Chapter 4: The Woman Who Disappeared
My father didn't speak again until we reached his office.
His company occupied three floors of a glass building downtown. The lobby smelled of polished stone and fresh coffee. Employees greeted him as he walked past, but he barely acknowledged them.
He took me directly into his private conference room.
"Sit down, sweetheart.""
I remained standing.
"Who was Rebecca?""
My father removed his jacket.
"Marcus married her seven years ago.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because she died.""
The words landed heavily.
I gripped the back of a chair.
"How?""
"An accident, according to the official report.""
"What kind of accident?""
My father hesitated.
"She fell down a staircase at the Sterling residence.""
I felt cold.
"At the same house?""
He nodded.
"She was twenty-six.""
I sat down slowly.
"Was Marcus home?""
"Yes.""
"Did he get arrested?""
"No.""
"Was there an investigation?""
"There was an investigation. The family claimed she had been struggling emotionally and had fallen while walking upstairs.""
I stared at him.
"Did anyone believe that?""
My father pulled a chair closer.
"Rebecca's parents questioned the circumstances. But they were not wealthy, and the Sterlings had powerful connections. The case was eventually closed.""
I looked down at my hands.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I didn't know Marcus had been married before until yesterday.""
"What?""
"His family presented him to us as a man who had never married. When I learned about Rebecca, I started asking questions.""
"Yesterday?""
He nodded.
"I hired an investigator after the wedding reception.""
My mouth went dry.
"Why?""
My father looked at me with sadness.
"Because something about Arthur's behavior bothered me. He was more interested in the financial details of your trust than in celebrating your marriage.""
He opened his briefcase.
Inside were several printed photographs.
He placed one in front of me.
A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair stood beside Marcus at what looked like an engagement party.
She was smiling.
Marcus was holding her waist.
The resemblance between the two photographs and my wedding pictures was unsettling.
"That's Rebecca?""
"Yes.""
I studied her face.
She looked ordinary.
Happy.
Like someone who had believed she was building a life with a man who loved her.
"Did she have money?""
My father nodded.
"Her parents owned several commercial properties. When she married Marcus, she inherited access to a substantial family investment account.""
My eyes moved to him.
"Did the Sterlings get her money?""
"Most of it.""
"How?""
"Rebecca signed a series of financial documents after the wedding. Her family later claimed she had been pressured into transferring assets into a joint investment company.""
I remembered the forged authorization.
My stomach tightened.
"Was it the same company?""
My father placed another document on the table.
The name Sterling Capital Partners appeared at the top.
"Yes.""
I leaned forward.
"How much?""
"Approximately $1.8 million.""
I covered my mouth.
"And then she died.""
"Three months later.""
The room became silent.
My father sat opposite me.
"Nia, I need you to understand something. I don't know whether Marcus had anything to do with Rebecca's death. I won't accuse him without evidence.""
"But you think something happened.""
"I think your marriage may have been arranged for reasons that had nothing to do with love.""
I stared at the photograph.
Two years.
Two years of dinners, vacations, birthdays, and whispered promises.
Had any of it been real?
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from a woman.
*My name is Rebecca's sister, Laura. Please don't go back to that house. I need to speak with you.*
I immediately showed my father.
He read it.
"Call her.""
I pressed the number.
A woman answered after one ring.
"Hello?""
"This is Nia Hayes.""
There was a shaky breath.
"Oh, thank God.""
"How did you get my number?""
"Your wedding photographs were everywhere. My mother saw them yesterday and recognized Marcus.""
I closed my eyes.
"What do you know?""
"My sister told me something before she died.""
"What?""
"She said Marcus's family was trying to get control of her inheritance. She said she was afraid.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Did she have evidence?""
"Yes. She made recordings.""
I looked at my father.
He leaned closer.
"Where are they?"" I asked.
Laura's voice broke.
"I don't know. She hid them somewhere. But before she died, she told me that if Marcus ever married again, I should find his new wife.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"Why?""
"Because she believed he would do the same thing again.""
I couldn't speak.
Laura continued.
"Listen to me. Rebecca wasn't careless. She wasn't depressed.
She wasn't suicidal. She was preparing to leave him.""
My father slowly closed his eyes.
"What happened the night she died?"" I asked.
Laura went quiet.
Then she said, "Marcus called my parents at 11:38 p.m. He said Rebecca had fallen down the stairs.""
"Was she alive?""
"Yes.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"She was alive when the ambulance arrived. She was taken to the hospital. She died the following morning.""
I looked at my father.
He was already writing something down.
"Did she regain consciousness?""
Laura whispered, "For a few minutes.""
"What did she say?""
There was a long silence.
Then Laura answered.
"She said, 'Don't let him take the money.''"
My father stood.
"Laura, we need to meet.""
"I've been trying to get someone to listen for seven years. I'll meet you anywhere.""
"Can you come to my office tomorrow morning?""
"Yes.""
The call ended.
I sat motionless.
The diamond ring had left a faint mark on my finger.
I rubbed it with my thumb.
"How could I have missed all of this?"" I whispered.
My father knelt beside my chair.
"Because you loved him.""
I looked at him.
"Was any of it real?""
He didn't give me a comforting lie.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
That hurt more than anything else.
An hour later, my attorney arrived.
Her name was Patricia Moore. She had handled several of my father's business acquisitions and was known for being exceptionally thorough.
She listened to everything without interrupting.
Then she placed a legal pad on the table.
"First, we'll secure your finances. Second, we'll preserve every message and document. Third, we'll begin the divorce process.""
"What about the forged signature?""
"We'll report it to the bank and request that the authorization be formally investigated.""
She looked at me.
"Did you give Marcus access to any of your accounts?""
"No.""
"Did you sign a prenuptial agreement?""
I shook my head.
Marcus had insisted we didn't need one.
He had called it unromantic.
Patricia frowned.
"That may actually simplify some aspects of the financial dispute, but we'll need to examine the wedding gift and any agreements connected to it.""
My father slid the documents across the table.
Patricia examined the forged authorization.
Then she stopped.
"Daniel.""
"What?""
She pointed to the bottom corner.
"Who submitted this?""
My father leaned closer.
The name of the submitting officer appeared beneath a reference number.
I read it.
*Rebecca Sterling.*
My blood turned cold.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Patricia looked up.
"Why?""
"Because Rebecca is dead.""
My father picked up the document.
He examined it carefully.
Then he turned it over.
On the back was a handwritten note.
May you like
Three words.
*She was never alone.*
