Chapter 6 - The Secret Behind the Trust
Harper woke at 5:00 a.m. to find Vincent standing outside her bedroom.
“What happened?”
He looked exhausted.
“Lily's trust has been frozen.”
Harper sat upright.
“No.”
“The court received a motion from Richard.”
“On what grounds?”
“He claims your marriage is fraudulent.”
Harper climbed from bed.
“But it is.”
Vincent’s expression changed.
“That does not mean he can prove it.”
Marcus arrived thirty minutes later.
The situation was worse than they expected.
Richard had obtained photographs showing Vincent and Harper signing the marriage papers.
He had also obtained financial documents showing Vincent had transferred money to Harper.
The prosecutor could characterize the marriage as a transaction.
The court might conclude Harper married solely to gain custody.
Lily could be removed temporarily.
Harper began shaking.
“There has to be something.”
Marcus hesitated.
“There is.”
He placed a file on the table.
“Your mother changed Lily's trust six months before she died.”
Harper stared.
“What?”
“She named you as the primary beneficiary if Lily remained in your care.”
Harper’s breath caught.
“Why wasn't I told?”
“Because the document was sealed pending the hearing.”
Richard did not know about it.
And there was more.
The account contained nearly three million dollars.
Harper stared at the number.
“That can't be right.”
Vincent looked at her.
“It can.”
“Where did my mother get that money?”
Marcus looked at Vincent.
Harper noticed.
“What?”
Vincent remained silent.
“Why are you looking at him?”
Marcus sighed.
“Your mother had a business partner.”
Harper waited.
“Who?”
“Vincent.”
She felt the room tilt.
“You knew my mother?”
Vincent finally spoke.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She worked for me.”
Harper stumbled backward.
“What did she do?”
“She handled a legitimate logistics division for one of my companies.”
“Legitimate?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your mother asked me not to.”
Harper stared.
“You spoke to my mother before she died?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Vincent looked away.
“She was afraid.”
“Of Richard?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Dario.”
Harper felt cold.
Vincent continued.
“She discovered that your uncle had been stealing from the trust.”
Harper's eyes widened.
“What?”
“Small amounts at first.”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“About two hundred thousand dollars over several years.”
Harper's hands shook.
“That money was for Lily.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you stop him?”
Vincent's expression tightened.
“Because I did not know until your mother told me.”
“And then?”
“She died before I could confront him.”
Harper stared at him.
“Did Richard kill her?”
Vincent's eyes met hers.
“I don't know.”
The room went silent.
“But you suspect him.”
“Yes.”
Harper covered her mouth.
Her mother’s death had always been considered a tragic accident.
A medication error.
A terrible hospital mistake.
But now questions multiplied.
Vincent opened another file.
“This is the original accident report.”
Harper read it.
Her hands began to tremble.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Richard's.
He had authorized a medication change.
Harper looked up.
“Why would my uncle have access to this?”
“He was listed as emergency contact.”
“Did my mother know?”
“Yes.”
Vincent handed her another document.
A handwritten note.
Your sister must never know what I found.
Harper recognized her mother's handwriting.
Her heart broke.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were already drowning.”
Harper looked at him.
“That isn't your decision.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“What else are you hiding?”
Vincent remained silent.
“Vincent.”
He finally answered.
“I have been investigating Richard for six months.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother asked me to protect you.”
Harper could barely breathe.
She stared at the dangerous man she had married for one year.
Suddenly the fake marriage felt completely different.
Vincent had not chosen her only because she was desperate.
He had chosen her because he already knew her.
Because her family had been connected to his world long before she entered it.
And because someone had been watching Harper long before she ever stepped into that diner.
She whispered, “Did you know my name before I said it?”
Vincent looked at her.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
Harper felt betrayed.
“You knew me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Lily.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about my mother.”
“Yes.”
“And you waited until I begged for a husband before you approached me.”
His silence answered her.
Harper stepped backward.
“You planned this.”
“No.”
“But you were waiting.”
“Yes.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“You used my desperation.”
Vincent’s voice became hoarse.
“I used the opportunity.”
“That isn't better.”
“I know.”
Harper took off her wedding ring.
She placed it on the table.
“I can't do this.”
Vincent looked at the ring.
Then at her.
“You can.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“I don't know who you are.”
His expression cracked.
For the first time, she saw pain there.
Real pain.
“Neither do I,” he whispered.
She stared at him.
Then he said the sentence that changed everything.
“Your mother was the only person who ever believed I could become something other than what my father made me.”
Harper slowly reached for the ring.
But before she could put it back on, the house alarm screamed.
Security rushed through the corridor.
Jonah appeared.
“Boss.”
Vincent turned.
“What?”
“We found a body in the west garden.”
Harper's blood froze.
“Whose?”
Jonah hesitated.
“Adrian Cole.”
Vincent's face became stone.
Harper looked at the ring in her hand.
May you like
The danger was no longer outside the house.
It was everywhere.
