Chapter 9: The Truth Buried Beneath Two Deaths
My father sat down slowly.
For the first time since this nightmare began, he looked like a man who had no idea what to say.
"Your mother was with Thomas that night?"" I repeated.
He nodded.
"She told me she was at home.""
"She was.""
"Then how could she have been with him?""
My father rubbed his forehead.
"She left the house after receiving a phone call. She told me later that Thomas had asked to meet her.""
I stared at him.
"And you knew?""
"I knew she had gone to see him. I didn't know what happened until afterward.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I promised her I wouldn't.""
I stood.
"Everyone keeps telling me they hid things because they wanted to protect me.""
My father looked up.
"Sweetheart—"
"No. I need the truth.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He took a deep breath.
"Thomas had discovered that Arthur was stealing from the family company. He wanted your mother to leave the Sterling family estate and move away with you.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed Arthur was dangerous.""
I looked at the photograph of Thomas.
"What happened that night?""
My father continued.
"Your mother met him at a restaurant. They argued. She wanted him to report Arthur immediately. Thomas wanted to wait until he had enough evidence.""
"Then?""
"He drove her home. On the way, another car followed them.""
My throat tightened.
"Was it Arthur?""
"Your mother never identified the driver. But Thomas noticed the car and tried to lose it.""
I closed my eyes.
My father continued.
"At the intersection, the vehicle struck the driver's side of Thomas's car. Thomas died at the scene.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"And my mother?""
"She survived. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.""
"Why did she never tell me?""
"Because she believed the person who followed them would come after you.""
I looked at the birth certificate.
"She thought Arthur would hurt me?""
"Yes.""
Patricia sat quietly, taking notes.
"Daniel, did the police investigate the collision?""
"They did. The other vehicle was never identified.""
Robert suddenly spoke.
"Because Arthur paid someone to destroy the footage.""
My father turned.
"How do you know that?""
Robert looked ashamed.
"I was there when he arranged it.""
The room became silent again.
Patricia wrote something down.
"Do you have any proof?""
Robert nodded.
"There's an old storage drive at my house. It contains copies of the payment records.""
My father stared at him.
"You've had that evidence for seven years?""
"Yes.""
"And you let Thomas's death remain unexplained?""
Robert lowered his head.
"I was afraid.""
My father stood.
"Your fear has cost enough people enough lives.""
Robert didn't argue.
That evening, Patricia arranged for Robert to provide a formal statement.
The financial records were submitted to investigators, along with the original audio files from Rebecca's USB drive.
The bank confirmed that the forged authorization had been submitted from an account connected to Sterling Capital Partners.
The trust remained secure.
The $650,000 was untouched.
And the wedding check was frozen pending investigation into its source.
But Marcus wasn't finished.
At 8:17 p.m., a news notification appeared on my phone.
*PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN ACCUSES NEWLYWED WIFE OF FINANCIAL THEFT.*
I opened the article.
A photograph of Marcus appeared beside a carefully worded statement.
He claimed I had removed confidential financial documents from the Sterling residence and had threatened his family with false accusations.
The article described him as a devoted husband trying to reconcile with an emotionally unstable wife.
I stared at the screen.
"They're trying to destroy my reputation.""
Patricia read the article.
"Don't respond publicly.""
"They're calling me unstable.""
"Let them.""
My father shook his head.
"We have the evidence. We don't need to play their game.""
But I knew the Sterlings.
They had money.
Connections.
A network of people who would believe whatever story they were paid to repeat.
And they had already begun.
An hour later, my phone rang.
It was Laura.
"Nia, have you seen the news?""
"Yes.""
"I have something.""
"What?""
"I found Rebecca's hospital discharge records.""
I sat up.
"What?""
"After the accident, she was transferred to a private rehabilitation facility. But the records show she was visited by someone three days before she died.""
"Who?""
Laura's voice trembled.
"Marcus.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did he have permission?""
"No. He wasn't listed as an authorized visitor.""
"How did he get in?""
"Someone signed him in.""
"Who?""
Laura paused.
Then she whispered, "Arthur.""
I looked at Patricia.
She immediately opened her laptop.
"Can you send the records?""
"Yes. But there's something else.""
"What?""
"My sister left a voicemail on my mother's phone the night before she died.""
My heart began pounding.
"Do you still have it?""
"Yes.""
Laura sent the file.
I opened it.
Rebecca's voice was weak.
"Mom, it's me. Please call me when you get this.""
A pause.
"I know what they're planning. I know Marcus has been coming here. I tried to tell the nurses, but nobody listens.""
Then a faint sound.
A door opening.
Rebecca whispered:
"He's here again.""
A man's voice sounded in the background.
"Rebecca, we need to talk.""
Marcus.
Rebecca began crying.
"Please. Just leave me alone.""
Then the recording ended.
I felt sick.
"She was afraid of him even in the hospital.""
Laura began crying.
"Yes.""
Patricia saved the recording.
"This needs to go to investigators immediately.""
I looked at the clock.
9:04 p.m.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, the number was unfamiliar but not private.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Miss Hayes, my name is Detective Morgan. I'm investigating the death of Rebecca Sterling.""
I stood.
"Yes?""
"We've received some information from your attorney.""
"Okay.""
"I need to ask you something about your husband.""
"Go ahead.""
"Has Marcus contacted you today?""
"Yes.""
"Did he make any threats?""
I looked at Patricia.
"Not directly.""
The detective paused.
"Miss Hayes, I need you to listen carefully. We have reason to believe that Marcus may be preparing to leave the country.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"We're reviewing a series of suspicious financial transfers. Several accounts connected to Sterling Capital Partners were recently emptied.""
Patricia immediately opened the bank records.
"How much?"" I asked.
"Approximately $3.2 million.""
My father stepped closer.
"Where did the money go?"" he asked.
I repeated the question.
The detective hesitated.
"Some funds appear to have been transferred into an offshore account. Others were moved through a company registered under a different name.""
Patricia began typing rapidly.
Then the detective added:
"There's another development.""
"What?""
"Marcus has filed an emergency petition claiming that you are mentally incapable of managing your inheritance.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What?""
"He is asking the court to appoint a temporary financial guardian.""
I looked at my father.
He was furious.
"On what grounds?"" I asked.
The detective's voice remained calm.
"He claims you are experiencing severe emotional instability following the wedding and that you may be a danger to yourself.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
The man who had thrown a dishcloth at me was now telling the world I was unstable.
The man who had tried to forge my signature wanted a court to take control of my money.
And the man whose first wife had died under suspicious circumstances was preparing to run.
Patricia closed her laptop.
"We need an emergency hearing.""
The detective continued.
"Miss Hayes, one more thing. We recovered a document from Marcus's office.""
"What document?""
"A proposed marriage settlement.""
My throat tightened.
"What's in it?""
"Your signature appears on the last page.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible.""
The detective lowered her voice.
"The document is dated three months before your wedding.""
I looked at Patricia.
She went completely still.
Three months before the wedding.
Before the engagement party.
Before Marcus had slipped the diamond onto my finger.
Before he had promised to protect me.
I whispered:
"What does it say?""
The detective answered.
"It states that you agreed to transfer your entire inheritance to Sterling Capital Partners upon marriage.""
I closed my eyes.
Then she delivered the final blow.
"Miss Hayes, the document also lists a witness.""
"Who?""
May you like
There was a pause.
"Your mother.""
