Chapter 2: The Man Behind the Messages
My mother's voice cut through the noise of the ballroom.
“Ethan, sweetheart. There's something you need to know about that man.””
Vanessa turned so quickly that the train of her wedding gown swept across the marble floor.
“Margaret, this is none of your business.””
My mother didn't move.
She stood in the doorway wearing her royal-blue dress, a small pearl necklace, and the expression I remembered from childhood whenever I had done something dangerous.
She was frightened.
But she wasn't backing down.
“It's my son's wedding,” she replied.
“I think that makes it my business.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Your son and I are about to get married. Whatever problem you have with me, you can discuss it afterward.””
My mother looked at the phone lying on the floor.
Then she looked at me.
“Ethan, did you see the messages?””
“Yes.””
“Then you need to listen.””
Vanessa stepped between us.
“Stop trying to turn him against me!””
My mother took a breath.
“I don't need to turn him against you. Your own messages are doing that.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“You've always hated me.””
“No,” my mother said.
“I wanted to believe you were good for my son.””
Rochelle quietly picked up the phone.
“Ethan, I suggest we move somewhere private before discussing anything further.””
Vanessa reached for it.
“Give that back!””
Rochelle held it out of reach.
“I'm not accessing your phone. I'm simply preventing it from being stepped on.””
“It's mine!””
“Then pick it up.””
Vanessa snatched it from her.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
I could hear the orchestra playing softly in the ballroom.
A wedding coordinator approached from the far end of the corridor.
“Mr. Carter? They're ready for the ceremony.””
I looked at her.
“Please give us ten minutes.””
She nodded uncertainly and disappeared.
Vanessa grabbed my hand.
“Baby, please. We need to talk privately.””
I looked at her fingers wrapped around mine.
Three years ago, those hands had held mine when I buried my grandfather.
Those hands had rubbed my shoulders when I worked late.
Those hands had placed a birthday cake in front of me when I turned thirty-three.
Had all of it been an act?
“Who is Darius?”” I asked.
Vanessa swallowed.
“He's an old friend.””
“Why is he asking whether I've signed transfer papers?””
“He's helping with some business arrangements.””
“What business arrangements?””
She looked at Rochelle.
“Can we please not discuss this in front of your lawyer?””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Because this is personal!””
“Then explain it personally.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I can't believe you're doing this to me on our wedding day.””
I almost laughed.
She was the one who had been discussing how to steal my company.
Yet somehow, she was already making herself the victim.
My mother stepped closer.
“Ethan, remember what I told you last month?””
I looked at her.
She continued.
“I told you I found something strange in the paperwork Vanessa asked me to witness.””
Vanessa's head snapped toward her.
“Margaret, don't.””
I frowned.
“What paperwork?””
My mother looked uncomfortable.
“Two weeks ago, Vanessa brought some documents to my house. She said they were routine forms for your wedding arrangements. She wanted me to sign as a witness.””
“What documents?””
“She told me they were related to the new house you were buying.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Which house?””
She shook her head.
“Your mother misunderstood.””
My mother ignored her.
“I read the first page. It wasn't a wedding document. It was a financial authorization.””
Rochelle immediately became attentive.
“What kind of authorization?””
My mother reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I kept this.””
She handed it to Rochelle.
The attorney unfolded it and read silently.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get this?””
“Vanessa left it on my dining table. I refused to sign it.””
Rochelle studied the page.
“This appears to be a proposed authorization involving a financial account and property management rights.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Why were you asking my mother to witness a financial authorization?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Because I was trying to help you!””
“Help me do what?””
“You have too many responsibilities, Ethan. You work constantly. I thought we could simplify things.””
“By giving you authority over my accounts?””
“I'm your future wife!””
“That isn't an answer.””
She took a step closer.
“You're making me sound like some criminal.””
I stared at her.
“Then explain the documents.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Rochelle placed the paper inside her folder.
“Ethan, we should preserve this and have it examined by an appropriate professional. Don't sign anything connected to it.””
Vanessa looked at Rochelle with open hostility.
“You've wanted this marriage to fail from the beginning.””
Rochelle remained calm.
“My responsibility is to protect my client and ensure that everyone understands the documents they're signing.””
“You're trying to steal my future!””
“No,” Rochelle replied.
“I'm asking you not to take control of someone else's assets without a clear legal basis.””
Vanessa turned back to me.
“Ethan, please. Think about what you're doing.””
I took a slow breath.
“I am.””
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
“Do you love Darius?””
Her expression went blank.
My mother closed her eyes.
Rochelle stopped turning the pages.
Vanessa whispered, “What?””
“Do you love him?””
She shook her head.
“This is insane.””
“Then why is he sending you messages about becoming his wife?””
Her eyes widened.
I continued.
“I saw the message.””
She looked down at her phone.
Then she looked back at me.
“He was joking.””
“About what?””
“Ethan, you don't understand our friendship.””
“Then help me understand.””
She began crying harder.
“He's been having problems with his relationship. He makes inappropriate jokes sometimes. That's all.””
“Why does he want me to sign transfer papers?””
“He knows about the property purchase. That's all.””
I looked at Rochelle.
“Do I have any pending transfer requests?””
“Not that I'm aware of,” she answered.
“But I'll have the company records reviewed immediately.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You're letting her manipulate you.””
My mother finally spoke.
“Ethan, there's more.””
I turned.
“What?””
She hesitated.
Then she pulled a small envelope from her handbag.
“I didn't want to ruin your wedding. I kept hoping I was wrong.””
She handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph.
A man and a woman stood outside a restaurant.
The man wore a navy-blue jacket.
The woman wore a red dress.
Her face was turned slightly toward the camera.
It was Vanessa.
And the man was not someone I recognized.
My mother pointed to him.
“That's Darius.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Where did you get this?””
“A woman from my church sent it to me. She saw Vanessa at a restaurant near Buckhead. She said they were behaving like a couple.””
Vanessa snatched the photograph.
“That's private!””
I looked at her.
“You're wearing my engagement ring in that picture.””
She glanced down.
The diamond ring glittered on her finger.
Her silence told me more than any explanation could.
“Ethan, I can explain,” she whispered.
“When was this taken?””
She didn't answer.
My mother spoke softly.
“Last Friday.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Last Friday, you told me you were visiting your aunt.””
Her lips trembled.
“I was.””
“Your aunt lives in Savannah.””
“I stopped somewhere on the way.””
“At a restaurant with Darius?””
She began shaking her head.
“Please don't do this.””
I handed the photograph to Rochelle.
“Keep it with the other documents.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
“Ethan, listen to me. I know how this looks, but I love you. I want to marry you.””
I looked at her hand.
The same hand that had been holding a phone filled with messages from another man.
“You want to marry me,” I said, “or you want what comes with marrying me?””
She slapped her hand against her chest.
“How could you say that?””
“Because I heard you.””
Her face froze.
“What?””
“I heard you outside the bridal suite.””
The color drained from her cheeks.
I repeated her words.
“Ethan is so stupid. After I marry him, I'll take everything he has.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
For several seconds, she looked like she might faint.
Then her expression changed.
The tears stopped.
Her jaw tightened.
“You were listening to my private conversation?””
I stared at her.
“That is what you're worried about?””
“You had no right!””
“You were planning to steal my company.””
“I was venting!””
“You said the wedding would make you rich.””
“I was joking!””
“You said I trusted you completely.””
She looked away.
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“Darius told me you wouldn't find out.””
I went still.
Rochelle slowly raised her head.
My mother covered her mouth.
Vanessa realized what she had said.
“Ethan, that's not what I meant.””
I stepped closer.
“What exactly did Darius tell you?””
She shook her head.
“Nothing.””
“You just said he told you I wouldn't find out.””
“I was confused!””
“About what?””
She started crying again.
But this time, I didn't reach for her.
I didn't comfort her.
I simply stood there.
A moment later, my phone rang.
The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
“Ethan Carter.””
A man's voice came through.
“Mr. Carter, my name is Michael Reeves. I'm with the title and escrow office handling your new commercial property transaction.””
I frowned.
“Which transaction?””
There was a pause.
“The transfer of your downtown development property. We received instructions that the final authorization would be signed today.””
I looked at Rochelle.
She immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
“Who submitted those instructions?”” Rochelle asked.
The man hesitated.
“A representative named Darius Cole.””
My eyes moved toward Vanessa.
She had gone completely pale.
Rochelle leaned toward the phone.
“Mr. Reeves, please do not process anything. Send us copies of every document and authorization associated with the proposed transaction.””
“Of course.””
I swallowed.
“How much property are we talking about?””
The man answered.
“Based on the paperwork, the transaction concerns your entire commercial development portfolio listed in the submitted schedule.””
My legs nearly gave way.
My entire portfolio.
Millions of dollars.
Everything I had spent nine years building.
And someone had apparently been preparing to move it without my knowledge.
Then Michael added one final sentence.
“Mr. Carter, there's something else. The documents contain your signature.””
I felt the room tilt.
“What?””
“The signature appears to be yours.””
I looked down at the folder in Rochelle's hands.
Then at Vanessa.
“That's impossible,” I whispered.
Michael continued.
“There's a notarized authorization attached, dated three weeks ago.””
Rochelle's face became rigid.
“Who notarized it?””
The man read the name.
And when he did, my mother began to cry.
May you like
Because the notary's name was Margaret Carter.
My mother.
