Chapter 8: The Money Trail
Vanessa left the garden without saying another word.
That scared me more than her screaming would have.
Because Vanessa only went quiet when she was planning something.
Jonathan followed her at a distance while Daniel stayed beside me.
“You okay?””
I looked at the guests.
The decorations.
The flowers.
The wedding I had imagined.
“I don’t know.””
Daniel squeezed my hand.
“That’s honest.””
I smiled slightly.
“I think I spent so much time preparing for her next attack that I forgot what peace feels like.””
He kissed my forehead.
“Then maybe today is the day you stop waiting.””
A few minutes later, Jonathan returned.
“She’s trying to access her accounts.””
“And?””
“She can’t.””
I looked confused.
“Why?””
“Because the court approved an emergency freeze request.””
I stared.
“Already?””
Jonathan nodded.
“Marcus helped. His evidence shows a pattern of financial crimes.””
I looked at the flash drive.
A tiny object that had changed everything.
“She really thought nobody would find out.””
Jonathan looked serious.
“That’s because she never expected people to compare stories.””
Then my phone rang.
It was the designer.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
“Claire, I heard what happened.””
I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
The designer interrupted.
“Don’t apologize.””
I looked confused.
“What?””
“We reviewed the footage.””
“You did?””
“Yes. And we are grateful you had security.””
I looked at Jonathan.
“The insurance company?””
“They are processing the claim.””
A strange feeling came over me.
For months, I had been afraid of losing everything.
But maybe I hadn’t lost anything.
Maybe I had finally uncovered what was trying to take everything away.
After the call ended, Daniel smiled.
“See?””
“What?””
“She failed.””
I looked toward the building where Vanessa disappeared.
“She doesn’t think so.””
He followed my eyes.
“You still think she has something left?””
I nodded.
“Vanessa always has a final move.””
I was right.
An hour later, we found out what it was.
Jonathan received an email.
He read it once.
Then again.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Vanessa filed a complaint.””
“Against me?””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“What kind?””
He handed me the document.
I read the title.
*Claim of Emotional Distress and Defamation.*
I stared.
“She’s suing me?””
Jonathan nodded.
“For exposing her.””
Daniel laughed in disbelief.
“She destroyed her own dress video evidence and now she’s the victim?””
Jonathan sighed.
“She’s trying to create confusion.””
“How?””
“She’s claiming the footage was released to publicly humiliate her.””
I almost couldn’t believe it.
“She committed the crime, and now she’s angry people saw it?””
Jonathan looked at me.
“That’s exactly what she’s arguing.””
Then he pointed at the bottom of the document.
“But there’s something strange.””
“What?””
“She filed through a new attorney.””
“Who?””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Your mother’s attorney.””
My heart dropped.
“No.””
Jonathan nodded.
“Vanessa found someone inside the family willing to help.””
I looked across the room.
My mother was standing alone near the garden.
I walked toward her.
“Mom.””
She turned.
“Claire.””
“Did you know?””
Her face changed.
That was enough.
My chest tightened.
“You hired someone for her?””
“No.””
“Then why is your attorney representing her?””
My mother looked away.
“I didn’t know she would use him.””
I felt something break inside me.
“Mom.””
“I was trying to protect her.””
I stared at her.
“Again?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
But sorry wasn’t enough anymore.
Not after thirty years.
Not after today.
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
One sentence.
*Your sister isn’t the only person who betrayed you.*
I looked at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
A photo.
May you like
My blood ran cold.
It showed my mother meeting Vanessa the night before my wedding.
