Chapter 2
My mother started shaking before we reached the parking lot.
"Marcus, stop."
I turned immediately.
"What's wrong?"
She pressed one hand against her chest.
For one terrifying second, I thought she was having a heart attack.
"Mom?"
She shook her head.
"I'm all right. Just give me a minute."
I helped her sit on a stone bench outside the conservatory.
The wedding music had started again inside.
I couldn't believe it.
Somewhere beyond those glass doors, people were probably being told to enjoy their appetizers while my entire future collapsed.
Mom stared at the money in her lap.
Then she began crying.
"I'm so sorry."
I knelt in front of her.
"For what?"
"For today."
I took her hands.
"Mom, you didn't ruin anything."
She shook her head.
"You were supposed to get married."
"Not to somebody who treats you like that."
She looked away.
I waited until she could breathe normally.
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me since the money hit the floor.
"What was in that envelope?"
Mom went still.
"The envelope?"
"Yes."
Her fingers tightened around the cash.
"Why did you bring money to Nia?"
She hesitated.
Then whispered, "It wasn't for her."
I frowned.
"What?"
"The money wasn't a gift."
I stared at her.
Mom looked toward the glass doors.
"She took it from me last week."
My stomach dropped.
"Who?"
"Nia."
I felt cold.
"Explain."
Mom swallowed.
"She came to my apartment on Monday."
I remembered Monday.
I had worked late reviewing a commercial development contract.
Nia told me she was meeting her bridesmaids.
"She said the wedding vendor needed an emergency payment."
I stared at her.
"Which vendor?"
"She wouldn't tell me."
Mom wiped her cheeks.
"She said you were embarrassed because you didn't have enough money."
I almost laughed.
It was such an obvious lie.
I'd paid every wedding deposit.
The venue.
The flowers.
The catering.
The photographer.
We weren't struggling to cover an emergency expense.
"Why didn't you call me?"
Mom looked ashamed.
"She told me not to."
My jaw tightened.
"Why?"
"She said you'd feel humiliated if you knew she had to ask your mother for help."
I closed my eyes.
Mom continued.
"I gave her twelve hundred dollars. It was all I could spare that week."
I looked at the money.
"Then why was she throwing it back at you?"
Mom's expression changed.
"Because I asked her about the other papers."
My heartbeat quickened.
"What other papers?"
She hesitated.
Then glanced toward the building again.
"Marcus, I need you to listen carefully."
Before she could continue, Daniel hurried toward us.
My best man looked furious.
"Brother, what the hell happened?"
I stood.
"Not now."
He stopped when he saw Mom crying.
His expression softened.
"Miss Evelyn, are you okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine, baby."
Daniel looked at me.
"Nia's telling everybody your mother tried to sabotage the wedding."
I felt my stomach twist.
"Of course she is."
"She's saying you overreacted."
I laughed bitterly.
"She threw money at my mother's feet."
Daniel nodded.
"I saw."
"Then you know exactly why I left."
He took a breath.
"Her father is demanding that you return."
I stared at him.
"Demanding?"
Daniel raised both hands.
"I'm just telling you."
I looked toward the doors.
Several guests were standing inside.
Watching.
Whispering.
Some had phones in their hands.
I wondered how many seconds it would take before footage appeared online.
Then Daniel said something that caught my attention.
"Nia keeps asking about a folder."
I froze.
"What folder?"
"She says your mom stole something from the bridal suite."
Mom gripped my arm.
I looked down.
Her face had gone pale.
"Mom?"
She whispered, "She's looking for the documents."
I felt my heartbeat pounding.
"What documents?"
Mom opened her handbag.
Inside was a second cream envelope.
Unlike the first, this one was still sealed.
My name was written across the front.
She pressed it into my hand.
"Your grandfather wanted you to have these after you got married."
I stared at her.
My grandfather had died eleven years earlier.
He'd left a small inheritance that helped me start my construction company.
I thought every part of his estate had been settled.
"What is this?"
Mom looked frightened.
"Your grandfather's trust."
I frowned.
"What trust?"
She lowered her voice.
"The one Nia's been asking about."
A cold sensation moved through me.
"Nia knows about a trust I don't know about?"
Mom nodded.
"She asked me for copies of the paperwork."
I looked at the envelope.
Then at my mother.
"Why?"
Mom swallowed.
"Because she said everything would belong to her after the wedding."
I stared at her.
The words didn't make sense.
Not yet.
But something inside me understood that the humiliation at the altar hadn't been random.
I looked toward Daniel.
"Get my car."
He nodded.
I helped Mom stand.
Then a familiar voice called from behind us.
"Marcus!"
Nia was coming down the steps.
She'd gathered the front of her white gown in both hands.
Her blue earrings flashed in the sunlight.
Her father followed several feet behind her.
She stopped when she saw the envelope.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Where did you get that?"
I held it against my chest.
"Why?"
Nia stepped closer.
"Marcus, give me those papers."
I looked directly into her eyes.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered whether the woman who wanted my mother out of the wedding had been trying to get something else.
Something she thought would become hers the moment I said, "I do."
