Chapter 3: The Voice on the Camera
“If Marissa misses Monday’s meeting, the sale goes through without her making another scene.”
Paige’s recorded voice carried across the courtyard.
Brooke answered in the recording.
“She owns half of the cottage.
How can you sell it without her?”
“Mom has the waiver.
Marissa signed it.”
My father turned toward Elaine.
“What waiver?”
Mom’s fingers slipped from Ryan’s sleeve.
Paige lunged for the camera.
“Turn that off!”
The photographer stepped back.
Ryan moved between them.
“You don’t touch that camera,” Ryan said.
Paige pointed at me.
“This is her doing.
She has been trying to ruin my wedding since she arrived.”
I clutched the towel with my left hand.
“I didn’t know anything about a sale.”
“Of course you did,” Paige said.
“You sign papers and forget them.
You always do.”
Dad faced Mom.
“Elaine, answer me.”
“It was only a preliminary document,” Mom said.
“Nothing was final.”
The recording continued.
Brooke’s voice sounded uneasy.
“What if Marissa comes anyway?”
Paige laughed.
“Then I’ll make sure she can’t.”
No one moved.
An emergency medical technician hurried through the garden doors with a bag.
Natalie raised her hand and called him toward me.
Ryan looked at Paige.
“You planned this?”
“I was joking with Brooke.”
“You said the same thing twice,” he replied.
“Once this morning and once after you pushed her.”
Paige grabbed his wrist.
“Ryan, look at me.
We are getting married in ten minutes.”
He pulled free.
“No.
You were getting married in ten minutes.”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
The medic crouched beside me.
“Marissa, can you feel your fingers?”
“Yes.”
“Any numbness?”
“Along the outside of my arm.”
“We need to stabilize the shoulder and take you in.”
Paige stepped in front of the medic.
“Can this wait until after the ceremony?”
Dad caught her arm and moved her aside.
“You have said enough.”
She stared at him.
“You’re choosing her now?”
“I’m choosing the daughter who needs medical care.”
Mom’s face crumpled.
“Please don’t turn this into something it isn’t.”
I looked at her.
“Did I sign a waiver?”
“You were busy.
Paige brought me the papers.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Elaine pressed her lips together.
“Did I sign it?”
“No,” she whispered.
Dad staggered back as if the stone had shifted under him.
Paige stepped toward Mom.
“Don’t say another word.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed.
“Why not?”
“Because this is family business.”
“I was about to become family.”
Paige’s voice hardened.
“Then act like it and stand beside me.”
Ryan removed the white rose from his lapel and placed it on a nearby table.
“I don’t know who you are.”
Brooke began crying.
“Marissa, I’m sorry.
I should have warned you.”
“You knew about the cottage?”
“I knew Paige wanted it sold.
I didn’t know your name had been copied.”
Paige turned on her.
“You accepted a free dress, a hotel room, and a flight.
Don’t pretend you’re innocent.”
Brooke wiped her face.
“You bought my silence.
I was weak enough to take it.”
The medic secured my arm against my body.
Pain flashed through my shoulder, and I cried out.
Dad reached for my left hand.
“I’m coming with you.”
Mom took one step forward.
“I’ll come too.”
I looked at her trembling hands.
“No.
You stay and explain the waiver.”
The photographer removed the memory card and held it out to Ryan.
“This is the original.
Keep it safe.”
Paige’s gaze followed it.
Ryan closed his fist around the card.
May you like
Then Mom whispered the sentence that made my father let go of my hand.
“The waiver wasn’t the only paper with Marissa’s signature.”
