Chapter 3: The Voice on the Phone
"Don't answer that call.""
Vanessa said it so quietly that I almost wondered if I had imagined it.
Almost.
I looked at my phone again.
*Rachel Morgan.*
I hadn't spoken to Rachel in nearly four years.
She had been one of Vanessa's closest friends before they suddenly stopped speaking. Whenever I asked what happened between them, Vanessa gave me the same answer.
"Rachel became toxic.""
That was it.
No explanation.
No details.
Now Rachel was calling me on my wedding night.
And Vanessa looked terrified.
I answered.
"Rachel?""
For a second, there was only static.
Then a woman's voice came through.
"Derek, are you still at the reception?""
"Yes.""
"Is Vanessa beside you?""
I looked directly at my bride.
"She is.""
Rachel exhaled sharply.
"Then don't tell her where you're going.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Hang up.""
I pulled the phone away from her.
"What is this about, Rachel?""
"I need to show you something.""
"Show me what?""
A pause.
Then Rachel said something that made my stomach tighten.
"The reason Vanessa stopped speaking to me.""
Vanessa lunged for the phone.
I stepped back.
"Derek, she's lying!""
Emma flinched in my arms.
That was enough.
"Mom.""
My mother immediately came forward.
"Take Emma upstairs.""
Vanessa blocked her.
"No.""
Everyone stared.
My mother narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?""
"Emma stays here," Vanessa said.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Why?""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
I handed Emma to my mother.
"Take her somewhere quiet. Please.""
Emma wrapped her arms around my neck before letting go.
"Daddy?""
"I'm coming soon.""
"Are you mad at me?""
My throat tightened.
"Never.""
I kissed her forehead.
My mother carried her away.
Only after they disappeared through the ballroom doors did I turn back.
Rachel was still on the phone.
"I'm outside," she said.
I looked toward the entrance.
"Outside where?""
"The hotel.""
Vanessa went completely still.
Then she grabbed my wrist.
"Derek, please.""
It was the first time she'd said please all night.
Not when Emma cried.
Not when I confronted her.
Now.
"What are you afraid she's going to tell me?""
"I'm not afraid.""
"Then let her come inside.""
"No.""
The answer came instantly.
Marcus moved beside me.
"That's not helping your case, Vanessa.""
She snapped toward him.
"Stay out of this.""
Marcus didn't move.
"Your groom's daughter is covered in wedding cake because of you. I think we're past staying out of it.""
Whispers spread through the ballroom.
Vanessa noticed.
Her expression changed again.
She turned toward the guests.
"This is ridiculous. Everyone needs to leave.""
Nobody moved.
Her father, Richard, finally approached us.
"Vanessa," he said quietly.
"What's going on?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why are you shaking?""
Vanessa looked down.
Her hands were trembling.
The ballroom doors opened.
Every head turned.
A woman in a dark coat walked inside.
I recognized Rachel immediately.
But she wasn't alone.
Beside her was an older man carrying a slim black folder.
Vanessa whispered, "Oh God.""
Rachel stopped ten feet away.
She looked at the ruined cake.
Then at Vanessa.
Then at me.
"I hoped I was wrong about tonight," she said.
Vanessa marched toward her.
"You need to leave.""
Rachel didn't move.
"You told me that if I ever contacted Derek, you'd destroy my career.""
The room erupted in whispers.
"What?"" I said.
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"She's insane.""
Rachel reached into her bag.
"I expected you to say that.""
She pulled out her phone.
Vanessa's confidence disappeared.
"I have the messages.""
"Messages can be edited.""
"And the recordings?""
Vanessa froze.
Rachel's eyes hardened.
"You always forgot that my apartment had security cameras.""
Richard looked at his daughter.
"Vanessa?""
"Dad, don't.""
"What recordings?""
Rachel looked at me.
"Three years ago, Vanessa came to my apartment drunk. She talked for almost an hour.""
My skin went cold.
"About what?""
Rachel glanced toward the hallway where Emma had disappeared.
"About you.""
Then she corrected herself.
"About your money.""
The words hit me strangely.
"My money?""
Rachel nodded.
"She knew about your family trust before you ever told her.""
That didn't make sense.
I hadn't told Vanessa about the trust until six months into our relationship.
Almost nobody knew.
"How?""
Rachel pointed toward the older man beside her.
"This is Martin Hale.""
The man's face was tense.
"He worked for your father's estate.""
I stared at him.
I'd seen him before.
Years ago.
At my father's funeral.
Martin opened the black folder.
"I shouldn't be here," he said.
"Then why are you?""
"Because I made a mistake.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
Martin continued.
"Your father left instructions concerning your inheritance.""
"I know.""
"No," Martin said.
"You know part of them.""
My pulse quickened.
"What part don't I know?""
Martin removed an envelope.
Vanessa suddenly shouted.
"Stop!""
Everyone turned toward her.
Her father grabbed her arm.
"What are you hiding?""
She pulled away.
"Nothing!""
Martin looked directly at me.
"Your father added a private condition to the trust concerning any future spouse.""
I stared at the envelope.
"What condition?""
Martin handed it to me.
I broke the seal.
Inside was a single page.
I read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
By the third, my hands were shaking.
Because my father's instructions didn't just mention my future wife.
May you like
They mentioned Emma.
And one sentence explained exactly why Vanessa had spent months trying to push my daughter out of my life.
