The words landed like a slap.

Dad slowly turned toward her.

“You knew?””

Vanessa's face crumpled.

“I was told it was a preliminary document. Grant said the signature could be regularized later.””

Michael's voice became colder.

“Who told you that?””

“Grant.””

“Do you have written correspondence?””

She hesitated.

“Yes.””

“Where is it?””

Vanessa looked toward the stairs.

“In my bedroom.””

Michael asked Peter to retrieve the material with Vanessa's cooperation. After several minutes, Peter returned with a tablet and a small black notebook.

Michael reviewed the messages on the tablet.

Then he stopped.

“Richard, you need to see this.””

Dad leaned over.

The message was dated three weeks earlier.

Grant had written: Once the trust interest is transferred, the remaining obstacle is the original beneficiary designation. Mercer Capital already has a copy of the 2016 amendment. Don't discuss it with Emily.

Dad read it twice.

“What beneficiary designation?””

Michael looked at me.

“Emily, your mother executed several estate documents in 2016. I handled some of them, but another attorney prepared a separate amendment relating to the family holding company.””

“Why haven't I heard about it?””

“Because it was intended to take effect under specific circumstances. Your mother requested that it remain confidential until the trust matured or you needed to exercise your rights.””

Dad looked stunned.

“You never told me about another amendment.””

Michael shook his head.

“Your wife was entitled to establish independent arrangements for her property. I wasn't authorized to disclose every private instruction she gave me.””

I stared at the message.

“What does it mean that Grant has a copy?””

Michael didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he opened his briefcase and removed an older file.

“Your mother had concerns about the company's future ownership. Before she died, she arranged for an independent review of the holding structure. She wanted to ensure that nobody could force a transfer of your interest without your informed consent.””

“Why would she expect someone to try?””

“Because she understood that wealth can attract people whose intentions aren't always honorable.””

My gaze drifted toward Vanessa.

She sat motionless, staring at the tablet.

Michael continued.

“The amendment may contain a safeguard that makes the attempted transfer more complicated than Grant expected. I need to retrieve the original before I can tell you exactly what it does.””

Dad stood.

“Where is it?””

“In a secure archive maintained by my former partner. I'll contact him this morning.””

Vanessa suddenly lifted her head.

“You can't access that document.””

Michael looked at her.

“Why not?””

“Because it's private.””

“So is Emily's inheritance.””

Vanessa pressed her lips together.

Michael returned to the messages.

“There's another problem. Grant has been communicating with someone inside Bennett Construction. Someone supplied him with internal financial information.””

Dad's expression hardened.

“Who?””

“We don't know yet. But the messages refer to company valuations that were never made public.””

Peter stepped forward.

“I can review the access logs. Only a handful of people had permission to retrieve those reports.””

Dad nodded.

“Do it.””

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

Daniel had gone to the hotel to coordinate with the wedding planner, hoping we could still hold the ceremony. His message read:

The bridal shop owner says she can bring three replacement dresses to the hotel. We'll figure out the rest together.

I smiled despite everything.

Then another message appeared from an unknown number.

Ask your father who paid for your mother's final hospital bills. Ask him why the trust was amended after she died.

My fingers went cold.

I showed the screen to Michael.

He read it, then handed the phone to my father.

Dad's face changed.

“Where did you get this?”” he whispered.

“I don't know. It's an unknown number.””

He stared at the message for several seconds before looking at Michael.

“The hospital bills were paid through the family account. Everything was settled.””

“Then why would someone send this?”” I asked.

Dad didn't answer.

Michael took out his phone.

“Don't respond. I'll have the message preserved and ask our investigator to trace what can be traced.””

Vanessa suddenly stood.

“I told you this would happen.””

Dad turned toward her.

“What does that mean?””

She looked at me, and for the first time since I had known her, I saw something that resembled genuine fear.

“Your mother didn't just leave you money, Emily.””

She swallowed.

“She left you something that could destroy everyone involved.””

Before anyone could ask another question, Michael's phone rang.

He listened, his expression tightening.

Then he slowly lowered it.

“I've just spoken to my former partner,” he said.

“The original amendment is missing from the archive.””

Dad went pale.

“Missing?””

Michael nodded.

“And according to the access records, someone requested the file six months ago.””

He looked directly at Vanessa.

“The request was made under your name.””

Chapter 8: The Dress Waiting at the Hotel

By ten in the morning, my wedding had become a race against a secret nobody seemed willing to explain.

Michael was coordinating with the company's legal team. Peter was checking who had accessed the financial records. Dad was making calls in his study, speaking in the clipped, controlled tone he used when a major construction project was in danger.

And I was sitting on the edge of a hotel bed, staring at three wedding dresses.

Daniel had arranged for the bridal shop owner to bring them to our suite. Each gown was beautiful. One had delicate sleeves, another featured a flowing satin skirt, and the third was a simple ivory dress with a fitted bodice.

I should have felt excited.

Instead, I felt as though I were choosing a costume for a wedding that no longer belonged to me.

Daniel came out of the bathroom wearing his white shirt and dark trousers. His tie hung loosely around his neck.

“Any favorites?”” he asked.

I touched the lace sleeve of the first dress.

“This one is beautiful.””

“But?””

I looked at him.

“But it's not the dress I chose with my mother in mind.””

Daniel sat beside me.

“I know.””

“She would have loved that dress. She always said lace made a wedding gown look timeless.””

He took my hand.

“Then we'll find a way to preserve what we can. The dress doesn't have to be perfect for the day to mean something.””

I looked at the three gowns.

“What if everything is different now?””

“Everything is different,” he said.

“But I'm still here.””

I leaned against him, closing my eyes.

For a few minutes, we said nothing.

Then Daniel's phone rang.

He answered, listened, and frowned.

“Are you sure?”” he asked.

He ended the call and turned toward me.

“My sister just called. Someone contacted the venue asking them to postpone our wedding.””

I sat upright.

“Who?””

“They claimed to be acting on your father's instructions.””

“Dad would never do that.””

“I know. The venue manager refused to change anything without confirmation from you or me.””

My stomach tightened.

“Was it Vanessa?””

“They didn't identify themselves.””

I reached for my phone, but before I could call Dad, a knock sounded at the suite door.

Daniel opened it.

Madison stood in the hallway.

She wore a gray sweater and black jeans. Her hair was pulled into a careless ponytail, and her eyes were red.

Daniel stepped into the doorway.

“What are you doing here?””

“I need to speak to Emily.””

“Now isn't a good time.””

“Please,” Madison whispered.

“I need to tell her something before Mom finds out I'm here.””

I stood.

“Let her in.””

Daniel hesitated, then moved aside.

Madison entered the suite and stopped when she saw the dresses.

For a moment, her expression changed.

“Those are beautiful,” she said.

I folded my arms.

“Why are you here?””

She looked at the floor.

“Because I lied.””

I felt a familiar wave of anger.

“About what?””

“About the dress. About the documents. About how much I knew.””

Daniel closed the door.

Madison took a breath.

“Mom told me about Grant six months ago. She said he was going to help her establish an investment company. At first, I thought it was legitimate.

She showed me contracts and bank statements. She said Dad was too controlling with money and that she wanted something independent.””

“Something independent funded by my inheritance?”” I asked.

Madison shook her head.

“I didn't know about your trust until later.””

“When?””

“Three months ago. Mom asked me to find a copy of your signature from your college application. She said she needed it to complete a family document.””

My skin prickled.

“And you gave it to her?””

Madison began crying.

“Yes.””

Daniel's voice hardened.

“Why?””

“Because she told me it was harmless. She said Emily would sign the final papers herself before the wedding, and the copy was only needed to prepare the paperwork.””

I stared at my stepsister.

“You helped her forge my signature.””

“I didn't know she would use it like that!””

“But you knew enough to lie to us.””

Madison covered her face.

“I know.””

I turned toward the window, struggling to control my breathing.

For years, Madison had taken my belongings, repeated Vanessa's accusations, and laughed whenever I was hurt. But this was different.

She hadn't merely wanted to upset me.

She had helped prepare the means to steal my inheritance.