Chapter 3: The Marriage Certificate
Marcus read the certificate twice.
Then a third time.
His fingers tightened around the paper until the edges bent.
"Vanessa.""
I couldn't speak.
He raised his eyes.
"Tell me this is fake.""
I took a step toward him.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Is this your marriage certificate?""
I looked at the document.
My name was printed clearly.
Vanessa Marie Bennett.
Daniel Price.
The date was visible beneath our signatures.
Three days before my wedding to Marcus.
I shook my head.
"It's complicated.""
Marcus gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
"Complicated?""
"Daniel and I were separated.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
"We had problems. We were supposed to finalize everything.""
"Supposed to?""
I looked at Ethan.
He stood beside the dresser, his split lip swollen.
His eyes were fixed on me.
I hated him for being there.
I hated him for finding the documents.
Most of all, I hated him because he had managed to do what I had spent eighteen months preventing.
He had made Marcus ask questions.
"Daniel and I were legally married," I admitted.
Marcus looked down at the certificate.
"Then you married me while you were still married to him.""
"I thought the divorce had been finalized.""
"You thought?""
"I was told it had.""
"By whom?""
I hesitated.
Marcus nodded slowly.
"By Daniel?""
I said nothing.
He placed the certificate on the dresser.
Then he stepped away from me.
"How long have you been communicating with him?""
"Marcus—"
"How long?""
I looked down.
"Since before our wedding.""
The silence was brutal.
Marcus turned toward the window.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he asked, "Did you marry me for my money?""
I almost laughed.
Not because the question was funny.
Because it was so insulting.
I had worked hard to become the woman Marcus wanted.
I had learned his favorite meals, memorized his business schedule, and listened to stories about his childhood.
I had spent eighteen months playing the role of a loving wife.
Didn't that count for something?
"How can you ask me that?"" I whispered.
Marcus turned around.
"Because I just found out you've been stealing from my son's inheritance.""
"I never wanted to hurt Ethan.""
Ethan laughed.
"Then why did you try to frame me?""
I snapped toward him.
"Stay out of this!""
"You're standing in my father's house.""
"And you're the reason everything is falling apart!""
"No," Ethan said quietly.
"I'm the reason someone finally knows the truth.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Please. Don't let him manipulate you.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa, I'm going to ask you one more question.""
I waited.
"Did you know you were still legally married when you married me?""
My lips trembled.
"Yes.""
He closed his eyes.
It was a small movement.
But it felt like a door closing.
At 11:06 p.m., Marcus called his attorney.
His name was Robert Hayes.
He had handled Marcus's business affairs for nearly fifteen years and had represented him during the settlement of Rebecca's estate.
Robert answered on the second ring.
"Marcus? Is everything all right?""
"No," Marcus said.
"I need you at the house.""
"What happened?""
"I found evidence of financial fraud. And I believe my marriage may be legally invalid.""
There was a pause.
"Do you need the police?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Not yet. But bring the documents relating to Rebecca's trust.""
"I'll be there in twenty minutes.""
Marcus ended the call.
I walked toward him.
"You're calling a lawyer?""
"Yes.""
"Your wife is standing right here.""
He looked at me.
"That is precisely why I'm calling one.""
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
"After everything I've done for you?""
He stared at me.
"What have you done for me, Vanessa?""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came.
He continued.
"You told me Ethan hated you. You told me he was unstable. You told me he wanted my money. You made me believe my own son was a threat to my marriage.""
I shook my head.
"He has never respected me.""
"He's twenty-three years old. His mother died when he was sixteen. And I let you convince me that his grief was an insult to you.""
Ethan looked away.
Marcus noticed.
"Ethan.""
His son didn't answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
"I'm sorry.""
Ethan swallowed.
"For what?""
"For hitting you.""
Ethan looked at his father.
"For believing her?""
Marcus nodded.
"That too.""
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ethan said something that made my chest tighten.
"I didn't want to be right, Dad.""
Marcus's expression crumpled.
"I know.""
"I wanted you to be happy.""
"I know.""
"I just didn't want you to lose everything Mom left behind.""
Marcus lowered his head.
And I realized something.
I had spent months convincing Marcus that Ethan was selfish.
But Ethan had never been fighting for himself.
He had been fighting for his mother's legacy.
And now Marcus knew it.
Robert arrived at 11:29 p.m.
He carried a leather briefcase and wore a gray overcoat over his business clothes.
He greeted Marcus first.
Then Ethan.
When he saw my torn dress, his eyes briefly moved toward the broken glass visible through the dining room doorway.
"Should I call someone?"" he asked.
Marcus shook his head.
"First, I need you to look at these.""
He handed Robert the documents.
Robert examined the bank statements, the authorization forms, and the marriage certificate.
His expression grew increasingly serious.
"Where did you get this?""
"Ethan found it.""
Robert looked at the young man.
"How long have you been collecting evidence?""
"About six weeks.""
Robert nodded.
Then he turned toward Marcus.
"I need to ask you something. Did you authorize any transfers from Rebecca's trust?""
"No.""
"Did you sign these documents?""
Marcus studied the signature.
"No.""
Robert examined the handwriting.
"This appears to be a reproduction of your signature.""
I interrupted.
"That's ridiculous. Anyone could have copied it.""
Robert looked at me.
"Mrs. Cole, may I ask you to remain silent while I review the documents?""
I stiffened.
"Excuse me?""
He didn't respond.
He opened his briefcase and removed a tablet.
"I have something that may be relevant.""
Marcus looked at him.
"What?""
Robert placed the tablet on the dining table.
"Two weeks ago, I received an anonymous message concerning suspicious withdrawals from Rebecca's trust. I began investigating.""
Ethan leaned forward.
"Did you find anything?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes. The withdrawals were routed through several accounts before reaching a company registered in Nevada.""
He turned the tablet toward Marcus.
Vantage Property Holdings.
My company.
Marcus looked at me.
"How many accounts?""
"Four that we can currently identify," Robert answered.
"There may be more.""
"How much?""
"Approximately seven hundred thousand dollars in confirmed transfers from the trust. We are still tracing the remaining funds.""
Marcus gripped the back of a chair.
"Seven hundred thousand?""
Robert nodded.
"And that's not the only issue.""
He opened another document.
"This company appears to have taken out a loan using property information connected to your family residence.""
Marcus frowned.
"What property?""
Robert zoomed in on the document.
The address was our house.
My stomach tightened.
"That isn't possible," Marcus said.
Robert pointed to the signature.
"Someone submitted a mortgage application using your identity.""
Marcus stared at the screen.
"Who signed it?""
Robert looked toward me.
"The applicant was Vanessa Cole.""
I shook my head.
"I never did that.""
Robert didn't blink.
"Your electronic signature appears on the application.""
"Someone stole my identity.""
Ethan let out a quiet breath.
"Of course.""
I turned toward him.
"You think this is funny?""
"No. I think you should stop lying.""
I stepped forward.
"Marcus, please. You know me.""
He looked at me.
"I thought I did.""
Those words hurt more than I expected.
For a moment, I forgot about the money.
I forgot about Daniel.
I even forgot about the documents.
All I could think about was the way Marcus had looked at me the first time we met.
He had brought me a glass of champagne at the charity auction.
He had asked whether I was enjoying myself.
He had listened when I told him about my failed marriage.
And when I said I was tired of starting over, he had told me I deserved a peaceful life.
I had believed him.
Perhaps some part of me had even loved him.
But love had never been enough.
Not when money was involved.
Not when I wanted something I couldn't earn.
"Marcus," I whispered, "please don't throw away eighteen months because of paperwork.""
He looked at the marriage certificate.
"Paperwork?""
I nodded desperately.
"We can fix this.""
Robert cleared his throat.
"Unfortunately, there may be a more serious problem.""
Marcus turned.
"What now?""
Robert opened a folder.
"The marriage certificate between Vanessa and Daniel appears to be genuine. I checked the public record before coming here.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"I made a preliminary inquiry.""
Marcus looked exhausted.
"So my marriage to Vanessa was never valid?""
Robert hesitated.
"That is something a court would need to determine, but if her previous marriage was still legally in effect, your marriage may be void.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Did Daniel know?""
I didn't answer.
Robert continued.
"There is another detail. The divorce petition was filed after Vanessa's wedding to you.""
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
"When?""
Robert read the date.
"Six weeks after the wedding.""
Ethan stared at me.
"Six weeks?""
I tried to speak.
Marcus raised his hand.
"Don't.""
I stopped.
Robert placed another document on the table.
"The divorce was finalized several months later.""
Marcus looked at the date.
Then he looked at me.
"So Daniel divorced you after you married me.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"And you never told me.""
I whispered, "I was afraid you'd leave.""
Marcus let out a long breath.
"That's the first honest thing you've said tonight.""
By midnight, the dining room looked like the aftermath of a storm.
The cash had been collected and counted.
The documents were arranged in neat piles.
Robert had photographed the damaged dress and the broken glass because they were part of the recorded incident.
And Ethan had finally gone upstairs to clean the blood from his lip.
Marcus remained at the dining table.
I stood near the doorway.
"Can we talk?"" I asked.
He didn't look up.
"Robert is still here.""
"I don't care about Robert.""
"I do.""
I walked toward him.
"Marcus, I know I made mistakes.""
He gave a tired laugh.
"Mistakes?""
"I was scared. I had no money when we met. Daniel had ruined my life. I wanted security.""
"And you decided to steal from my son?""
"I didn't think of it that way.""
"How did you think of it?""
I looked down.
"I thought I deserved something.""
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
"Something?""
"After everything I've been through.""
He stared at me.
Then he said, "Rebecca worked for twenty-two years to build that trust.""
I nodded.
"She wanted Ethan to have a future. She wanted him to have choices. She wanted to make sure that even if something happened to her, he would never have to depend on anyone.""
His voice cracked slightly.
"And you stole from that.""
I had no answer.
Marcus stood.
"You're leaving this house tonight.""
The words struck me like a slap.
I looked at him.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
"You can't throw me out.""
"Watch me.""
I shook my head.
"Marcus, I'm your wife.""
He looked at the marriage certificate on the table.
"Apparently, you never were.""
I started crying.
Not the calculated tears I had used earlier.
Real ones.
Because the house was no longer mine.
The man was no longer mine.
And the money I had counted on was slipping through my fingers.
"Please," I whispered.
"Give me one night.""
Marcus looked toward Robert.
"Make sure she has transportation. She can collect her belongings tomorrow with someone present.""
I turned toward the staircase.
Then Ethan appeared at the top.
He had changed into a clean shirt.
His lip was still swollen.
He looked down at me.
For the first time, he didn't seem angry.
He looked disappointed.
I hated that expression.
"Don't look at me like that," I snapped.
Ethan descended the stairs.
"I didn't say anything.""
"You wanted this.""
He stopped several feet away.
"No. I wanted my father to believe me.""
I stared at him.
He continued.
"And I wanted you to stop trying to take something my mother spent her entire life protecting.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Your mother is dead, Ethan.""
His face changed.
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
But Ethan didn't move.
"My mother may be dead," he said quietly, "but she left something behind that you never understood.""
I narrowed my eyes.
"What?""
He glanced at Robert.
Robert reached into his briefcase and removed a sealed document.
"This was delivered to my office three weeks ago," he said.
Marcus frowned.
"Why haven't I seen it?""
"Because the sender requested that it remain sealed until a specific condition was met.""
"What condition?""
Robert placed the envelope on the table.
"The discovery of unauthorized activity involving Rebecca's trust.""
My heart stopped.
Ethan looked at his father.
"Mom left a letter.""
Marcus stared at the envelope.
His name was written across the front in Rebecca's handwriting.
But beneath it were four words that made my blood run cold.
*TO BE OPENED WITH ETHAN.*
Marcus slowly reached for it.
Then Robert added one final sentence.
"There's also a second letter. It's addressed to Vanessa.""
I froze.
Marcus looked at the lawyer.
"Why would Rebecca leave a letter for my wife?""
Robert's expression turned grave.
"Because Rebecca apparently knew Vanessa long before you did.""
I stopped breathing.
And when Robert placed the second envelope on the table, I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It was Rebecca's.
But the date written in the corner was seven years old.
Three months before her death.
May you like
And the first line, visible through the thin paper, contained a name I had prayed would never be spoken again.
*Daniel Price.*
