Chapter 6: The Account Nobody Knew About
The ballroom had become so quiet that Marcus could hear the faint hum of the air conditioning.
He stared at Vivian.
“Tell me that's not true.””
Vivian adjusted the veil in her hands.
“It was a misunderstanding.””
Patricia shook her head.
“The venue manager said the request came from your email address.””
Vivian looked away.
“I was trying to organize things.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Organize what?””
“The remaining payments.””
“Into your personal account?””
Vivian threw her hands up.
“It wasn't going to stay there!””
Patricia looked exhausted.
“Then why did you tell the venue the original payment account had been compromised?””
Vivian's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Marcus turned toward Patricia.
“How much money?””
“The remaining balance was eleven thousand dollars.””
Marcus stared.
“And they were going to transfer it?””
“They refused because the account details didn't match the original contract. They called me to verify.””
Marcus slowly turned back toward Vivian.
“You tried to redirect eleven thousand dollars?””
“I was going to use it to settle some things.””
“What things?””
Vivian looked around.
“Can we stop doing this in front of everyone?””
Marcus shook his head.
“You've been doing things behind my back for months. I think I deserve some answers.””
Vivian's face hardened.
“Fine. You want answers?””
She threw the veil onto the table.
“I have debts, Marcus!””
Patricia closed her eyes.
“Vivian.””
“No! I'm tired of pretending!””
She looked at Marcus.
“I have credit card balances. I have payments. I have expenses you don't know about. I thought the wedding would give me a chance to get everything under control.””
Marcus stared at her.
“How much?””
Vivian hesitated.
“About twenty-four thousand.””
He stepped back.
“Twenty-four thousand dollars?””
“It's not that much!””
Marcus looked almost speechless.
“You told me you had no debt.””
“I didn't want you judging me.””
“I'm not judging you for having debt. I'm asking why you lied.””
Vivian wiped her face.
“Because I wanted to marry you without you thinking I was a financial burden.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You could have told me.””
“And then what? You would have postponed everything?””
“Maybe we would have made a plan!””
Vivian laughed through her tears.
“You always say that. You and your mother always have a plan. You always think you know what's best.””
Darlene stepped forward.
“Vivian, nobody is asking you to be perfect.””
Vivian turned toward her.
“Don't.””
Darlene continued gently.
“You could have spoken to us. You could have asked for help.””
Vivian shook her head.
“I don't want your help.””
“Then why did you lie and say I offered you money?””
Vivian's face tightened.
She looked toward Marcus.
Then toward the guests.
Her carefully constructed image was falling apart.
Patricia picked up the documents and placed them back inside the envelope.
“I have one more question, Vivian.””
Vivian sighed.
“What now?””
“Why did you tell me Darlene had agreed to give you the house after the wedding?””
Darlene's head lifted.
“What?””
Marcus turned.
“Give her the house?””
Patricia nodded.
“Vivian told me that Darlene planned to transfer her property into your names as a wedding gift.””
Darlene stared at her.
“I never said that.””
Marcus looked at Vivian.
“What property?””
Darlene's hands trembled.
“The house your father and I lived in.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Mom, that house is yours.””
“Exactly.””
Vivian's eyes darted between them.
Patricia continued.
“She told me the property was worth a considerable amount and that you would eventually inherit it.””
Marcus's expression darkened.
“You told her my mother was giving us her house?””
Vivian shook her head.
“I never said she was giving it to us immediately.””
Darlene took a step backward.
For the first time, she looked genuinely shaken.
“Vivian, why would you tell people that?””
Vivian rubbed her forehead.
“Because I thought it would happen eventually.””
Marcus's voice became cold.
“Who told you that?””
Vivian said nothing.
“Who?””
She looked down.
Then she whispered something that made Patricia close her eyes.
“Your father.””
Marcus froze.
“My father?””
Vivian nodded.
“He told me that one day everything would belong to you.””
Darlene stared at her.
“Robert never told you that.””
Vivian looked up.
“Yes, he did.””
Darlene shook her head slowly.
“My husband died before you and Marcus even met.””
Vivian's face went pale.
Marcus looked at her.
“Then how could he have told you anything?””
Vivian swallowed.
“I mean... I heard it from someone.””
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
Darlene reached into her handbag.
Her fingers touched the torn photograph.
Then she remembered something.
Robert had left a small collection of personal papers in a locked wooden box after his death. Letters, insurance documents, property records, and a handwritten note addressed to Marcus.
She had never opened the sealed envelope inside it.
Robert had asked her to give it to their son on his wedding day.
She had planned to do exactly that after the family photographs.
Darlene looked at Marcus.
“There's something your father left for you.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“A letter. He asked me to give it to you when you got married.””
Vivian's head snapped up.
“What letter?””
Darlene looked at her.
“I don't know what it says. I promised your father I wouldn't open it.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Mom, do you have it with you?””
Darlene nodded.
“I left it in my car.””
Vivian suddenly stepped forward.
“Don't give it to him.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
Vivian's lips trembled.
“Because...””
She stopped.
Her eyes moved toward Patricia.
Then toward the envelope of financial records.
Finally, she looked at Darlene.
And for the first time that day, she appeared less angry than terrified.
“Because I already know what's in that letter.””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“How?””
Vivian backed away.
“I saw it.””
Darlene's face went completely still.
“When?””
Vivian looked at the floor.
“Last month. When I visited your house.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You went through my mother's things?””
Vivian didn't answer.
Darlene slowly removed her handbag from her shoulder.
“Then tell me something, Vivian.””
Her voice was almost a whisper.
“Did you read the letter?””
Vivian looked up.
And her answer changed everything.
“Yes.””
She took a trembling breath.
“And I know why your husband wanted you to give it to Marcus on his wedding day.””
*But before she could explain, Patricia reached into the manila envelope and pulled out a final document.*
Her eyes widened.
May you like
“Vivian,” she whispered.
“Is this why you were so desperate to marry him?””
