious mistake."
I felt cold.
"Is that a threat?"
He smiled without warmth.
"It's advice."
Then he walked away.
I watched him disappear into the hallway.
A few seconds later, I heard the front door slam.
Mr. Harris remained seated.
He seemed deeply uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Bennett, may I speak candidly?"
I nodded.
"I was told you had already agreed to this transfer."
My stomach dropped.
"Who told you that?"
"Your husband."
I stared at him.
"He said the paperwork merely formalized an arrangement made before the wedding."
I slowly sat down.
"No such arrangement existed."
Mr. Harris opened the folder again.
"Then I'm relieved you read the documents."
He hesitated.
"There's another detail you should know."
"What?"
"The original instructions came from Bennett Capital."
I leaned forward.
"Richard's company?"
He nodded.
"And the firm requested that the transfer be completed before noon today."
My heartbeat quickened.
"Why before noon?"
"I wasn't told."
He gathered his papers.
Then he paused.
"Mrs. Bennett, I suggest your attorney review the financing schedule attached to the transfer."
I looked at the folder.
"Financing schedule?"
He pointed to a sealed section.
"It appears connected to an existing obligation."
My mouth went dry.
"What obligation?"
He shook his head.
"I haven't reviewed it."
After he left, I sat alone at the breakfast table.
The roses smelled sweet.
The coffee had gone cold.
And my wedding ring felt suddenly heavy.
I opened the sealed section.
There was a lender's name.
An amount.
And a deadline.
Bennett Capital had pledged an interest in Whitmore Holdings as security for a forty-eight-million-dollar financing arrangement.
A company it did not own.
I stared at the signature beneath the pledge.
It was supposed to be mine.
But I had never signed it.
Then I noticed the date.
Six weeks before my wedding.
My hands began shaking.
May you like
Marcus hadn't decided to betray me that morning.
He had already begun stealing my company before I walked down the aisle.
