Chapter 9: The Document That Could Destroy Us All
Nobody breathed.
Everyone waited for Margaret’s answer.
But she didn’t give one.
Instead, she looked toward the floor.
Like she was searching for the right words.
Or maybe searching for a way out.
“Margaret,” my mother said softly.
“Where is the document?””
My aunt slowly looked up.
“I don’t have it.””
Daniel watched her carefully.
“Then who does?””
No answer.
The silence became unbearable.
I looked at Carter.
Then Rachel.
Then Margaret.
Three people.
Three betrayals.
And somehow, I still felt like we were missing something.
Because Daniel’s warning kept repeating in my mind.
The mastermind was someone standing in the room.
But who?
My daughter suddenly pulled my sleeve.
“Mom.””
I looked down.
“What?””
She leaned closer.
“I think I know.””
My heart jumped.
“What do you know?””
She looked toward the table where the wedding gifts were displayed.
“I saw it.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel immediately moved closer.
“What did you see?””
Lily pointed.
“Before the music stopped.””
She swallowed.
“Someone put something inside Grandma’s gift box.””
My mother frowned.
“My gift box?””
Lily nodded.
“The blue one.””
Everyone looked toward the gift table.
There were dozens of presents.
Wrapped beautifully.
Waiting to be opened after the wedding.
Daniel immediately signaled security.
Nobody touched anything.
The security manager carefully approached the table.
He found the blue box.
And slowly opened it.
Inside was not a gift.
It was an envelope.
My mother covered her mouth.
Daniel removed it.
Inside were copies of documents.
My stomach tightened.
“The property papers.””
Daniel looked through them.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“These aren’t the original documents.””
“Then what are they?””
“Copies.””
My confusion grew.
“Why would someone hide copies?””
Daniel kept reading.
Then suddenly he stopped.
“There’s a signature.””
My mother stepped closer.
“Whose?””
Daniel looked up.
And his expression told me the answer was bad.
“Yours.””
My mother went pale.
“What?””
“The signature appears to authorize a transfer.””
“That’s impossible.””
She grabbed the papers.
“I never signed this.””
Daniel nodded.
“I believe you.””
“Then why is my signature there?””
Nobody answered.
Until Lily whispered:
“Someone copied it.””
The room went quiet.
Because she was right.
Someone had forged my mother’s signature.
And they had been preparing this for a long time.
Daniel looked at Carter.
“Your plan wasn’t just to steal documents.””
Carter looked angry.
“I didn’t do anything.””
Daniel ignored him.
“You wanted control.””
Then he looked at Margaret.
“And you helped him.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I made a mistake.””
My mother looked at her.
“A mistake?””
Her voice broke.
“You almost destroyed everything.””
Margaret started crying.
“I never wanted anyone hurt.””
I looked at her.
“But you let it happen.””
She had no answer.
Then the security manager returned.
“Mr. Hayes.””
Daniel turned.
“What now?””
The man looked nervous.
“We checked the cameras again.””
“And?””
“There’s another person involved.””
Everyone froze.
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
The security manager hesitated.
Then handed him a small piece of paper.
“This was found in the security room.””
Daniel read it.
His expression changed immediately.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“It says the cameras were disabled by someone with authorized access.””
My heart sank.
“Who has access?””
Daniel slowly looked around the room.
Then his eyes stopped.
Not on Carter.
Not on Rachel.
Not on Margaret.
On someone else.
Someone nobody had considered.
Someone who had been helping the wedding run smoothly all night.
The person holding the schedule.
The person controlling the ballroom.
The person who knew every movement.
Daniel whispered:
“The wedding planner.””
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
May you like
Because the one person who had disappeared during the chaos…
was the one person who knew exactly where everything was.
