Chapter 3: The Price of a Marriage
I picked up the document.
Diane reached for it, but I stepped back.
“Give that to me,” she said.
“Why is your name on it?”
“It’s private business.”
Arthur held out his hand.
“Turn it over, Daniel.”
My name appeared halfway down the second page.
Beneath it was a clause titled **Marriage Activation Provision**.
I read the first line aloud.
“Upon the legal marriage of Daniel Bennett and Vanessa Cole, eight million dollars shall be released from the Bennett Family Foundation.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I looked at my father.
“You put a price on my wedding?”
“No,” Arthur said.
“I rejected this application.”
Diane laughed, but the sound came out thin.
“Now he’s pretending he knew nothing.”
Ms.
Carter took another copy from her folder.
“Mr.
Bennett marked the application denied three days ago.”
“Then why is the board waiting?” I asked.
“Because a revised approval arrived this morning with his electronic signature.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“I signed no approval.”
Diane lifted her chin.
“Perhaps age is affecting your memory.”
“Careful,” I said.
She turned on me.
“Your father hid millions from you while you struggled to pay rent.
Don’t make him a saint because he wore an old coat to your wedding.”
Arthur’s hand closed around the tiny gift box.
“Dad, is that true?” I asked.
“Are you wealthy?”
“I chair a foundation your mother helped create,” he said.
“The money is not mine to parade around.”
“You let me believe you had nothing.”
“I let you build a life no one could purchase.”
Diane pointed toward the document.
“How touching.
Meanwhile, my company employs four hundred people.
Arthur promised to help us.”
“I promised to review your accounts,” Arthur replied.
“I found missing money, false invoices, and your name attached to every one.”
The guests closest to us began whispering.
Diane’s eyes flashed.
“You cannot make accusations in front of my family.”
“You called my father trash in front of five hundred people,” I said.
“You gave up the right to demand privacy.”
Vanessa touched my sleeve.
“Daniel, please.”
I pulled away.
“Did you know about the eight million?”
“No.”
Diane answered at the same time.
“Of course she did.”
Vanessa spun toward her.
“Mom!”
“Don’t act innocent now,” Diane said.
“You knew this marriage would save us.”
Vanessa’s face crumpled.
“You said Arthur had offered a wedding gift.”
“And you believed eight million dollars was a wedding gift?” I asked.
She looked down.
Arthur took the paper and studied the signature.
“This was copied from another document.”
Ms.
Carter pointed to the bottom of the page.
“There’s also a witness signature.”
I followed her finger.
The name was Vanessa Cole.
“I didn’t sign that,” Vanessa whispered.
Diane snatched up her handbag.
“This circus is over.”
“No,” I said.
“Nobody leaves until I know who sent me that message.”
My phone vibrated again.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed Vanessa sitting beside Diane at a desk, holding the exact second page.
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Under the photograph were six words:
**ASK VANESSA WHAT SHE GAVE HER MOTHER.**
