Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Wedding
Detective Bennett didn't look impressed by the flowers, the champagne, or the expensive decorations.
She walked straight toward us.
"Mr. Carter, I need everyone to remain here.""
Richard Whitmore immediately stepped forward.
"Detective, this is a private family event.""
Bennett showed him her badge again.
"And this is a police investigation.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Do you have a warrant?""
"I'm not searching anything. I'm asking questions.""
Nia took my hand.
"Michael, we should leave.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because this is becoming ridiculous.""
Detective Bennett glanced at our joined hands.
"Mrs. Carter, I would strongly recommend you stay where you are.""
Nia released me.
That was the first time all evening she had let go without being forced.
The detective crouched beside my mother.
"Mrs. Carter, can you tell me what happened?""
My mother nodded weakly.
"I was leaving my son's house.""
"When?""
"Yesterday evening.""
"Why were you there?""
My mother looked at me.
"I received a message.""
"From whom?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into the envelope again.
This time, she removed a folded piece of paper.
"I was told Michael needed me.""
I opened it.
The message was printed on ordinary white paper.
Mom, please come to the house. I need to tell you something before the wedding. Don't tell Nia.
My hands went cold.
"Did you send this?""
My mother shook her head.
"No, sweetheart.""
I looked at Nia.
She was staring at the floor.
"Who sent it?""
My mother answered quietly.
"I thought it was you.""
Detective Bennett took the paper from my hand.
"Did you recognize the handwriting?""
"No.""
"Did you call your son before going?""
"I tried. His phone went straight to voicemail.""
I remembered that evening.
Nia and I had attended a rehearsal dinner at Richard's country club. My phone had been switched off during the speeches.
I had received several missed calls afterward.
Three from my mother.
Two from an unknown number.
I had assumed they were wedding-related.
"Why didn't you call again?"" I asked.
My mother gave me a tired smile.
"I didn't want to bother you. You were getting married.""
That sentence hurt more than anything else.
She had spent my entire childhood making sure I never felt alone.
And now, even after someone had apparently tried to hurt her, she was apologizing for interrupting my wedding.
Detective Bennett stood.
"Mrs. Carter, what happened when you arrived?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"The front door was unlocked.""
I glanced toward Nia.
"Go on, Mom.""
"I walked inside. I heard voices coming from the study.""
"What voices?""
"A man and a woman.""
"Did you recognize them?""
She nodded.
"One was Nia.""
A few guests gasped.
Nia immediately raised her voice.
"This is insane!""
The detective didn't look at her.
"Mrs. Carter, what did you hear?""
My mother swallowed.
"She was talking about the wedding.""
I felt a painful knot form in my stomach.
"What exactly did she say?""
My mother looked at me.
"She said once you signed the documents, everything would be finished.""
I frowned.
"What documents?""
Nia shook her head.
"Michael, don't.""
I turned toward her.
"Not another word telling me not to listen.""
She stepped backward.
Richard approached the detective.
"Mrs. Carter has clearly suffered a serious emotional episode. We should get her medical attention before allowing her to make accusations.""
My mother looked at him.
"You were there too.""
Richard went completely still.
Detective Bennett turned.
"Mr. Whitmore, were you at the residence yesterday evening?""
He hesitated.
"I don't recall.""
My mother laughed bitterly.
"You were standing beside the fireplace. You told him the money would be transferred after the ceremony.""
I looked at Richard.
"What money?""
He didn't answer.
Nia finally spoke.
"Michael, please. I can explain everything privately.""
I shook my head.
"No. You can explain it here.""
She glanced around the ballroom.
"Not in front of these people.""
"These people watched you tell me my mother wasn't supposed to be here. They watched her collapse. I think they deserve to hear the truth.""
Her face flushed.
Detective Bennett held up a hand.
"Let's establish something first. Mrs. Carter, did you see anyone physically harm you?""
My mother nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
She looked toward the back of the ballroom.
I followed her gaze.
A man in a charcoal suit was standing near the service entrance.
He had been one of the wedding staff, or so I had assumed.
He was holding a small black folder.
The moment our eyes met, he turned around.
"Stop!"" Daniel shouted.
The man pushed through the service doors.
Two security guards chased him.
Detective Bennett grabbed her radio.
"Suspect moving through the service corridor. Don't let him leave.""
The ballroom erupted.
Guests stood. Chairs scraped across the floor. Someone started crying.
I looked back at my mother.
"Who was that?""
She was trembling.
"Andrew.""
The man from the photograph.
My stomach dropped.
"That's him?""
She nodded.
"He's the one who came into the house.""
Detective Bennett crouched again.
"Mrs. Carter, did Andrew attack you?""
My mother nodded.
"He came out of the study. I asked him what he was doing there. He told me I wasn't supposed to be alive long enough to ask questions.""
My throat tightened.
"What did he do?""
"He pushed me down the stairs.""
I stared at her torn sleeve.
There was a dark bruise spreading beneath the fabric.
"Why didn't you call an ambulance?""
"I couldn't find my phone.""
"Mom...""
"I crawled to the road. A woman in a delivery van helped me. She drove me to a gas station, and I called Daniel because I knew he would be here.""
I turned toward my best man.
Daniel's eyes were red.
"I got her message this afternoon," he said.
"I tried calling you, but Nia's father answered your phone.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
Daniel pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Listen.""
He played a recording.
Richard's voice came through the speaker.
"Michael is unavailable. Whatever Evelyn wants, tell her to stay away from the wedding. If she comes, she will regret it.""
I turned toward Richard.
He looked furious.
"That recording is taken out of context.""
Detective Bennett took out her notepad.
"Interesting. How did you have access to Mr. Carter's phone?""
Richard didn't answer.
Nia suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Michael, you have to believe me.""
I looked at her.
"Believe what?""
"Your mother has been trying to destroy us since the beginning.""
"Us?""
"She never wanted me to marry you.""
My mother shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
"She called me a gold digger. She said I would ruin your life.""
I looked at my mother.
"Did you say that?""
My mother didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Nia.
Then she whispered, "I told you he deserved someone who loved him.""
Nia's face hardened.
"And you thought I didn't?""
My mother looked directly at her.
"I know you don't.""
The words landed like a slap.
I stepped between them.
"Enough. What documents was she talking about?""
Detective Bennett looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, may I ask whether you signed any financial documents as part of your wedding arrangements?""
I frowned.
Nia had mentioned a few things.
A property agreement.
An updated insurance policy.
Some paperwork related to our joint accounts.
She had said her father's attorney wanted everything organized before our honeymoon.
"I signed a few documents this morning.""
Nia closed her eyes.
My heart began pounding.
"Which documents?""
She whispered, "Michael...""
I grabbed her shoulders.
"What did I sign?""
She looked at Richard.
He slowly shook his head.
That tiny movement told me more than a thousand words could have.
Detective Bennett opened her folder.
"Mr. Carter, I have a copy of a document filed with the county yesterday.""
She placed it in my hands.
At the top was the address of our new house.
Below it were our names.
And at the bottom was a signature that looked exactly like mine.
But I had never signed that document.
It transferred ownership of the property.
Not to Nia.
Not to me.
To a company called Whitmore Holdings.
I looked up.
"What's this?""
Richard straightened his jacket.
"An administrative arrangement.""
"You're transferring my house?""
"It's a temporary business structure.""
"Without my permission?""
Nia started crying.
"Michael, I was going to tell you.""
I stared at her.
"When?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"After the honeymoon.""
I took a step backward.
Detective Bennett quietly said, "There's something else.""
She opened another page.
"This company has been linked to several fraudulent property transfers. And according to our preliminary investigation, your mother discovered the arrangement before the documents were filed.""
I looked at Evelyn.
"How?""
My mother reached for me.
"Because I found the original paperwork in your office.""
Then she looked toward Nia.
"And because I recognized the name of the company.""
I turned back to the document.
"Why?""
My mother whispered the answer.
"Because your father owned it.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
My father had been dead for twenty-three years.
And I had never heard of Whitmore Holdings.
Detective Bennett looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, we need to discuss your father's estate.""
I shook my head.
"My father didn't have an estate. He died with almost nothing.""
My mother began crying again.
"No, Michael.""
May you like
She squeezed my hand.
"That's what they wanted you to believe.""
