Chapter 2 — The Woman in the Video
Chapter 2 — The Woman in the Video
I watched the video three times.
The first time, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
The second time, I tried to convince myself there had to be an explanation.
By the third time, I stopped looking at Dwight's face.
I watched Ashley.
My maid of honor.
My closest friend.
The woman who had stood beside me while I walked down the aisle.
The woman who had fixed my veil when I started crying.
The woman who had whispered, “You're marrying the man you love.”
She had known.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
I closed the laptop.
Amy stared at me.
“Elizabeth.”
“I need air.”
She followed me onto the balcony.
Baltimore's lights glittered below us.
Cars moved along the streets.
People laughed outside restaurants.
Somewhere, a couple was probably celebrating their first night as newlyweds.
I wondered how many of them had discovered, less than twenty-four hours after saying I do, that their husband had been planning to take everything they owned.
Amy leaned against the railing.
“Do you want me to call Christopher?”
“No.”
“You should.”
“I will.”
I looked at the city.
“But first, I need to know how much of this is real.”
“What do you mean?”
I turned toward her.
“If Dwight knew about my inheritance, someone had to tell him.”
Amy was silent.
“My mother kept the Carter shares private,” I continued. “Even my closest relatives don't know the exact value.”
“Then who knew?”
“I did.”
“And?”
I swallowed.
“My mother's attorney.”
“Christopher?”
“No. Someone else.”
I suddenly remembered something.
Three months before the wedding, Dwight had asked me a strange question.
“Has your mother's estate finally been settled?”
At the time, I'd assumed he was being thoughtful.
Now my stomach turned.
He hadn't been asking.
He had been checking.
The Folder Marked X
We went back inside.
I reopened the laptop.
The folder contained more than I'd realized.
There were dozens of files arranged by date.
FIRST CONTACT
FAMILY ASSESSMENT
FINANCIAL PROFILE
MARRIAGE PROJECTION
TRANSFER STRATEGY
And finally:
PROJECT ELIZABETH — FINAL TRANSFER
My hands went cold.
Amy leaned closer.
“Open the first one.”
I clicked FIRST CONTACT.
An email appeared.
The sender was Dwight.
The recipient was someone named M. Anderson.
His father.
The message was dated eleven months before our wedding.
I met Elizabeth today.
She's exactly as you described.
Trusting. Independent. Financially stable.
She has no idea what her mother's shares are worth.
I can get close to her.
Amy covered her mouth.
I scrolled.
Another message.
Don't rush the marriage.
Make her believe it is her decision.
My eyes blurred.
I kept reading.
Once she trusts you completely, she'll sign anything.
I closed my eyes.
Amy whispered:
“He was targeting you before you even fell in love with him.”
I didn't answer.
Because I remembered exactly when I had fallen in love with Dwight.
A rainy evening.
A broken umbrella.
He'd waited outside my office for nearly an hour because I'd forgotten mine.
He had given me his jacket.
He'd said:
“I don't want anything from you, Elizabeth. I just want you.”
Apparently, that had been another lie.
The Woman in the Video
I reopened the video.
Ashley was sitting beside Dwight on a sofa.
The room looked familiar.
Then I recognized it.
The Anderson family's private study.
Dwight spoke first.
“You need to stop worrying.”
Ashley looked at him.
“What if she finds out?”
“She won't.”
“You said that last time.”
Dwight sighed.
“My father has everything under control.”
Ashley looked uncomfortable.
“I don't like this.”
“You knew what you were getting into.”
“I didn't know you'd marry her.”
Dwight laughed.
“That was the point.”
Ashley stared at him.
“And what happens to her?”
He looked away.
“She gets what she deserves.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Ashley asked the same question.
Dwight leaned closer.
“She'll walk away with nothing.”
Ashley whispered:
“You promised she wouldn't be hurt.”
“I promised you'd get your money.”
She went silent.
I paused the video.
Amy looked at me.
“Money?”
“Yes.”
I rewound the clip.
Dwight's words played again.
“I promised you'd get your money.”
Ashley wasn't having an affair with him because she loved him.
She was being paid.
But by whom?
I clicked the next file.
ASHLEY PAYMENTS
My hands shook as I opened it.
There were monthly transfers.
$2,000.
$3,500.
$5,000.
Sometimes more.
The payments had started eight months before my wedding.
The account belonged to a company called Anderson Family Consulting.
I stared at the screen.
Amy frowned.
“That's a lot of money.”
I scrolled down.
There was a final payment.
$25,000 — MARRIAGE COMPLETION BONUS
I stared at the words.
“Marriage completion.”
Amy whispered:
“That's what you were to them.”
A transaction.
A project.
A payout.
I felt sick.
Then I noticed something.
The final payment hadn't been made.
The status read:
PENDING — RELEASE UPON EXECUTION OF FINAL AGREEMENT.
I looked at Amy.
“What final agreement?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
I opened another folder.
TRANSFER DOCUMENTS.
There it was.
A draft agreement transferring my Carter shares.
My name was typed at the top.
The document claimed I had voluntarily agreed to transfer my inheritance to a family investment company.
The signature page was blank.
For now.
I whispered:
“They were waiting for me to sign.”
The Call
My phone rang.
Dwight.
I stared at the screen.
Amy said nothing.
I answered.
“Hello?”
His voice was soft.
“Elizabeth?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
I almost laughed.
“Why?”
“I've been worried.”
“You've been worried?”
“Yes.”
“You should be.”
Silence.
Then:
“I know you're angry.”
“You have no idea.”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
He hesitated.
“Your father-in-law lost control yesterday.”
“No.”
“What?”
“He didn't lose control.”
I looked at the laptop.
“He did exactly what he intended.”
Dwight went silent.
I continued.
“You knew about the list.”
“Elizabeth—”
“You knew Jared would confront me.”
“I didn't know he'd hit you.”
“But you knew he wanted me to obey.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Ashley.”
Silence.
“Ashley isn't what you think.”
I laughed.
“I watched the video.”
Another silence.
Then Dwight whispered:
“Where did you find it?”
There it was.
Not What video?
Not That's fake.
He knew.
“You're not even going to deny it.”
“Elizabeth, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Who paid Ashley?”
He didn't answer.
“Who?”
“My father.”
“Why?”
“He wanted you distracted.”
“From what?”
“From the inheritance.”
My eyes closed.
At least he had finally admitted it.
Then Dwight said something I hadn't expected.
“But that wasn't the original plan.”
I opened my eyes.
“What was?”
“I was supposed to marry you.”
“You did.”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“I was supposed to marry you and then divorce you.”
I felt my heart stop.
“Why?”
“Because my father believed your marriage would activate something in your mother's estate.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I didn't understand it either.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of your father?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you leave?”
He didn't answer.
I whispered:
“Because you wanted the money.”
“No.”
“You wanted the company.”
“No.”
“You wanted the position your father promised you.”
Silence.
I had my answer.
The First Crack
I ended the call.
Amy stared at me.
“You believe him?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like you're about to cry?”
“Because I wanted him to be innocent.”
She sat beside me.
“Elizabeth…”
“I spent four years loving him.”
“I know.”
“I defended him to everyone.”
“I know.”
“I told my mother before she died that I'd finally found someone who would protect me.”
Amy reached for my hand.
“And now?”
I looked at the laptop.
“Now I know I was wrong.”
My phone buzzed again.
A message.
From Ashley.
We need to talk. Alone.
I stared at it.
Amy shook her head.
“Absolutely not.”
“I need answers.”
“She could be working for them.”
“She probably is.”
“Then why go?”
“Because she knows something.”
I typed:
Where?
The reply came immediately.
St. Mary's parking garage. Level 3. 9 PM. Come alone.
Amy grabbed my wrist.
“No.”
“I'll be careful.”
“Elizabeth, these people have already assaulted you.”
“I know.”
“They've been planning this for months.”
“I know.”
“And now the woman who betrayed you wants you to meet her alone?”
I looked at Amy.
“She may be the only person who can tell me what they planned next.”
Amy sighed.
“Then I'm coming with you.”
“No.”
“I'm not asking.”
I almost smiled.
“Fine.”
Ashley's Confession
At 9:03 PM, we found Ashley sitting in her car.
She looked nothing like the woman from the wedding.
Her makeup was gone.
Her eyes were swollen.
She rolled down the window.
“Elizabeth.”
I stopped.
“Why did you do it?”
She started crying.
“I was desperate.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“My brother had debts.”
I said nothing.
“Jared offered me money.”
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
Amy's expression hardened.
“And you agreed to destroy your best friend's marriage for fifty thousand dollars?”
Ashley looked down.
“I thought it would be harmless.”
“Harmless?”
“I thought Dwight would flirt with me. I didn't know they'd actually marry you.”
“You were my maid of honor.”
“I know.”
“You helped choose my wedding dress.”
“I know.”
“You stood beside me while I married him.”
“I know.”
“Then you went home and collected money from his father.”
Ashley covered her face.
“I hated myself.”
I looked at her.
“Then why didn't you stop?”
She slowly lowered her hands.
“Because by the time I wanted to, it was too late.”
“Too late for what?”
She reached into her purse.
And handed me a flash drive.
“Everything.”
I stared at it.
“What's on this?”
“The original plan.”
I took it.
“Why give it to me now?”
“Because Jared lied to me.”
“How?”
“He told me I'd get the final payment after the wedding.”
“And?”
“He never paid me.”
“Why?”
Ashley looked at me.
“Because you didn't sign the transfer.”
I stared at her.
“So the entire family is waiting for me to sign.”
“Yes.”
“Why is my signature so important?”
Ashley shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Then who does?”
She hesitated.
“Your husband.”
The Document
Back at Amy's apartment, we opened the flash drive.
There were recordings.
Emails.
Bank statements.
Contracts.
And one audio file.
The recording was between Jared and Dwight.
Jared's voice came first.
“Once Elizabeth signs, the shares become accessible.”
Dwight asked:
“And if she refuses?”
“Then make her want to leave.”
My blood ran cold.
“Why would leaving help?”
“Because she'll sign the divorce settlement.”
I looked at Amy.
The recording continued.
Dwight asked:
“What happens after the divorce?”
Jared laughed.
“She walks away with the money she brought into the marriage.”
“But the shares?”
“She loses them.”
There was a long pause.
Then Dwight asked:
“And my mother?”
Jared replied:
“She gets the company.”
I froze.
Susan.
His mother.
She wasn't simply helping Jared.
She was the intended beneficiary.
But then Dwight asked:
“And me?”
Jared's voice became cold.
“You get what you've earned.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you get the CEO position.”
I stopped the recording.
Amy whispered:
“So Dwight married you to become CEO.”
I stared at the screen.
Everything finally made sense.
The family wasn't working together equally.
Each person wanted something.
Jared wanted control.
Susan wanted the company.
Dwight wanted the CEO position.
Ashley wanted money.
And I was the person standing between all of them and their prize.
But there was one detail I couldn't understand.
Why did they need my marriage?
Why couldn't they simply manipulate me into transferring the shares?
I opened the final document.
The answer was buried in the legal language.
CARTER FAMILY SUCCESSION AGREEMENT
SPOUSAL CONSENT REQUIRED.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
My mother's estate had one unusual protection.
Her controlling shares could not be transferred while I was unmarried.
But after marriage, the shares became eligible for restructuring.
That was why Dwight had married me.
The marriage itself had unlocked the process.
I felt sick.
Then Amy pointed at another paragraph.
“Elizabeth.”
I leaned closer.
A condition appeared beneath the transfer clause.
IF THE SPOUSE IS FOUND TO HAVE ENTERED THE MARRIAGE UNDER FALSE PRETENSES, ALL TRANSFER ATTEMPTS SHALL BE VOID.
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Amy smiled for the first time that night.
“It means your mother's lawyer anticipated this.”
I looked at the document.
“Then why did Dwight risk everything?”
“I don't know.”
Neither did I.
Until I saw the final line.
EVIDENCE OF FRAUD MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE TRUSTEE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF DISCOVERY.
I checked the date.
My wedding had been less than twenty-four hours ago.
I had twenty-nine days.
Then my phone rang.
It was Christopher.
His voice was urgent.
“Elizabeth, where are you?”
“At Amy's.”
“Good. Don't go anywhere.”
“Why?”
“I just received something from your mother's old attorney.”
My heart raced.
“What?”
“A sealed letter.”
“What does it say?”
Christopher was silent for a moment.
Then:
“It says your mother knew Dwight would come for your inheritance.”
I stood.
“What?”
“And Elizabeth…”
“Yes?”
“She left instructions that the letter must not be opened until after your husband betrayed you.”
My blood ran cold.
“Open it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother didn't address the letter to you.”
“Then who?”
Christopher's voice dropped.
“To Dwight.”
Silence.
I stared at the laptop.
At the video.
At the forged documents.
At the man who had called himself my husband.
Then Christopher said:
“Elizabeth, there's something else.”
“What?”
“The letter contains a name.”
“Whose?”
He hesitated.
“A woman.”
“Who?”
“The woman who originally told your husband about your inheritance.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who?”
Christopher finally answered.
“Your maid of honor.”
I looked at Ashley's photograph on my wedding table.
The woman who had betrayed me.
The woman who had been paid to help destroy my marriage.
The woman who had stood beside me while I said I do.
And suddenly I realized Ashley's confession hadn't been the whole truth.
She hadn't merely been hired by Dwight's family.
She had known about my inheritance before Dwight ever met me.
Which meant the real question wasn't—
Why did Ashley betray me?
May you like
It was—
Who told Ashley to find me in the first place?
