Chapter 3
The Debt My Father Never Owed
Patricia held the supposed loan agreement against the sunlight.
A tiny manufacturer watermark appeared near the bottom of the page.
I wouldn't have noticed it.
Neither would Marcus.
But Patricia had spent years investigating forged contracts.
And she knew exactly what she was looking at.
"This document was printed on paper manufactured last year," she said.
Richard stared.
"That doesn't prove anything."
Patricia lowered it.
"It proves this cannot be the original agreement signed four years ago."
I felt my heart hammering.
Richard recovered quickly.
"It's a replacement copy."
"Then produce the original."
He said nothing.
Patricia folded the document carefully.
"And explain why the signature appears to have been transferred from another record."
I stared at her.
"What?"
She looked toward me.
"We need a forensic examination, but the placement and image quality are suspicious."
Richard stepped forward.
"You're accusing me of fraud?"
Patricia didn't blink.
"I'm telling you this document raises serious questions."
Marcus looked at his father.
"Why would you bring something like this to our wedding?"
Richard's expression hardened.
"Because your future depends on it."
Marcus shook his head.
"My future?"
"Your family owns hotels, commercial property, and investment businesses. Nia's company offers valuable transportation infrastructure."
I stared at him.
"So this was a business deal."
Richard hesitated.
"Not exactly."
I looked at Marcus.
"Did your parents know we planned to marry before you proposed?"
Marcus frowned.
"Of course."
"How long before?"
He hesitated.
"About three months."
Richard looked away.
Something inside me tightened.
I remembered my first meeting with Marcus.
A charity fundraiser in Atlanta.
He'd approached me after I spoke about my father's scholarship program.
He'd asked thoughtful questions.
Then offered to help.
Our first date had been wonderful.
Our second even better.
I had fallen in love without realizing how much his family already knew about mine.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Did your father introduce you to that fundraiser?"
His face changed.
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"Did he tell you to meet me?"
Marcus stared at me.
"Nia..."
"Answer me."
He looked toward Richard.
His silence terrified me.
Then he whispered, "He suggested I introduce myself."
My chest tightened.
I stepped backward.
"Why?"
Marcus shook his head.
"I thought he liked your speech."
Richard interrupted.
"That's exactly what happened."
I looked at him.
"Nobody asked you."
He stopped.
For the first time, I didn't care whether Evelyn considered me disrespectful.
I didn't care whether the wedding guests were waiting.
I didn't care how much money had been spent.
I wanted the truth.
Patricia closed her folder.
"Nia, I strongly recommend we suspend the ceremony until we investigate these documents."
Evelyn gasped.
"You can't cancel the wedding!"
I turned.
"Why not?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because hundreds of people are waiting."
I stared at her.
"You think I should marry Marcus because guests have already arrived?"
She looked away.
Marcus stepped toward me.
"Nia, please."
I looked at him.
He seemed genuinely frightened.
"I didn't know about any forged agreement."
I wanted to believe him.
But another question was burning inside me.
"Did you know your father wanted my company?"
Marcus hesitated.
Then said, "He mentioned a possible partnership."
My heart sank.
"When?"
"Six months ago."
I closed my eyes.
"Before you proposed."
Marcus said nothing.
I turned away.
My engagement ring suddenly felt heavy.
A beautiful diamond.
A promise.
A symbol of everything I thought we were building.
Now I wondered whether it had been part of a carefully designed trap.
Then someone knocked.
A young wedding coordinator opened the door.
"Mr. Williams, the guests are seated."
Nobody answered.
She looked around nervously.
"Should we delay the ceremony?"
I turned toward her.
"Yes."
Evelyn gasped.
"Nia!"
I ignored her.
"Please tell everyone there will be a delay."
The coordinator nodded and disappeared.
Richard's expression darkened.
"Do you understand what you're doing?"
I stared at him.
"Protecting myself."
He stepped closer.
"You're making a mistake."
Patricia moved between us.
"Mr. Williams, I suggest you leave."
Richard laughed.
"You don't have authority over me."
"No," Patricia replied. "But this suite is reserved for my client, and she has asked for privacy."
Marcus turned toward his father.
"Dad, go."
Richard stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
Marcus's voice strengthened.
"Leave."
For the first time, I saw him challenge his father.
Richard looked toward Evelyn.
She stood silently.
Then he shook his head.
"You'll regret this."
He walked out.
Evelyn followed.
But before she reached the door, she stopped.
She looked at me.
Her eyes were wet.
"I never wanted things to go this far."
I stared at her.
"Then why did you help?"
She lowered her head.
"Because Richard told me the company was collapsing."
Marcus frowned.
"What company?"
Evelyn looked at him.
"Ours."
The room went silent.
She continued.
"Your father has been hiding financial losses for almost two years."
Marcus stepped forward.
"What losses?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"I don't know everything."
I watched her.
For the first time, I saw something behind her arrogance.
Fear.
Real fear.
She looked at Marcus.
"Richard said if we didn't secure the Bennett contracts, we'd lose the hotels."
Marcus's face went pale.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She began crying.
"Because he made me promise."
I felt exhausted.
"Then you should have broken that promise."
She nodded.
"I know."
Marcus turned away.
I looked at Patricia.
"Can we verify any of this?"
She nodded.
"I can start with corporate filings and financial records."
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
YOUR FATHER LEFT YOU MORE THAN A COMPANY.
I stared.
A photograph appeared beneath the words.
It showed my father standing beside Richard Williams.
They were arguing outside a warehouse.
The date was five days before my father died.
My breath caught.
I opened the second attachment.
A short audio recording.
I pressed play.
My father's voice filled the room.
"If anything happens to me, don't let Richard near Nia."
I dropped the phone.
Marcus caught it before it hit the floor.
I stared at him.
My father had warned someone about Richard.
Five days before his death.
May you like
And suddenly, I knew the wedding wasn't simply about stealing my inheritance.
It was about hiding whatever had happened to my father.
