Chapter 9 - The Bride's Mother Made One Fatal Mistake
Margaret Price was the kind of woman who never raised her voice unless she wanted everyone to listen.
She had built a successful legal career by making threats sound like favors.
Even now, standing in a ballroom where a supposedly dead woman had just appeared, she looked composed.
She straightened her jacket.
Placed her briefcase on a nearby table.
And smiled.
"Emily, I'm relieved you're alive."
My sister stared at her.
"You knew."
Margaret tilted her head.
"Knew what?"
"Where Ryan kept me."
"That's a serious accusation."
Emily took a step forward.
"Then answer it."
Margaret looked around at the watching guests.
"This is clearly an inappropriate venue for a private family dispute."
I laughed.
It came out harsher than I'd intended.
"A private family dispute?"
She turned toward me.
"Mr. Carter, I suggest you stop making inflammatory statements."
"Your son-in-law told the world my sister was dead."
"Ryan was given information that he believed to be accurate."
"By whom?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Emily spoke again.
"You signed the contracts."
Margaret's smile disappeared.
"Be careful."
My sister didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because public accusations carry consequences."
Emily looked around the ballroom.
At the guests.
The flowers.
The abandoned wedding cake.
At Lily, who was holding her hand like she might disappear if she let go.
Then Emily said, "So does locking someone away."
The room went silent.
Ryan stepped forward.
"She's lying."
Emily turned toward him.
"Am I?"
"You needed treatment."
"Then why did you tell everyone I was dead?"
"Because Keller told me you weren't coming back!"
Margaret's head snapped toward him.
"Ryan."
But he was already unraveling.
"You were sick! You didn't know what you were saying!"
Emily slowly opened her purse.
She removed the silver USB drive.
Ryan lunged toward her.
I intercepted him.
"Back off."
He tried to shove past me.
"That's stolen property!"
Rebecca stepped between us.
"Ryan, don't touch her."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Rebecca Shaw. Emily's attorney."
Margaret looked at Rebecca.
For the first time, genuine concern appeared on her face.
"Rebecca."
"Margaret."
They knew each other.
Rebecca had warned me they might.
Years earlier, she'd opposed Margaret in a corporate fraud case.
The case had ended in a confidential settlement.
But Rebecca remembered the tactics.
And Margaret remembered losing.
Rebecca looked toward the guests.
"There's no need for anyone to remain here unless they wish to provide a statement about what they witnessed."
Margaret laughed softly.
"Are we turning a wedding into a courtroom?"
"No," Rebecca replied.
"We're preventing you from turning it into another cover-up."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Mom, stop."
Margaret stared at her daughter.
"Go upstairs."
"No."
The word sounded unfamiliar coming from Vanessa.
Margaret's expression tightened.
"Vanessa, we will discuss this privately."
"No, we won't."
Vanessa looked toward Emily.
"I need to ask you something."
Emily nodded.
Vanessa swallowed.
"Did Ryan know you were alive when he proposed to me?"
Emily glanced at Ryan.
"Ask him."
Vanessa turned.
"Ryan?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"This is ridiculous."
"Did you know?"
"Vanessa, sweetheart—"
"Don't call me that."
The guests were watching now.
Not politely.
Not sympathetically.
They were watching a man run out of lies.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Did you know she was alive?"
Ryan stared at Margaret.
Margaret shook her head almost imperceptibly.
But Vanessa saw it.
And so did I.
She let out a strangled laugh.
"You did."
Ryan reached for her hand.
"Listen to me—"
She pulled away.
"You knew."
"I was trying to protect our future."
Vanessa looked as though he'd struck her.
"Our future?"
Ryan lowered his voice.
"You know how much is at stake."
She glanced at her mother.
Then back at him.
"All those nights you cried about losing Emily."
"Vanessa—"
"All those times you told me Lily needed a new mother."
Ryan's expression hardened.
"She does."
Emily moved forward.
"No, Ryan. Lily has a mother."
Lily stood behind her.
She looked from one adult to another.
Then she spoke.
"Daddy, why did you lie?"
Ryan turned toward her.
The anger returned immediately.
"Lily, don't start again."
Emily stepped between them.
"Don't speak to her like that."
"She's my daughter!"
"And you've frightened her enough."
Ryan moved closer.
I saw his hand rise.
Not fully.
Just enough.
A small motion.
A warning.
Emily didn't flinch.
"Go ahead," she whispered.
Ryan froze.
"Show everyone who you are."
He lowered his hand.
Detective Morales approached with another officer.
"Mr. Whitmore, I'd like to speak with you about what happened to your daughter."
Ryan looked around wildly.
"You're going to arrest me because I disciplined my own child?"
Morales remained calm.
"We're investigating a reported assault witnessed by multiple people."
Ryan laughed.
"This is unbelievable."
"Sir, step over here."
He looked toward Margaret.
She said nothing.
For once, she had no useful instruction.
Morales guided Ryan toward a quieter area.
Meanwhile, a hotel manager helped Lily and Emily into a private lounge.
I followed with Rebecca.
Lily sat on Emily's lap, holding her rabbit.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Did you really go to the doctor?"
Emily's eyes filled.
"Yes."
"Did the doctor make you better?"
Emily glanced at Rebecca.
Then back at her daughter.
"The doctor didn't help me the way he should have."
Lily frowned.
"Daddy said you forgot us."
Emily gently held her face.
"I thought about you every single day."
"Every day?"
"Every hour."
Lily touched the scar beneath Emily's jaw.
"Did it hurt?"
Emily swallowed.
"Sometimes."
Lily kissed the scar.
"There. Better."
I turned away.
I couldn't watch without crying.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Her expression changed.
"Are you certain?"
A pause.
"Send it to the investigators immediately."
She ended the call.
I stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Rebecca looked at Emily.
"Caroline found the missing attachment."
Emily straightened.
"The contingency document?"
Rebecca nodded.
"What does it say?" I asked.
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"It authorizes an emergency transfer if Emily returns."
"Transfer where?"
Rebecca looked toward the closed door.
"To a private facility outside the United States."
Emily went pale.
"Which country?"
"Mexico."
I stared at her.
"How were they planning to do that?"
"Through a combination of allegedly fraudulent medical paperwork and a private transportation contract."
Emily began shaking.
"They were going to take me again."
Rebecca didn't deny it.
Then another call came through.
This time, from Detective Morales.
Rebecca answered.
"Yes?"
She listened.
Her face drained of color.
"What do you mean he's gone?"
I looked toward the hallway.
The room suddenly felt very small.
Rebecca lowered the phone.
"Ryan left the hotel before officers could finish interviewing him."
I stared at her.
"Where did he go?"
Rebecca looked at Emily.
Then at Lily.
"His driver says he was headed toward the airport."
Emily stood so fast Lily nearly slipped from her lap.
"No."
I caught her arm.
"What?"
She looked directly at me.
"James, Ryan doesn't care about getting married anymore."
May you like
Her voice broke.
"He's going to destroy the evidence."
