Chapter 8: The Last Lie Before the Wedding
I didn’t know who to believe.
That was the worst part.
Not the betrayal.
Not the secrets.
Not even discovering my entire family history was built on lies.
The worst part was realizing every person standing in front of me had a story.
And every story made them look innocent.
Thomas placed the folder on the table.
“Look at the evidence.””
I didn’t move.
“Why should I?””
His expression changed.
“Because your father died trying to expose him.””
Bennett stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
I turned.
“Then explain.””
Bennett looked at me.
For the first time in six years, he looked like a stranger.
“I was trying to protect your father.””
“From who?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation destroyed him.
“From Thomas.””
My uncle laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
“You know it’s true.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Nathaniel, Bennett was your father’s assistant before he became your estate manager.””
I looked at Bennett.
“That’s true?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your father wanted it hidden.””
“Why?””
Bennett looked away.
“Because he knew someone close to him was dangerous.””
Everyone went silent.
“Who?””
Bennett looked directly at Thomas.
“Your uncle.””
Thomas’s face hardened.
“You’re still lying.””
Then Vanessa’s mother spoke.
“I know who betrayed Richard.””
Everyone turned.
She stepped forward.
“It wasn’t Bennett.””
My heart raced.
“Then who?””
She looked at Thomas.
“Your father’s own brother.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You have no proof.””
She reached into her bag.
And pulled out a small recorder.
“I recorded everything.””
Thomas froze.
The room changed.
Because for the first time, someone had something Thomas couldn’t explain away.
She pressed play.
Thomas’s voice filled the warehouse.
"Richard was never supposed to find those accounts.""
My blood ran cold.
The recording continued.
"I handled everything. I made sure the blame went to Marcus.""
Vanessa’s father.
The man everyone thought was guilty.
Thomas’s voice continued.
"And when Richard started asking questions, I knew I had to stop him.""
No one spoke.
No one breathed.
The recording ended.
Thomas looked at me.
“I can explain.””
I stared at him.
“Did you kill my father?””
His silence answered before his mouth did.
“No.””
But it was too late.
Because the truth had already arrived.
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Thomas was arrested.
Bennett stayed behind.
Vanessa’s mother gave her statement.
Everything should have been over.
But something bothered me.
One question.
If Thomas was the villain…
Why did he try to expose Bennett?
The answer came that night.
I returned to the mansion.
The place where everything started.
The library was still exactly the same.
Except now I knew it had been hiding secrets for years.
I opened the hidden compartment beneath the floor again.
Inside was one final document.
A letter.
From my father.
Not to me.
To Bennett.
I opened it.
"James,
If Thomas is reading this, then you failed.
If Nathaniel is reading this, then you succeeded.
I need my son to know the truth.
You were never my employee.
You were my protector.""
I stopped.
James.
Bennett’s real name.
The letter continued.
"You saved my life once. You saved my family again. But the hardest thing you must do is protect Nathaniel from the truth until he is ready.""
I looked up.
Bennett was standing at the doorway.
“I’m sorry.””
I held the letter.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your father made me promise.””
“He’s been dead for years.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Bennett looked toward the floor.
“Because the person who helped Thomas hide everything was still alive.””
My heart sank.
“What person?””
He looked at me.
“The one person you never suspected.””
My phone rang.
The caller ID appeared.
Vanessa.
I answered.
“Vanessa?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Nathaniel…”
“What happened?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“The wedding venue sent me the final guest list.””
I waited.
“There’s a name on it.””
My stomach tightened.
“What name?””
Her voice broke.
“The name of someone who died fifteen years ago.””
I looked at Bennett.
He looked terrified.
Because we both knew there was only one person that could mean.
Vanessa’s mother.
Then Vanessa said the words that changed everything.
“Nathaniel… my mother wasn’t invited.””
A pause.
“Someone invited her.””
And on the screen of my phone, a new message appeared from an unknown number.
A photograph.
The wedding altar.
Taken from inside the venue.
May you like
With one sentence beneath it:
*"The bride will learn the truth before she says yes.""*
