My Stepmother Framed Me at My Wedding—Then My Father Saw What She Was Desperate to Hide

"Monique!""

My father's voice followed her across the reception room.

She pushed through the double doors, nearly knocking over a waiter carrying a tray of champagne glasses.

Malik immediately stood.

"Should I stop her?""

"No," Rochelle answered.

"Let her go. We need to know what's on those documents before anybody touches anything.""

But my father was already moving.

He rushed into the hallway.

I followed him, gathering the front of my wedding dress so I wouldn't trip over it.

"Jada, stay here!"" he called.

"No!""

I wasn't going to spend another minute being told to stay somewhere while people discussed my mother's life behind my back.

We reached the parking lot just as Monique unlocked her black SUV.

"Darius, get away from me!""

He stopped several feet from her.

"Where is Denise's final will?""

Monique opened the driver's door.

"I don't know what you're talking about.""

"Marcus said you collected it from his office.""

"Marcus is a liar!""

"Then why did you run?""

She climbed into the vehicle.

My father grabbed the top of the door before she could close it.

"Monique, look at me.""

She glared at him.

"Move your hand.""

"Tell me what happened to my wife's will.""

"Your wife is dead, Darius!""

The words struck him like another slap.

I saw his fingers loosen.

Monique continued.

"And you have spent four years making sure everybody remembers it. You want to know why I couldn't live in that house? Because every room reminded you of her!""

My father stepped away from the door.

For a moment, he looked completely lost.

Then he asked quietly, "Did you steal the will?""

Monique started the engine.

I stepped forward.

"Please don't let her leave.""

She looked at me through the open window.

"You have no idea what your mother left behind.""

"Then tell me.""

Monique laughed.

"Your mother was not the innocent woman you think she was.""

I froze.

"What does that mean?""

"She knew exactly what she was doing when she left everything to you.""

"My mother left me what she worked for.""

"She left you a trap.""

Darius slammed his palm against the roof of the vehicle.

"Enough!""

Monique flinched.

He had finally raised his voice at her.

"You're going to tell us where that will is.""

She stared at him.

Then she put the car into reverse.

My father stepped away.

The SUV sped out of the parking lot.

I stood frozen, watching its taillights disappear.

Rochelle came outside a moment later.

"Did she leave?""

Darius nodded.

Rochelle looked at him.

"Call the police.""

He rubbed his forehead.

"Not yet. We need to speak to Marcus.""

"She just ran from you.""

"I know.""

"She has documents that may belong to Jada.""

"I know, Rochelle.""

His voice broke.

For the first time, I saw my father look frightened.

Not angry.

Not defensive.

Frightened.

I touched his sleeve.

"Dad, what did Mom leave me?""

He looked at me.

"I don't know.""

"But you knew about the other account.""

"Yes.""

"And you never told me?""

He lowered his eyes.

"I thought everything had been handled.""

"By Marcus?""

He nodded.

I stepped back.

"You trusted him with everything.""

"He was your mother's attorney.""

"And you trusted Monique with everything after that.""

He didn't answer.

I looked toward the reception hall.

My wedding guests were waiting.

My fiancé, Caleb, was probably wondering why I hadn't returned.

But I couldn't think about marriage.

Not when I had just discovered that my mother's final wishes might have been hidden from me.

My father reached for my hand.

"Jada, I'm sorry.""

I pulled away gently.

"I need the truth before I can accept another apology.""

We returned to the reception room.

Caleb was waiting near the entrance.

He was twenty-seven, tall, wearing a charcoal suit. When he saw my face, his expression tightened.

"Baby, what happened?""

I tried to smile.

It didn't work.

He looked at my cheek.

"Who did that?""

I glanced at my father.

Caleb followed my eyes.

His jaw clenched.

"Darius?""

My father lowered his head.

"Yes.""

Caleb took a breath.

"Why?""

"I was wrong.""

Caleb looked at me.

"Do you want to leave?""

I looked around.

At the flowers.

At the untouched wedding cake.

At my mother's photograph.

Then I shook my head.

"Not yet.""

Caleb squeezed my hand.

"Then I'm staying right here.""

Malik approached with his laptop.

"I got Marcus back on the phone.""

My father immediately took it.

"Put him on speaker.""

Marcus's voice filled the room.

"Thank you. Listen, Darius, I need to clarify something. I never told you Denise's final will was missing because I believed it was still in your possession.""

My father frowned.

"I never had it.""

"Then someone removed it from my office.""

"When?""

"About three weeks after Denise passed. I had given Monique access to the estate files because she claimed she was helping you organize the paperwork.""

Rochelle looked disgusted.

"Why would you give her access?""

Marcus sighed.

"At the time, I had no reason to suspect anything.""

I stepped forward.

"Mr. Bennett, what did my mother change?""

He paused.

"Jada, your mother established a separate trust shortly before her death.""

"What kind of trust?""

"A protected inheritance trust. It contained her investment portfolio, certain insurance proceeds, and the legal ownership structure for the Willow Creek property.""

I looked at my father.

He seemed just as surprised.

Marcus continued.

"The trust was designed to protect your inheritance until you reached twenty-five. Your mother was concerned about people pressuring you into financial decisions while you were young.""

I swallowed.

"I'm twenty-four.""

"Exactly. You turn twenty-five in four months.""

Darius frowned.

"Who controls the trust until then?""

Marcus hesitated.

"An independent trustee.""

"Who?""

"That's what I was about to explain. The original trustee resigned after Denise's death. Your wife was never appointed.""

My father stared at the phone.

"Then who was?""

Marcus answered.