Chapter 2: The Brother Behind## Chapter 2: The Brother Behind the Betrayal
Marcus the Betrayal
Marcus watched his brother enter the bridal suite for watched his brother enter the bridal suite for the second time in twenty-four hours.
On the recording, Nathan the second time in twenty-four hours.
On the recording, Nathan placed his briefcase on the bed and removed a stack of papers. placed his briefcase on the bed and removed a stack of papers. He arranged them carefully beside Aaliyah's wedding gown, then took out his phone.
“Richard He arranged them carefully beside Aaliyah's wedding gown, then took out his phone.
“Richard,” Nathan said, “we're still on schedule.””
He listened.
“No,” Nathan said, “we're still on schedule.””
He listened.
“No. The transfer happens after the ceremony. Marcus will sign whatever I put in front of him.
The transfer happens after the ceremony. Marcus will sign whatever I put in front of him. He's been doing that since Dad died.””
Aaliyah made a small, broken sound behind Marcus.
He didn't turn around.
Nathan continued speaking.
“The marriage is useful. He's been doing that since Dad died.””
Aaliyah made a small, broken sound behind Marcus.
He didn't turn around.
Nathan continued speaking.
“The marriage is useful because it gives us the final piece of the structure. Once the shares move into the holding company because it gives us the final piece of the structure. Once the shares move into the holding company, Evelyn can't challenge the transfer without exposing the family trust to a full review.””
Marcus felt as, Evelyn can't challenge the transfer without exposing the family trust to a full review.””
Marcus felt as though somebody had opened a window in the middle of winter.
His brother wasn't merely plotting to though somebody had opened a window in the middle of winter.
His brother wasn't merely plotting to take his money.
He was planning to use the family's legal structure against their own mother.
On the screen, Nathan closed the briefcase.
“And A take his money.
He was planning to use the family's legal structure against their own mother.
On the screen, Nathan closed the briefcase.
“And Aaliyah gets what she was promised. Everybody wins.””
The recording ended.
Marcus stood motionless.
Thenaliyah gets what she was promised. Everybody wins.””
The recording ended.
Marcus stood motionless.
Then he turned to his fiancée.
“What were you promised?””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“Marcus, I swear I he turned to his fiancée.
“What were you promised?””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“Marcus, I swear I didn't know he was going to take your shares.””
“What were you promised?””
“Security didn't know he was going to take your shares.””
“What were you promised?””
“Security.””
“That's not an answer.””
She wiped her nose with a tissue from.””
“That's not an answer.””
She wiped her nose with a tissue from the vanity.
“Nathan said the family would never accept me. He said if we married, I would the vanity.
“Nathan said the family would never accept me. He said if we married, I would always be dependent on you. He wanted to make sure I had something of my own.””
“So always be dependent on you. He wanted to make sure I had something of my own.””
“So he promised you my company?””
“No! He said there would be a financial he promised you my company?””
“No! He said there would be a financial arrangement. Something legal.””
“Something legal that required my signature.””
“He told me arrangement. Something legal.””
“Something legal that required my signature.””
“He told me you would agree!””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“Then why did you say you would agree!””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“Then why did you say everything would be in your name?””
Aaliyah's shoulders shook.
“Because he told me that was the plan everything would be in your name?””
Aaliyah's shoulders shook.
“Because he told me that was the plan!””
For a moment, the words hung between them.
She had finally!””
For a moment, the words hung between them.
She had finally admitted it.
Not all of it. Not even close.
But enough.
Marcus looked down admitted it.
Not all of it. Not even close.
But enough.
Marcus looked down at the ring on her finger.
He had bought it in New York after spending at the ring on her finger.
He had bought it in New York after spending three months searching for the right diamond. Aaliyah had cried when he proposed, then laughed because three months searching for the right diamond. Aaliyah had cried when he proposed, then laughed because he had forgotten the speech he'd rehearsed.
He had believed that was the he had forgotten the speech he'd rehearsed.
He had believed that was the beginning of their life together.
Now he wondered whether she'd been calculating the value of his life from the beginning beginning of their life together.
Now he wondered whether she'd been calculating the value of his life from the beginning.
“Did you ever love me?”” he asked.
Aaliyah's face crumpled.
“Of.
“Did you ever love me?”” he asked.
Aaliyah's face crumpled.
“Of course I did.””
“Did you love me before you knew what I inherited?””
“Yes.””
“Did you love me before Nathan course I did.””
“Did you love me before you knew what I inherited?””
“Yes.””
“Did you love me before Nathan started talking about the company?””
“Yes, Marcus!””
“Then why did you agree to this?””
She pressed both hands over started talking about the company?””
“Yes, Marcus!””
“Then why did you agree to this?””
She pressed both hands over her mouth.
Evelyn moved closer, but Marcus raised his hand.
He needed the her mouth.
Evelyn moved closer, but Marcus raised his hand.
He needed the answer from Aaliyah.
Not from his mother. Not from Daniel. Not from a security camera.
From the woman who had promised to answer from Aaliyah.
Not from his mother. Not from Daniel. Not from a security camera.
From the woman who had promised to stand beside him until death.
Aaliyah lowered her hands.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing you.””
stand beside him until death.
Aaliyah lowered her hands.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing you.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You thought stealing my future would keep me?””
“I didn't think ofMarcus stared at her.
“You thought stealing my future would keep me?””
“I didn't think of it that way.””
“How did you think of it?””
She looked toward the bed.
“I thought if I had financial security, nobody it that way.””
“How did you think of it?””
She looked toward the bed.
“I thought if I had financial security, nobody could throw me away.””
Marcus felt his anger falter for a second.
He knew pieces could throw me away.””
Marcus felt his anger falter for a second.
He knew pieces of Aaliyah's childhood. Her father had abandoned the family when she was ten. Her mother had worked two jobs and of Aaliyah's childhood. Her father had abandoned the family when she was ten.
Her mother had worked two jobs and still lost their apartment. Aaliyah had moved between relatives' homes, carrying her still lost their apartment. Aaliyah had moved between relatives' homes, carrying her belongings in plastic bags.
She had told him that she never wanted to feel powerless again.
He had understood.
belongings in plastic bags.
She had told him that she never wanted to feel powerless again.
He had understood.
He had promised she would never have to live like that with him.
But understanding why someone feared losing control did not make it acceptable forHe had promised she would never have to live like that with him.
But understanding why someone feared losing control did not make it acceptable for them to steal it from somebody else.
“You could have asked me for anything them to steal it from somebody else.
“You could have asked me for anything,” he said quietly.
“A house. An account. A future we built together. You could have told me you were scared.””
“I know.””
“You could have,” he said quietly.
“A house. An account. A future we built together. You could have told me you were scared.””
“I know.””
“You could have trusted me.””
“I know!””
“Then why didn't you?””
She had no answer.
Daniel cleared trusted me.””
“I know!””
“Then why didn't you?””
She had no answer.
Daniel cleared his throat.
“Marcus, we should secure the documents and call the attorney.””
“Which his throat.
“Marcus, we should secure the documents and call the attorney.””
“Which attorney?”” Marcus asked.
“The one Nathan hired?””
“No. The original estate attorney. Mr. Bennett.””
“Call him.””
Daniel stepped attorney?”” Marcus asked.
“The one Nathan hired?””
“No. The original estate attorney. Mr. Bennett.””
“Call him.””
Daniel stepped into the corridor.
Evelyn approached her son.
“There's something else you need to understand.””
Marcus rubbed into the corridor.
Evelyn approached her son.
“There's something else you need to understand.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Please tell me it isn't worse.””
“I wish I his forehead.
“Please tell me it isn't worse.””
“I wish I could.””
She took a folded letter from her handbag.
It was old, its edges could.””
She took a folded letter from her handbag.
It was old, its edges yellowed, the handwriting unmistakably his father's.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
“Where did yellowed, the handwriting unmistakably his father's.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
“Where did you get that?””
“Your father gave it to me six months before he died. He told me to open you get that?””
“Your father gave it to me six months before he died. He told me to open it only if Nathan ever tried to change the trust.””
Marcus stared at the envelope.
“Dad knew?””
“I don't know how much he knew. it only if Nathan ever tried to change the trust.””
Marcus stared at the envelope.
“Dad knew?””
“I don't know how much he knew. He never explained everything.””
“Why didn't you tell me about it?””
“Because nothing happened for years. Nathan seemed He never explained everything.””
“Why didn't you tell me about it?””
“Because nothing happened for years. Nathan seemed to accept the arrangement. I hoped your father had been mistaken.””
Marcus took the letter.
His to accept the arrangement. I hoped your father had been mistaken.””
Marcus took the letter.
His father's handwriting slanted across the page in dark blue ink.
*Evelyn, if you are reading this, I father's handwriting slanted across the page in dark blue ink.
Evelyn, if you are reading this, I fear I have failed to protect both my sons from the one thing that can destroy a family fear I have failed to protect both my sons from the one thing that can destroy a family: the belief that love is something to be earned through ownership.
Marcus: the belief that love is something to be earned through ownership.*
Marcus swallowed.
The letter continued.
*Nathan has convinced himself that I chose Marcus because I loved him more. That is not true. I gave Marcus control swallowed.
The letter continued.
Nathan has convinced himself that I chose Marcus because I loved him more. That is not true. I gave Marcus control because he understands that a business belongs to the people whose lives depend on it, not simply to because he understands that a business belongs to the people whose lives depend on it, not simply to the person who signs the papers.
Marcus's vision blurred.
He remembered his father sitting beside him in the study, the person who signs the papers.*
Marcus's vision blurred.
He remembered his father sitting beside him in the study, explaining the difference between being wealthy and being responsible.
Nathan had stood in the doorway that day, silent explaining the difference between being wealthy and being responsible.
Nathan had stood in the doorway that day, silent and furious.
Marcus had thought his brother was merely disappointed.
Now he wondered how long disappointment had been turning into resentment.
The letter ended with a sentence written and furious.
Marcus had thought his brother was merely disappointed.
Now he wondered how long disappointment had been turning into resentment.
The letter ended with a sentence written more heavily than the rest.
*If Nathan ever tries to take what I entrusted to Marcus, do more heavily than the rest.
If Nathan ever tries to take what I entrusted to Marcus, do not assume he is acting alone.
Marcus read it again.
Then a third time.
“Mom,” he whispered not assume he is acting alone.*
Marcus read it again.
Then a third time.
“Mom,” he whispered, “who else did Dad suspect?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Before Marcus could respond, Daniel returned, “who else did Dad suspect?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Before Marcus could respond, Daniel returned.
“The attorney is on his way. He said nobody should sign anything.””
“Good.””
“And there's a problem.””
Marcus looked up.
“Of course there is.
“The attorney is on his way. He said nobody should sign anything.””
“Good.””
“And there's a problem.””
Marcus looked up.
“Of course there is.””
Daniel held out his phone.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
**If.””
Daniel held out his phone.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
*If you cancel the wedding, your father’s real secret dies with him. Ask Evelyn you cancel the wedding, your father’s real secret dies with him. Ask Evelyn what happened the night before he died.*
Marcus read it twice.
Then he slowly lifted what happened the night before he died.**
Marcus read it twice.
Then he slowly lifted his eyes toward his mother.
Evelyn had gone pale.
“Mom?””
She looked at the message.
For the first time since Marcus his eyes toward his mother.
Evelyn had gone pale.
“Mom?””
She looked at the message.
For the first time since Marcus had known her, she seemed unable to find a single word.
“What happened the night Dad died?”” Marcus asked had known her, she seemed unable to find a single word.
“What happened the night Dad died?”” Marcus asked.
Evelyn glanced toward the closed door.
Then she whispered, “Your father wasn't supposed to be alone that.
May you like
Evelyn glanced toward the closed door.
Then she whispered, “Your father wasn't supposed to be alone that night.””
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