Chapter 4 — The Marriage Contract
Chapter 4 — The Marriage Contract
Mary read the message three times.
Yes, you do.
And Ethan knows where she is.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Vanessa sat across from her, staring at the phone as though the words themselves had become a weapon.
Claire was the first to break the silence.
“Mary.”
“I know.”
“Do you believe it?”
Mary looked at Vanessa.
“I don't know what I believe anymore.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't have a daughter.”
The answer came too quickly.
Mary noticed.
“Then why did you look frightened?”
Vanessa's lips parted.
“I wasn't frightened.”
“You were.”
“No.”
“You saw that message and went pale.”
Vanessa looked away.
Mary leaned forward.
“Who is Victoria?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“My sister.”
“I know.”
“What else do you know?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you asking me?”
“Because someone just told me Victoria has a daughter.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“That isn't possible.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria never had children.”
Mary's eyes narrowed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because I was there.”
Her voice broke.
“I was with her.”
Mary softened slightly.
“Tell me.”
Vanessa looked down at her hands.
“My sister died when I was seventeen.”
“What happened?”
“A car accident.”
“Where?”
“Outside the city.”
“Was Richard involved?”
Vanessa looked up sharply.
“I don't know.”
“But you suspect him.”
Vanessa said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Claire closed the curtains.
“If someone is watching this house, we shouldn't discuss this near the windows.”
Mary nodded.
Then she turned to Vanessa.
“Start from the beginning.”
Vanessa took a deep breath.
“Victoria was different from me. She was brilliant. She worked with numbers. She could look at a company's accounts and see things other people missed.”
Mary felt a chill.
“Like financial fraud?”
“Yes.”
“When did she meet Richard?”
“About a year before she died.”
“What did she do for him?”
“At first, consulting.”
“And later?”
Vanessa's expression darkened.
“She discovered something.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear I'm not.”
Mary stood.
“You expect me to believe your sister died in an accident after discovering something about one of the most powerful men in the country?”
Vanessa looked up at her.
“I don't expect you to believe me.”
She reached into her bag.
“But I have this.”
She placed an old key on the table.
Mary stared at it.
“What is it?”
“Victoria gave it to me the week before she died.”
“Why?”
“She told me that if anything happened to her, I should never give it to Richard.”
Mary picked it up.
There was a tiny number engraved on it.
417.
Claire immediately understood.
“A safe deposit box.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I never opened it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Mary looked at the key.
“Then we'll open it.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“Today?”
“Today.”
But before they could leave, Claire's phone rang.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Mary watched her.
Claire listened for several seconds.
Then slowly hung up.
“What happened?”
“The board meeting.”
Mary frowned.
“They moved it.”
“To when?”
“Thirty minutes from now.”
Mary's expression hardened.
“Of course.”
Claire opened her laptop.
“They've also added two emergency resolutions.”
“Which are?”
“First, to suspend your voting rights.”
Mary's eyes narrowed.
“And the second?”
Claire hesitated.
“To authorize Ethan to represent the company in negotiations with your family.”
Mary laughed once.
It wasn't a happy sound.
“He doesn't even own the shares anymore.”
“They're challenging the transfer.”
“On what grounds?”
Claire turned the screen toward her.
“On the grounds that the transfer was made under emotional distress.”
Mary stared at the document.
“They're saying I wasn't mentally capable of making the decision.”
Claire nodded.
“They're using the canceled wedding as evidence.”
Mary's smile disappeared.
“So that's why they wanted me to look unstable.”
“Exactly.”
“They planned everything.”
Claire looked at her.
“Then we need the marriage contract.”
Mary froze.
“What?”
“The original contract.”
Claire continued.
“If Ethan's lawyers are claiming you were emotionally unstable, we need to know exactly what they expected you to sign before the wedding.”
Mary shook her head.
“I've seen it.”
“No.”
Claire opened another file.
“You've seen the version they gave you.”
She looked at Mary.
“Not necessarily the version they registered.”
The presidential suite was sealed by noon.
Mary, Claire, and two attorneys entered through a private entrance.
The room looked exactly as it had that morning.
The bed had been remade.
The flowers were still there.
The champagne glasses had been removed.
But the ring was gone.
Mary stopped.
“Where is it?”
Claire looked at her.
“The engagement ring?”
“Yes.”
“I left it with the hotel manager.”
Mary nodded.
She looked around.
“This room was part of the plan.”
One of the attorneys frowned.
“How?”
Mary walked toward the desk.
“Ethan knew I would come here before the ceremony.”
She opened a drawer.
Empty.
Another.
Empty.
Then she noticed something underneath the desk.
A tiny black device.
Claire crouched beside her.
“What is that?”
“A camera.”
The attorney immediately examined it.
“It isn't hotel equipment.”
Mary stared at it.
“Then someone wanted a recording.”
“Of what?”
Mary looked toward the bed.
“Of me finding them.”
The attorney carefully removed the device.
“There may be more.”
They searched the suite.
Two additional cameras were found.
One faced the bedroom.
The other faced the doorway.
Claire's face hardened.
“They wanted to record your reaction.”
Mary nodded.
“Then use it.”
“What?”
“If they recorded me, they recorded everything.”
The attorney looked at her.
“Assuming we can access the footage.”
Mary smiled.
“We can.”
An hour later, they were watching the footage.
The camera showed the room before Mary arrived.
Ethan entered first.
Then Vanessa.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
He answered.
They couldn't hear the person clearly.
But Ethan's expression changed.
“Yes,” he said.
A pause.
“I understand.”
Another pause.
Then:
“She'll find us.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“What?”
Ethan hung up.
The audio became clearer.
“Someone wants you to stay here.”
“Who?”
Ethan didn't answer.
Vanessa asked again.
“Ethan?”
He looked toward the door.
“My father.”
Mary leaned closer.
Then Ethan said something that made everyone in the room freeze.
“If Mary sees us, she'll cancel the wedding.”
Vanessa asked:
“And that's what he wants?”
Ethan nodded.
“He wants the marriage canceled before she signs the final agreement.”
Mary looked at Claire.
“What final agreement?”
The footage continued.
Ethan took a folder from his briefcase.
He opened it.
The camera captured the first page.
Claire paused the video.
She zoomed in.
The title appeared.
POST-MARRIAGE ASSET CONTROL AGREEMENT.
Mary's face became cold.
“They lied.”
Claire nodded.
“This wasn't a prenup.”
“No.”
Mary stared at the screen.
“It was a transfer agreement.”
The document stated that after the wedding, Mary would transfer voting authority over several family assets to a joint management company.
That company was controlled by Ethan.
And there was another clause.
If the marriage ended because of Mary's “misconduct, instability, or voluntary abandonment,” she would lose her right to challenge the transfer.
Claire whispered:
“This is why they needed the scandal.”
Mary understood.
If she canceled the wedding publicly, Ethan could portray her as unstable.
If she stayed, she would sign.
Either way, they wanted control.
But there was one problem.
Mary had never signed it.
Claire looked at the final page.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“The signature.”
Mary looked closer.
The document contained her name.
But it wasn't her signature.
It was a copy.
A perfect copy.
Claire stared at it.
“They forged it before the wedding.”
Mary's voice was calm.
“They were planning to use it later.”
The attorney nodded.
“Then we have evidence of fraud.”
Mary shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because someone will claim this was an unsigned draft.”
She looked at the screen.
“We need the registered version.”
The board meeting began at two.
Mary walked into the room twenty minutes late.
Everyone turned.
Ethan was already there.
So was Richard.
Richard looked relieved when he saw her.
Ethan looked hopeful.
Mary noticed both reactions.
She smiled.
“Sorry I'm late.”
Richard stood.
“Mary, this meeting is about—”
“I know.”
She took a seat.
Ethan leaned toward her.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
“Mary—”
“I said no.”
Richard's jaw tightened.
The chairman cleared his throat.
“We need to establish whether the transfer of shares was valid.”
Mary placed a folder on the table.
“It was.”
Ethan's lawyer stood.
“Ms. Carter, you were under severe emotional distress when the transfer was made.”
Mary looked at him.
“I was betrayed.”
“That is precisely the point.”
“So?”
“You were not in a stable state of mind.”
Mary smiled.
“Then perhaps we should discuss the documents your client prepared before I became distressed.”
The lawyer froze.
Richard looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked back.
Mary opened the folder.
She placed the marriage agreement on the table.
“Recognize this?”
No one answered.
She turned toward Ethan.
“You should.”
Ethan's face became pale.
“You weren't supposed to have that.”
The room went silent.
Mary smiled.
“Thank you.”
Ethan realized what he had done.
Claire whispered:
“He just admitted possession.”
The chairman stared at Ethan.
“Mr. Carter, what exactly is this document?”
Ethan's lawyer interrupted.
“My client doesn't have to answer.”
Mary opened another folder.
“We have video.”
Richard stood abruptly.
“That's enough.”
“No.”
Mary looked at him.
“We're just getting started.”
She pressed a button.
The footage played on the conference room screen.
Everyone watched Ethan discuss the plan.
Everyone heard him mention his father.
Everyone saw the forged agreement.
When the recording ended, silence filled the room.
The chairman looked at Richard.
“Is this your son's voice?”
Richard didn't answer.
Mary looked around the table.
“Anyone still think I was emotionally unstable?”
Nobody spoke.
Then Ethan laughed.
It was a strange, almost broken laugh.
“You think you've won.”
Mary looked at him.
“No.”
She closed the folder.
“I think you've made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“You showed me the contract.”
Ethan's expression changed.
Mary leaned back.
“Because now I know exactly what you were trying to take.”
The meeting was suspended.
Lawyers flooded the hallway.
Richard grabbed Ethan by the arm.
“You idiot.”
Ethan pulled away.
“She had cameras.”
“You knew about them?”
“No.”
Richard's eyes widened.
“Then who installed them?”
Ethan stared at him.
Neither man had an answer.
Across the hall, Mary watched them through the glass.
Claire stood beside her.
“You're smiling.”
“I am?”
“Yes.”
Mary looked at Ethan.
“I finally understand something.”
“What?”
“He wasn't the mastermind.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if Ethan had planned everything, he wouldn't have made that mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He exposed his father.”
Claire was silent.
Mary continued.
“Ethan thinks Richard is using him.”
She looked toward the hallway.
“But what if it's the other way around?”
That evening, Mary and Vanessa opened the safe deposit box.
Box 417 was old.
The bank employee placed it on the table.
Vanessa inserted the key.
Her hands trembled.
Mary noticed.
“You don't have to do this.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Yes, I do.”
The box opened.
Inside were three items.
An envelope.
A flash drive.
And a photograph.
Vanessa picked up the photograph.
Her face collapsed.
It showed Victoria.
Standing beside a young man.
Mary took it.
“Who is that?”
Vanessa stared.
“I don't know.”
Mary turned the photograph over.
There was writing on the back.
If they come looking for me, trust the girl.
Mary frowned.
“The girl?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't understand.”
Mary opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The first sentence made her blood run cold.
Mary, if Vanessa gives you this, then I am already dead.
Mary stopped breathing.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Mary continued reading.
I discovered what Richard was doing. But I also discovered something about Ethan.
Her eyes moved to the next line.
Ethan was not working for his father.
Mary's heartbeat quickened.
The next sentence was underlined twice.
Richard was working for Ethan.
Mary looked up.
Vanessa whispered:
“What does that mean?”
Mary looked at the flash drive.
“I think we're about to find out.”
At the same time, Ethan stood in the underground parking garage.
His phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?”
A woman's voice came through.
“You failed.”
Ethan clenched his jaw.
“I didn't know Mary had the footage.”
“You were careless.”
“I'll fix it.”
“No.”
A pause.
“It's already too late.”
Ethan looked around.
“Who are you?”
The woman laughed softly.
“You still don't know?”
“Tell me.”
“You've spent your entire life thinking your father built the empire.”
Ethan froze.
The voice continued:
“He didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Another pause.
Then:
“Your mother.”
The call ended.
Ethan stood motionless.
His mother's name had not been spoken in that family for years.
Because everyone believed she had died peacefully.
But now, for the first time, Ethan wondered if that story had ever been true.
Back at the bank, Mary inserted the flash drive into the laptop.
A single video file appeared.
No title.
No date.
She clicked it.
The screen went black.
Then a woman's face appeared.
Mary stopped breathing.
She knew that face.
Everyone did.
It was a face from old family photographs.
A woman she had been told was dead.
A woman who had disappeared eight years ago.
A woman whose death had supposedly changed everything.
Mary whispered:
“That's…”
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Victoria.”
The woman on the screen looked directly into the camera.
And then she spoke.
“Mary, if you're watching this, don't trust your father.”
Mary froze.
Victoria continued:
“And whatever happens…”
She paused.
“Do not marry Ethan.”
The screen went black.
Mary stared at it.
Claire's phone suddenly rang.
She answered.
“Hello?”
The color drained from her face.
She looked at Mary.
“What?”
Claire slowly lowered the phone.
“There's been an accident.”
Mary stood.
“Who?”
Claire swallowed.
“Your father.”
Mary's heart stopped.
“Is he alive?”
Claire shook her head.
“They don't know.”
Then another message appeared on Mary's phone.
Unknown number.
Now you understand why your wedding had to happen today.
May you like
A second message followed.
Because tomorrow, your father may not be alive to tell you the truth.
