Chapter 8 - The Man Who Built the Trap Had Already Left

Richard Voss did not answer his phone.

By noon, his law firm had suspended him.

By one, the state bar had opened an emergency investigation.

By two, detectives were speaking to Rebecca.

By three, Owen was sitting across from me again.

This time in a conference room.

Not a bridal suite.

No flowers.

No ring.

Lorraine sat at the other end with her own attorney.

Dad was beside me.

Rebecca had told everyone that if they wanted to speak, they would do it on record.

Owen looked at the forged guarantee.

“I never signed this.”

The forensic specialist nodded.

“We agree.”

Then she showed him the marital agreement.

“Did you know about this?”

“Yes.”

“The expanded property rights?”

“Yes.”

“The cross-collateralization clause?”

Owen stared.

“What clause?”

She pointed.

Page fourteen.

He read.

His face drained.

“No.”

Lorraine looked at him.

“I didn’t know that was included either.”

Owen laughed bitterly.

“You told me it was just leverage.”

“I thought it was.”

I stared at both of them.

They had built a dishonest plan.

Then hired a dishonest lawyer.

And seemed shocked he had been dishonest with them too.

Rebecca looked at Owen.

“Did you intend to obtain any of Mara’s separate property through deception?”

He looked at me.

Then the table.

“I intended to get her signature before fully explaining the trust.”

“That is deception.”

“Yes.”

“Did you intend to divorce her?”

“No.”

“Did you tell Lorraine you would?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To stop her from threatening to tell Mara everything before the wedding.”

I closed my eyes.

Rebecca continued.

“So rather than tell Mara yourself, you reinforced the lie.”

“Yes.”

Owen’s voice was barely audible.

“Yes.”

I looked at him.

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

He looked at me.

“Yes.”

“When?”

He started crying.

“I don’t know.”

That was the answer.

Not tomorrow.

Not after the honeymoon.

Not before the trust activated.

Just someday.

Rebecca turned to Lorraine.

“Did you intend to use Mara’s property to support Mercer Holdings?”

“Yes.”

“Without fully disclosing the debt?”

Lorraine hesitated.

Then:

“Yes.”

“Did you research Mara before Owen met her?”

“Yes.”

“Did you arrange the social introduction?”

“Yes.”

“Did Owen know?”

“No.”

Rebecca stopped the recording.

“That is enough for me.”

Lorraine’s attorney looked horrified.

Maybe because his client had finally discovered honesty.

Rebecca turned to me.

“What do you want?”

Everyone looked at me.

For three years, apparently, people had been planning what I should want.

Marriage.

Security.

Property.

Protection.

Now the room waited.

“I want the Savannah title cleared.”

Rebecca nodded.

“I want the conditional marital trust revoked.”

Dad looked at me.

“It’s yours.”

“No.”

He frowned.

“I don’t want money conditioned on staying married.”

His face changed.

Then he nodded.

“Done.”

“I want Richard prosecuted if the evidence supports it.”

Rebecca nodded.

“And the marriage?”

Owen stopped breathing.

I looked at him.

Twenty-four hours earlier, I had been excited to wake beside him.

Now I could not imagine sleeping in the same room.

“I want an annulment if possible.”

His face broke.

Lorraine closed her eyes.

I continued.

“If not, divorce.”

Owen whispered:

“Mara.”

I looked at him.

“I believe you loved me.”

He started crying.

“I love you now.”

“I know.”

“That has to matter.”

“It does.”

He looked hopeful.

I hated what I had to say next.

“It just doesn’t matter enough.”

Silence.

“I can forgive fear.”

I swallowed.

“I cannot build a marriage around someone who lets fear decide when I deserve the truth.”

He looked down.

No argument.

That almost hurt more.

After the meeting, Dad and I walked outside.

The wedding hotel was across the street.

Workers were removing floral arrangements from the ballroom entrance.

Dad asked:

“Do you want me to handle anything?”

I looked at him.

He corrected himself.

“Do you want help handling anything?”

I smiled slightly.

“Better.”

He nodded.

“I’m learning.”

“So am I.”

My phone buzzed.

A news alert.

Attorney Richard Voss had been detained at the airport.

Destination:

Cayman Islands.

Rebecca called thirty seconds later.

“They found documents in his luggage.”

“What documents?”

“Copies of your trust.”

I stopped walking.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.”

Her voice changed.

“A second background file.”

“On who?”

“Owen.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

Rebecca answered:

“Because Lorraine was not the first person Richard approached about connecting the Mercer and Bennett families.”

I stared.

“Who was?”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

She paused.

“Your father.”