Chapter 6: The Bride's Last Demand
The next morning, Victoria arrived at Marcus's house carrying a garment bag.
She walked into the kitchen as though nothing had happened.
"Good morning.""
Marcus stood beside the coffee machine.
"Good morning.""
She placed the bag on a chair.
"I brought your wedding suit. The tailor made the final adjustments.""
Marcus glanced at it.
"Thank you.""
Victoria studied his face.
"You seem calmer.""
"I've had time to think.""
"Good.""
She poured herself coffee.
"I was worried yesterday's argument might ruin everything.""
Marcus leaned against the counter.
"Victoria, I want to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"Do you remember the first time we met?""
She smiled.
"At the charity dinner.""
"You were trying to get my company to sponsor your literacy program.""
"And you told me to speak to your assistant.""
Marcus nodded.
"Do you remember what happened afterward?""
Victoria stirred her coffee.
"You invited me to dinner.""
"No. I didn't.""
Her spoon stopped.
Marcus continued.
"You gave me your number. I called you three days later.""
Victoria smiled.
"You're remembering things incorrectly.""
"Maybe.""
He looked at her carefully.
"Or maybe there are things about our relationship I never understood.""
Victoria placed the spoon down.
"Marcus, where is this going?""
"Nowhere.""
He took his coffee and walked away.
Victoria watched him.
She didn't know that he had already arranged for Daniel to install additional security cameras around the house.
She also didn't know that the police had begun investigating the photograph taken outside Maya's school.
Most importantly, she didn't know that Marcus had contacted an attorney to suspend the wedding contracts and protect Maya's inheritance.
At ten o'clock, Marcus met Daniel at his office.
Daniel had brought two folders.
"The first contains the financial records. The second contains information about the accident.""
Marcus opened the second folder.
A statement from the mechanic's daughter was attached.
Her name was Emily Carter.
She claimed her father, Thomas, had discovered evidence that someone had tampered with Elena's brakes.
He had contacted Richard Hayes two days before the accident.
Richard had paid him to remain silent.
"Did Thomas know Victoria?"" Marcus asked.
"Apparently.""
Daniel turned another page.
"He kept a photograph of her visiting his garage.""
Marcus looked at it.
Victoria stood beside a car lift, holding a folder.
The date was October 16.
One day before Elena's death.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Where is Emily now?""
"At a hotel. She's afraid.""
"Get her somewhere safe.""
Daniel nodded.
Then he hesitated.
"There's another issue.""
"What?""
"The guardianship agreement.""
Marcus looked up.
Daniel slid a document across the desk.
"Someone filed this with the county court six months after Elena's death.""
Marcus read the first page.
It was an application requesting that Victoria be appointed as Maya's temporary legal guardian in the event Marcus became incapacitated.
His signature appeared at the bottom.
But it wasn't his handwriting.
"Who submitted this?""
"Richard Hayes.""
"Why wasn't it rejected?""
"Because it included supporting documentation.""
Marcus flipped to the final page.
There was a letter from a psychiatrist claiming Marcus had been experiencing severe emotional instability and was unable to make important decisions regarding Maya.
The psychiatrist's signature was unfamiliar.
Marcus stared at the name.
Dr. Samuel Price.
"Find him.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"I already did.""
"And?""
"He died two years ago.""
Marcus slowly closed the folder.
This wasn't simply a plan to steal money.
They had been preparing to take his daughter.
That afternoon, Victoria met Richard at a private restaurant.
She arrived wearing sunglasses and a beige coat.
Richard was already seated.
"You're late.""
"I had to make sure Marcus wasn't following me.""
Richard pushed a glass of water toward her.
"Is he still suspicious?""
Victoria removed her sunglasses.
"He knows about the trust. He has the photographs. He found Elena's recording.""
Richard cursed.
"How much did he hear?""
"Enough.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Then we need to move faster.""
"Move where?""
"Get the girl out of the house.""
Victoria stared at him.
"She's not going anywhere.""
"Victoria, stop pretending you care about her.""
Her expression hardened.
"I never said I cared about her.""
"Then why are you protecting her?""
Victoria looked toward the restaurant window.
"Because Marcus will never sign anything if something happens to Maya.""
Richard shook his head.
"You've become sentimental.""
"I'm being practical.""
Richard took a folded document from his jacket.
"Then read this.""
Victoria opened it.
Her face changed.
"What is this?""
"The final trust transfer agreement.""
"Marcus's signature?""
"Already arranged.""
"He won't sign it.""
"He doesn't need to.""
Richard pointed to the final paragraph.
"Once the marriage is registered, the guardianship clause becomes enforceable under the old agreement.""
Victoria stared at him.
"That agreement was never approved.""
"Not yet.""
"What do you mean?""
Richard leaned back.
"The judge who reviewed the original application owes me a favor.""
Victoria closed the folder.
"You're asking me to marry a man whose daughter we're planning to take away?""
Richard's expression turned cold.
"I'm asking you to finish what Elena interrupted.""
Victoria stood.
"Don't ever say her name to me again.""
Richard grabbed her wrist.
"Sit down.""
She pulled away.
He lowered his voice.
"You think you're in control because Marcus buys you flowers and calls you beautiful. But without me, you'd still be working in that charity office, begging rich people for donations.""
Victoria stared at him.
Richard smiled.
"Remember who made this possible.""
She sat back down.
For the first time, she looked frightened.
That evening, Maya was in her bedroom packing a small bag.
Marcus found her folding clothes.
"What are you doing?""
She jumped.
"I thought we might have to leave.""
He sat beside her.
"Why?""
"Because of the photograph.""
Marcus took the little bag from her.
"We're not running away.""
"But someone knows where I go to school.""
"I've arranged protection.""
Maya looked at him.
"Like police?""
"Yes.""
She lowered her head.
"Dad?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Did Mom know Victoria was bad?""
Marcus considered his answer.
"I think your mother knew something wasn't right.""
"Then why didn't you listen to her?""
The question hit harder than Maya intended.
Marcus looked down at his hands.
"Because I didn't know.""
"But she tried to tell you.""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't hear her.""
Marcus swallowed.
"You're right.""
Maya looked surprised.
He took her hands.
"I should have paid more attention. I should have asked more questions. I should have protected you from things you never should have had to deal with.""
Maya began to cry.
Marcus pulled her close.
"I'm sorry.""
She rested her head against his chest.
"Can we still have the wedding?""
He looked at her.
"Why do you want that?""
"Because Mom said you made a promise. And I want you to remember it.""
Marcus gently touched the silver ring on her finger.
"I remember.""
The following morning, Marcus met Emily Carter at a secure office.
She was twenty-nine, nervous, and carrying an old leather folder.
"Mr. Reed?""
"Thank you for meeting me.""
Emily sat down.
"My father wanted to tell you the truth.""
"What stopped him?""
"He was threatened.""
"By Richard?""
She nodded.
"He said if Dad talked, something would happen to our family.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"What did your father discover?""
Emily opened the folder.
Inside was a printed photograph of Elena's car on a garage lift.
A section of the brake line had been marked with a red circle.
"My father said the damage wasn't consistent with ordinary wear. Someone had cut the line and covered the evidence.""
Marcus stared at the image.
"Did he know who?""
"He said a woman brought the car in.""
"Victoria?""
Emily looked down.
"Yes.""
Marcus's fingers curled.
"Did your father confront her?""
"Not directly. He called Richard first.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard told him it was a business matter.""
Marcus felt anger rising.
"What happened next?""
Emily removed a small cassette recorder.
"My father recorded a phone conversation.""
She placed it on the desk.
"He told me to keep it safe.""
Marcus pressed play.
Richard's voice came through the speaker.
"Thomas, you were paid to inspect the vehicle, not ask questions.""
The mechanic answered.
"Someone cut the brake line.""
Richard sighed.
"Accidents happen.""
"Not like this.""
A pause.
Then Richard spoke again.
"Listen carefully. That woman has already taken care of the problem. You have your money. Keep your mouth shut.""
The recording ended.
Marcus stared at the recorder.
"Did your father ever say what he meant by 'that woman'?""
Emily nodded.
"He said Victoria was the one who brought the car in.""
Marcus felt his stomach turn.
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"Because two weeks after my father recorded that conversation, someone broke into our house. They took the folder he had kept in his desk.""
She looked at Marcus.
"Then my father died.""
"Was his death suspicious?""
Emily's eyes filled.
"The police said it was a heart attack.""
Marcus sat back.
Another person connected to Elena's death was gone.
He looked at Emily.
"I'll make sure you're protected.""
She nodded.
Then she reached into her bag and took out one final item.
A small envelope.
"My father told me to give you this if I ever met you.""
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Victoria was standing beside Elena's car.
But this time, the photograph was different.
She was holding a small object.
A pair of scissors.
And beside her stood a second person.
Marcus stared.
It was someone he recognized.
Someone he had trusted with his daughter's life.
*His family lawyer, Jonathan Pierce.*
Marcus drove home in silence.
When he entered the house, he found Victoria sitting in the living room.
She was wearing the engagement ring he had given her.
"Where have you been?"" she asked.
"Work.""
She smiled.
"Tomorrow is our wedding rehearsal. Don't forget.""
"I won't.""
Victoria stood and walked toward him.
"Marcus, I want us to start our marriage without secrets.""
He looked at her.
"That sounds wonderful.""
She touched his cheek.
"Do you still love me?""
Marcus felt the question settle between them.
He remembered Elena's face on the video.
He remembered Maya crying beneath the apple tree.
He remembered the photograph of Victoria holding scissors beside his wife's car.
"I think we need to talk after the wedding," he said.
Victoria's shoulders relaxed.
"Of course.""
She kissed his cheek.
Then she walked upstairs.
Marcus waited until she disappeared.
He took out his phone and called Jonathan Pierce.
The lawyer answered immediately.
"Marcus. What a pleasant surprise.""
"I need to see you.""
"Certainly. What's the matter?""
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
"Something about Elena.""
There was a pause.
Then Jonathan replied, "I thought we'd agreed never to discuss that again.""
Marcus's blood turned cold.
"What did you say?""
Jonathan quickly recovered.
"I mean, I thought you wanted to leave the past behind.""
Marcus ended the call.
He opened the photograph again.
Jonathan stood beside Victoria, holding a folder.
And on the back of the photograph was another message written in Elena's handwriting.
If Jonathan is still working for Marcus when Maya turns twelve, do not trust him.
Marcus looked upstairs.
Victoria was laughing on the phone.
Then a new message arrived from Daniel.
Marcus, we checked Jonathan's financial records. He's been receiving payments from Richard Hayes for three years.
A second message followed.
And there's something else. Jonathan just filed an emergency guardianship petition for Maya.
Marcus stared at the screen.
The wedding was less than twenty-four hours away.
And someone had just made a legal move to take his daughter.
He looked at the silver ring on Maya's finger.
Then he made a decision.
Tomorrow, beneath the roses, he would let Victoria believe she was getting everything she wanted.
May you like
But before she could say her vows, the entire truth would be revealed.
And this time, there would be no one left to silence Maya.
