Chapter 4: What Nick Had Kept Quiet
Martha headed for the door, but Robert stepped into her path.
“You are not leaving with that license.”
“Move,” she said.
“You c*t her hair, tried to disgrace her, and hid a legal document.
I’m done moving for you.”
Martha glanced around the room.
“All of you are taking her side because she can cry on command.”
“I’m not crying on command,” I said.
“I’m crying because you came behind me with scissors.”
“And now you want everyone to feel sorry for you.”
“No.
I want the truth.”
Martha pointed at Nick.
“Then ask your husband why he let me organize half this wedding after I told him I would stop it.”
I turned to him.
“She told you that?”
Nick’s shoulders dropped.
“Three weeks ago.”
The room seemed to tilt beneath me.
“You said she was finally trying.”
“I wanted to believe she was.”
“You didn’t believe it.
You wanted me to believe it.”
“I thought I could manage her.”
Martha gave a sharp laugh.
“And look how well that worked.”
Nick faced her.
“You don’t get to use my mistake as your excuse.”
“It wasn’t a mistake,” I said.
“It was a choice.”
Nick reached for me, but I stepped back.
“You chose keeping her calm over keeping me safe.”
“I was afraid you’d cancel the wedding.”
“You should have been more afraid of what she would do to me.”
My knees weakened.
Vanessa caught my elbow before I struck the edge of a chair.
“Come with me,” she said.
“I don’t want anyone touching me.”
“Then I won’t.” Vanessa released me at once and walked beside me without putting out her hand again.
In the private dining room, she removed the silk scarf from her shoulders and set it near me.
“You don’t have to wear it,” she said.
“But it’s there if you want it.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because Martha spent years treating me like a prize she could hand to Nick.” Vanessa knelt several feet away.
“I should have warned you sooner.”
“You called him this morning.”
“I should have called you last month.”
I pressed both hands over my face.
“Everyone watched her hold my hair like a trophy.”
Vanessa’s voice softened.
“My stylist is downstairs.
She came as my guest.
She can even the ends, but only if you ask her.”
The door opened, and Nick stopped when he saw me trembling.
“Please leave,” I said.
“I need to explain.”
“You had three weeks.”
“I was wrong.”
“You let me hug your mother this morning.”
His face crumpled.
“I know.”
That broke what little control I had left.
I slid into the chair and sobbed while Vanessa sat beside me, close enough to stay but careful not to touch.
Nick lowered himself to the floor.
“I chose silence because silence was easier for me,” he said.
“You paid for it.”
I looked at him through my tears.
“That is the first honest thing you’ve said tonight.”
His phone buzzed on the table.
A message from Martha filled the screen:
LEAVE THE RESTAURANT WITHOUT HER, OR THE LICENSE DISAPPEARS FOR GOOD.
May you like
Then a second message arrived.
AND IF YOU CALL THE POLICE, I’LL SEND YOUR EMPLOYER THE VIDEO.
