Chapter 9: The Agreement That Never Existed
I stared at the document.
Daniel's signature looked real.
Not almost real.
Not similar.
Real.
The same slanted D. The same sharp line beneath the final letters. The same small mark he'd always made when signing anything quickly.
"Daniel?""
He took the phone.
His face went pale.
"I've never signed this.""
I looked at the heading again.
*MARRIAGE AND ASSET AGREEMENT.*
Below it was a paragraph stating that Daniel would receive a substantial portion of my personal savings after our marriage.
Another clause suggested that I'd agreed to transfer ownership of a property I'd inherited from my grandmother.
I read the paragraph twice.
Then I looked at the date.
September 18.
Three weeks before our engagement anniversary.
"Where did this come from?"" I asked.
Detective Miller called immediately.
"Ms. Carter, the document was found among the files Chloe photographed in Ms. Reed's room.""
"Is it real?""
"We're treating it as suspected forgery. Mr. Reed's signature appears to have been copied from another document, but the original requires forensic examination.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I've never seen this.""
"Neither have I," I said.
Detective Miller continued.
"We also found a second version in the material Chloe provided. The signatures are slightly different.""
I felt a chill.
"Why would there be two versions?""
"That's something we're investigating.""
Daniel sat beside me.
"Emma, I swear I never agreed to anything like this.""
I took his hand.
"I believe you.""
He looked relieved, but only for a second.
Because the real question wasn't whether Daniel had signed the agreement.
It was why Vanessa had created it.
And how she intended to use it.
At 10:32, Claire arrived with another update.
"Vanessa has told the venue manager that she's preparing a special presentation for the newlyweds.""
"Did she say what it was?""
"She said it was a surprise from the bridesmaids.""
I looked at Daniel.
"She's still pretending everything is normal.""
Claire nodded.
"She's also asked for the microphone during the reception speeches.""
"Remove her access.""
"I can do that.""
"And make sure the projector is controlled by the venue manager, not by any guest.""
"Already done.""
I stood and walked toward the dress.
The garment bag was open slightly at the bottom.
I checked the fabric.
Untouched.
The lace was clean.
The satin was perfect.
For the first time that morning, I felt a little relief.
Then I heard a knock.
Sophie opened the door.
Aunt Laura entered carrying a small gift bag.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
She hugged me tightly.
"I'm so sorry this happened.""
I held her for a moment.
"Did Vanessa tell you anything else?""
Laura nodded.
"She called me yesterday.""
I pulled back.
"What did she say?""
"She wanted me to sign a statement saying Daniel had acted suspiciously when he helped me with my car.""
I stared at her.
"Why would you agree?""
"I didn't.""
She opened her handbag and took out a folded piece of paper.
"This is what she sent me.""
It was a draft statement.
The document claimed that Daniel had behaved inappropriately and that Laura had felt uncomfortable during their meeting.
It was entirely fabricated.
At the bottom was a blank signature line.
"I told her to stop contacting me," Laura said.
"Then she became very unpleasant.""
"What did she say?""
Laura looked down.
"She said I should think carefully before embarrassing the family.""
Sophie shook her head.
"She's unbelievable.""
Laura handed the paper to Detective Miller.
"Please use this. I want it on record that none of it is true.""
Detective Miller photographed the document.
"Thank you. This is important.""
At 10:47, Daniel received a call from his company's compliance director.
He stepped into the hallway.
I could hear only fragments.
"Yes.""
"Preserve everything.""
"No, I never authorized it.""
"Check the login history.""
Then he returned.
"Mark's access has been suspended. Compliance found that someone exported several financial documents from the company system last week.""
"Who?""
"They're tracing the export.""
"Could it have been Mark?""
"Almost certainly, but they need to establish it.""
He sat down.
"There's something worse.""
I waited.
"Mark also sent a message to Vanessa yesterday saying the transfer request would be enough to make the story believable.""
My throat tightened.
"Did he know the money wouldn't actually reach his account?""
"Apparently, he expected the bank to flag it eventually. He only needed the notification to appear during the wedding preparations.""
I stared at him.
"So the transfer was part of the performance.""
"Yes. He wanted you frightened and confused.""
I thought about the notification.
The old laptop.
The forged signature.
The false agreement.
Every detail had been designed to make us question each other.
And Vanessa had planned to use that confusion in front of everyone.
At 10:55, Chloe arrived.
She looked exhausted.
Her mascara had run, and her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I studied her.
"Why did you stay silent?""
She started crying.
"Because Vanessa told me she would destroy my life if I went against her.""
"How?""
"She had messages from a conversation I'd had with Daniel months ago.""
I frowned.
"What conversation?""
Chloe wiped her face.
"At your engagement party, I asked him whether he was nervous about getting married. He said he was excited but overwhelmed. Vanessa took that conversation and changed the meaning.""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
"I remember. Chloe asked me how the wedding planning was going.""
Chloe continued.
"Vanessa said she'd make it look like I was helping him hide something. She said she'd send the messages to my boyfriend and my employer.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was scared. And because part of me believed her.""
I sat opposite her.
"You laughed last night.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I know.""
"You heard her talk about ruining my dress.""
"I know.""
"You heard her talk about stealing the rings.""
"I know, Emma.""
Her voice broke.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just want to help stop her.""
I looked at Detective Miller.
"She's already given you the screenshots?""
"Yes," the detective replied.
"And she's agreed to make a full statement.""
I turned back to Chloe.
"Then tell the truth. All of it.""
She nodded.
"I will.""
At 11:08, Claire announced that the ceremony was ready.
Guests were beginning to arrive.
My mother had texted me three times.
My father had sent a photograph of himself adjusting his tie.
My brother had written:
Whatever happens, I'm right outside.
I looked at the messages.
Then I picked up my bouquet.
For a moment, I simply held it.
White roses.
Small green leaves.
A little ribbon tied around the stems.
Vanessa had chosen the flowers.
I wondered whether she'd enjoyed making those decisions, knowing what she planned to do.
Daniel came to stand beside me.
"You look beautiful.""
I smiled.
"You're biased.""
"Completely.""
He kissed my forehead.
"Are you still sure?""
I looked at the man I'd spent two years building a life with.
The man who'd stood beside me while my closest friend tried to turn our wedding into a public execution.
"Yes.""
He squeezed my hand.
"Then let's do this.""
At 11:21, Detective Miller approached me.
"Ms. Carter, we have an update.""
I stepped away from the others.
"What is it?""
"We've spoken with Vanessa.""
"And?""
"She denies stealing the rings and says she collected them with your permission.""
"She forged my signature.""
"We're examining that.""
"What about Mark?""
"He's agreed to an interview with investigators.""
I felt a small flicker of hope.
Then Detective Miller added:
"There's another issue. Vanessa says the agreement you saw is only one part of a larger arrangement.""
"What arrangement?""
She handed me a printed copy of a message recovered from Chloe's screenshots.
It was from Vanessa to Mark.
Once the ceremony is over, she'll have no choice. Daniel will be publicly accused, Emma will be exposed as the person behind the transfers, and the marriage will become impossible to continue.
I looked at the final sentence.
Then he'll finally understand who should have been standing beside him.
I raised my eyes.
"She really believes Daniel will leave me?""
Detective Miller didn't answer.
Instead, she said:
"There's something you should know about the rings.""
My heart jumped.
"Have you found them?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"In a locked storage compartment registered to Ms. Reed.""
I exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"But there's a problem.""
"What?""
Detective Miller lowered her voice.
"The ring box contains two rings. Neither one belongs to you or Mr. Reed.""
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
"What?""
She showed me a photograph.
Inside the velvet box were two plain gold bands.
Not the engagement ring Daniel had given me.
Not the wedding bands we'd chosen together.
Vanessa had replaced them.
And beneath the rings was a folded note.
Detective Miller opened the photograph of the note.
It contained just six words.
*You should have checked the originals.*
I looked toward the ballroom.
Through the open doors, I could see the guests taking their seats.
The ceremony was about to begin.
And somewhere in that hotel, Vanessa still had the real wedding rings.
I turned to Daniel.
"She's not finished.""
He followed my gaze.
"No," he said quietly.
"But neither are we.""
Then Claire appeared in the doorway.
"Emma, it's time.""
I looked at my bouquet.
Straightened my veil.
And walked toward the ballroom.
May you like
Because Vanessa had spent six months preparing to take my wedding away from me.
She was about to discover that I had spent the last nine hours preparing to protect it.
