Chapter 13 - The Wedding Everyone Was Watching
Mateo moved first.
The gunshot struck the stone beside him.
People scattered.
Father Daniel pulled my mother down.
Gemma ran toward the side door.
I grabbed the ledger.
Mateo reached me.
“Run.”
We moved through the cathedral.
Behind us, men shouted.
The wedding decorations remained everywhere.
Flowers.
Candles.
White chairs.
My name printed on the programs.
It felt grotesque.
Then Brandon appeared.
He stood at the end of the aisle.
His tuxedo was torn.
His face was bruised.
He looked at me.
“Maeve.”
I stopped.
Mateo moved in front of me.
Brandon shook his head.
“I didn't come to hurt her.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To help.”
Mateo didn't trust him.
Neither did I.
Brandon looked at me.
“I know where Robert is going.”
“Where?”
“The old courthouse.”
“Why?”
“Because that's where the original trust was registered.”
Mateo stared.
“That's impossible.”
Brandon shook his head.
“Your father never trusted banks.”
I looked at Mateo.
“We have to go.”
Brandon stepped closer.
“I can take you there.”
“No.”
He swallowed.
“Maeve, please.”
I looked at him.
“You destroyed my life.”
“I know.”
“You used me.”
“I know.”
“You slept with Gemma.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Gemma stepped forward.
“I never loved him.”
I looked at her.
She was crying.
“I loved you.”
I couldn't answer.
Brandon continued.
“I made terrible choices.”
Mateo's voice was cold.
“You're still making them.”
Brandon looked at him.
“Then let me make one good one.”
He handed Mateo a key.
“Robert's safe.”
Mateo examined it.
“Where?”
“Under the courthouse.”
We went.
The old courthouse was nearly empty.
Beneath it was a sealed archive.
The key opened the door.
Inside were boxes.
Photographs.
Records.
And a cassette tape.
I picked it up.
My father's handwriting was on the label.
For Maeve.
We found an old player.
The tape began.
My father's voice filled the room.
“Maeve, if you're hearing this, I'm sorry.”
I cried.
“I couldn't tell you because the people around us were watching.”
He named them.
Victor.
Robert.
My mother.
Brandon's father.
Then he said one final thing.
“The person I trusted most was Mateo Duca's brother.”
Mateo stared at the player.
“He protected the ledger.”
My father's voice continued.
“And if Mateo is standing beside you now, trust him.”
The tape clicked.
Silence.
Then a second recording began automatically.
A woman's voice.
My mother's.
She said:
“Robert, the girl must marry Brandon.”
I turned toward her.
She covered her face.
The recording continued.
“Once the marriage is complete, the trust becomes ours.”
I stared.
My mother whispered:
“I was desperate.”
Mateo stepped toward her.
“You almost destroyed your daughter.”
She looked at him.
“I know.”
Then the courthouse lights went out.
A phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Maeve, your wedding is still happening.”
I froze.
“Who are you?”
He laughed.
Then said:
“Look behind you.”
May you like
I turned.
The courthouse door was opening...
