Chapter 3 - THE TRUST
I read the line four times.
It didn’t change.
Rebecca would become co-trustee after our marriage.
“What is this?”
Mark shook his head.
“That clause shouldn’t exist.”
Rebecca’s expression hardened.
“Enough.”
I looked at her.
“You were trying to get access to Emily’s trust?”
“That money is part of the family.”
“No.”
My voice echoed through the chapel.
“That money came from Sarah.”
Sarah’s parents had created the trust after she died.
It contained insurance money.
Investments.
Her share of a family property company.
By the time Emily turned twenty-five, it could be worth several million dollars.
Rebecca had always told me she didn’t care about it.
She called it “Emily’s future.”
Now her name was sitting beside it.
I turned to Mark.
“How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“You know exactly how.”
Mark stared at her.
She stepped forward.
“Tell him.”
Mark’s face changed.
My stomach dropped.
“Tell me what?”
Mark swallowed.
“Six months ago, you signed estate planning documents.”
“Yes.”
“You added Rebecca as medical power of attorney.”
I nodded.
“Because you recommended it.”
“I recommended an emergency authorization.”
Rebecca smiled without warmth.
“You didn’t read the entire packet.”
I looked at Mark.
His face told me everything.
“What else did I sign?”
Mark whispered.
“An amendment.”
The rage came so suddenly I couldn’t feel my hands.
“You put that in front of me?”
“I didn’t know it was there.”
“You’re my lawyer.”
“I know.”
“Then how the hell did it get there?”
He looked at Diane.
Diane stopped recording.
Rebecca said quietly:
“My sister works in your office, remember?”
I turned.
Diane had been Mark’s administrative manager for eight months.
Rebecca had gotten her the interview.
I had even recommended her.
Suddenly every small favor looked different.
Every coincidence looked rotten.
“You planned this.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I planned a stable future.”
“For who?”
“For us.”
“There is no us.”
The words came out before I thought about them.
A murmur moved through the guests.
Rebecca stared at me.
“Don’t.”
I took off my wedding boutonniere.
Dropped it on the floor.
“We’re done.”
Emily looked up at me.
“Daddy?”
I squeezed her hand.
“We’re going home.”
Rebecca grabbed my wrist.
Hard.
“You walk out that door, you lose everything.”
I looked down at her hand.
Then back at her face.
“Let go.”
She did.
Barely.
Mark stepped forward.
“Daniel, she may be right about one thing.”
I turned on him.
“What?”
“If the amendment was properly filed, Rebecca may already have limited authority.”
“She isn’t my wife.”
“She doesn’t need to be for some sections.”
My stomach tightened.
“Which sections?”
He hesitated.
“Access to certain accounts.”
Rebecca smiled.
Not the sweet smile.
The real one.
Cold.
Certain.
“You should have just married me.”
I felt Emily move behind me.
Then my phone buzzed.
A banking alert.
I pulled it out.
A transfer had been initiated from one of Emily’s custodial accounts.
$240,000.
Destination account unknown.
I looked at Rebecca.
“You moved money.”
She didn’t answer.
The phone buzzed again.
Another alert.
$180,000.
Then another.
$95,000.
Mark swore under his breath.
I called the bank.
Rebecca reached for my phone.
I shoved her hand away.
“What are you doing?”
“Protecting our assets.”
“They’re not your assets!”
Emily started crying again.
I bent down.
“Melissa!”
The nanny came rushing from the side hallway.
Rebecca snapped.
“Don’t you dare take her.”
Melissa stopped.
She looked at me.
Then Rebecca.
And for the first time, I noticed Melissa was terrified too.
“Mr. Carter,” she whispered.
“What?”
“There’s something you need to know.”
Rebecca stepped toward her.
“Melissa.”
The nanny backed away.
“She told me not to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
Melissa’s eyes filled with tears.
“She already packed Emily’s bags.”
The entire chapel disappeared around me.
“What?”
“They’re in the trunk of a black SUV behind the church.”
Emily grabbed my hand.
Rebecca didn’t deny it.
I stared at her.
“You were taking my daughter today?”
Rebecca lifted her chin.
May you like
“Immediately after the reception.”
And somewhere outside, an engine started.
