Chapter 6 - The Fake Wedding
The wedding became the most elaborate lie of my life.
Mason believed it was happening.
Evelyn believed it was happening.
Kline believed it was happening.
And whoever stood behind all of them believed it was happening.
Only Adrian and I knew the truth.
The plan was simple.
We would stage the wedding.
I would sign the documents they expected.
The signature would be legally invalid because the trust required a separate authorization.
Meanwhile, Adrian's legal team would monitor every transfer.
The moment Mason tried to access the trust, the system would trigger.
I hated the plan.
But I agreed.
Mason returned to my apartment three days later.
He brought flowers.
I let him in.
“Claire.”
“I've been thinking.”
“About us?”
“Yes.”
He touched my face.
“We can fix this.”
“Can we?”
“Yes.”
I looked into his eyes.
“Do you love me?”
He didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
It hurt.
Because I knew he was lying.
Still, I smiled.
“I want to get married.”
He stared.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He hugged me.
I closed my eyes.
And imagined his shoes on the other woman's floor.
When he left, I vomited in the bathroom.
Adrian found me twenty minutes later.
“You don't have to do this.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“Why?”
“Because my father may be alive.”
That ended the argument.
He sat beside me.
“You're allowed to be afraid.”
“I am.”
“You're allowed to hate me for asking.”
“I don't hate you.”
He looked at me.
“Why?”
Because somewhere along the way, I had started trusting him.
It frightened me more than Mason's betrayal.
“I don't know.”
He didn't push.
The wedding day arrived.
Hundreds of guests filled the hotel ballroom.
Business leaders.
Lawyers.
Mason's family.
Vale executives.
Reporters.
Every seat was occupied.
I walked down the aisle.
Mason stood at the front.
He looked perfect.
The Italian shoes.
The tailored suit.
The smile I had loved for three years.
For one second, I almost remembered the man who cooked me scrambled eggs when I was sick.
Then I remembered the Bentley.
I reached him.
He whispered:
“You look beautiful.”
“So do you.”
The ceremony began.
Every legal document was watched.
Every signature verified.
Then came the moment Mason had been waiting for.
The prenuptial amendment.
He handed it to me.
“Sign here.”
I looked at the page.
One line.
A signature.
I signed.
Mason smiled.
Adrian watched from across the room.
The moment the ink dried, Mason's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His expression changed.
Security agents entered.
Not Adrian's.
Federal.
The ballroom doors closed.
A woman stepped forward.
“Mr. Reed, you are being investigated for financial fraud, conspiracy, and the attempted theft of trust assets.”
Mason turned white.
“What?”
He looked at me.
“You did this.”
“No.”
His eyes moved toward Adrian.
“You.”
Adrian said nothing.
Then Evelyn stood.
“I did.”
Mason stared at her.
“You?”
She smiled sadly.
“You were never the mastermind.”
The room erupted.
Agents surrounded Mason.
He struggled.
“Claire!”
I didn't move.
He shouted:
“You don't know what you've done!”
Adrian walked toward me.
“Maybe she does.”
Mason was dragged away.
Then the doors opened again.
Everyone turned.
An older woman entered.
Gray coat.
Gray hair.
But I knew the face.
Adrian stepped backward.
“Mom?”
The woman looked at him.
Then at me.
“My name is Eleanor Vale.”
She smiled.
“And I've been waiting twelve years to meet Claire.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“You know my father.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Her expression changed.
“He's here.”
The ballroom went silent.
A man appeared behind her.
Older.
Thinner.
Walking slowly with a cane.
I stopped breathing.
“Dad?”
He looked at me.
“Claire.”
I ran.
I hit his chest and cried like I was nineteen again.
He held me.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I had to disappear.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because they were watching you.”
“Who?”
He looked toward Adrian.
Then toward Eleanor.
Then toward the doors Mason had disappeared through.
“The man behind all of this.”
May you like
He whispered:
“Was never Mason.”
