Chapter 4 - My Father’s Confession
Vivian entered alone.
Victor sat on the edge of a medical bed.
A bruise darkened his cheek.
“Dad.”
He stood.
She crossed the room and embraced him.
For one moment, none of the secrets mattered.
He was her father.
He was alive.
Then she stepped back.
“Tell me.”
Victor looked toward the door.
“Is Edmund outside?”
“Yes.”
“You trust him?”
Vivian almost laughed.
“Ask me tomorrow.”
Victor smiled sadly.
“That sounds like your mother.”
“Everyone keeps saying that tonight.”
“Because you’re finally asking the questions she asked.”
Vivian held up the key.
Victor’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Someone slipped it to me.”
He sat down again.
“Elena’s key.”
“So Rebecca was telling the truth.”
“You spoke to Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“This is moving too quickly.”
“No. This is twenty years late.”
He nodded.
She sat opposite him.
“Did you gamble away everything?”
“Yes.”
“Did someone manipulate you?”
Victor stared at the floor.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Adrian Costa.”
Vivian’s stomach tightened.
Victor explained.
Adrian had approached him after Elena’s death.
Friendly at first.
Then helpful.
Investment opportunities.
Private games.
Loans.
Victor had been grieving.
Angry.
Reckless.
Adrian made losing easy.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because shame makes men stupid.”
“You traded my future because you were ashamed?”
Victor flinched.
“Yes.”
Vivian looked away.
She loved him.
That did not erase what he had done.
“I may forgive you someday,” she said. “But not tonight.”
“I understand.”
“No. You accept it. Understanding comes later.”
Victor nodded.
“You’re right.”
“Now tell me about Edmund.”
Victor hesitated.
“The marriage was Adrian’s suggestion.”
Vivian went still.
“What?”
“He never said it directly. He simply kept reminding me that Edmund could clear the debt.”
“And you thought it was your idea.”
“Yes.”
Vivian felt anger burning through her.
“Did Edmund know?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Why?”
“Because when I offered the marriage, Edmund threw me out.”
Vivian blinked.
“He what?”
“He called me disgusting.”
Despite everything, she nearly smiled.
“What changed?”
“Three days later, he called me.”
“Why?”
Victor looked at her.
“He said he would clear every debt whether you married him or not.”
Vivian stopped breathing.
“What?”
“He said the marriage would only happen if you agreed.”
“I didn’t agree.”
Victor’s shame deepened.
“I told him you had.”
Silence.
Vivian stood.
Her chair scraped backward.
“You lied to him?”
“Yes.”
“And you lied to me.”
“Yes.”
She walked away.
Her hands shook.
All month, she had believed Edmund knew she was being forced.
All month, Edmund had believed she had chosen the arrangement.
Their coldness toward each other had been built on Victor’s lie.
“Why?”
“I thought if either of you knew the truth, the arrangement would collapse.”
“It should have collapsed!”
“I was desperate.”
“That is not an excuse.”
“No.”
Vivian turned.
“What happened tonight?”
Victor rubbed his face.
“I received a note before the first dance.”
“What note?”
“Someone said they had proof Elena had been murdered.”
The room became silent.
Vivian could hear her own heartbeat.
“My mother died of cancer.”
Victor looked at her.
“That is what I believed.”
“Believed?”
“The note said her final medical records were falsified.”
Vivian’s knees weakened.
“Who sent it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where did they tell you to go?”
“Room 417.”
“Why did you leave with the waiter?”
“I didn’t. He followed me.”
“Samuel Voss?”
Victor stared.
“How do you know that name?”
“Rebecca.”
Victor stood.
“Rebecca is here?”
“Yes.”
“Then we need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because Rebecca Vale is the reason Lorenzo Costa died.”
The door opened.
Edmund stood there.
He had heard.
Rebecca stood behind him.
Her expression was unreadable.
Victor backed away.
“You.”
Rebecca entered slowly.
“You still believe that?”
“I saw you.”
“You saw what Adrian wanted you to see.”
Edmund stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“Your father discovered Adrian was behind the theft.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Lorenzo called me that night. He said you betrayed him.”
“He was protecting me.”
“From whom?”
“Samuel.”
Vivian frowned.
“The dead man?”
Rebecca looked at her.
“Samuel Voss did not die in that crash.”
“Then who did?”
Rebecca swallowed.
“Nobody knows.”
The official report had identified two bodies.
Lorenzo Costa.
Samuel Voss.
But Rebecca claimed Samuel had switched identities with another employee hours earlier.
Lorenzo died.
Samuel disappeared.
“Why?” Edmund asked.
“Because Samuel worked for Adrian.”
Victor shook his head.
“Adrian was Lorenzo’s brother.”
“And wanted his company.”
Edmund turned away.
Vivian saw something painful cross his face.
Family betrayal cut differently.
Marcus entered.
“We have a problem.”
Edmund looked up.
“Samuel?”
“No.”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
Marcus held up a phone.
“The trust has been activated.”
Rebecca stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“Apparently not.”
Vivian looked at Edmund.
“We got married.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Marriage only satisfies the first condition.”
“What’s the second?”
“Both heirs must sign acknowledgment documents.”
“We didn’t.”
Marcus looked grim.
“Someone submitted them electronically thirty minutes ago.”
Edmund’s expression hardened.
“Forged?”
“Perfectly.”
“Where does the money go?”
“It doesn’t move automatically. But control rights become transferable under a succession clause.”
Vivian understood.
“If one of us dies.”
Rebecca nodded.
“And if both die?”
Victor whispered.
“The designated trustee takes control.”
Everyone looked at Rebecca.
She shook her head.
“Not me.”
“Who?” Vivian demanded.
Rebecca opened the trust documents.
She turned pages.
Stopped.
Her face changed.
“This page wasn’t in my copy.”
Edmund stepped beside her.
A new amendment had been inserted.
Signed seventeen years earlier.
Witnessed.
Notarized.
The designated trustee was listed at the bottom.
Vivian read the name.
ADRIAN COSTA.
Edmund became very still.
Marcus’s phone buzzed.
He looked at the message.
Then at Vivian.
“What now?” she asked.
Marcus turned the screen around.
A photograph had just been sent from an unknown number.
It showed the ballroom.
Taken moments ago.
The camera was focused on Vivian and Edmund.
May you like
Below it were four words.
THE BRIDE IS NEXT.
