Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO THOUGHT SHE HAD WON
Vanessa Cole arrived at the hotel thirty minutes after the ceremony collapsed.
She wore a white pantsuit.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
And she looked furious.
I was sitting in a private lounge with Claire when the door opened.
Vanessa stepped inside.
“Emily.”
I looked up.
“Vanessa.”
She stared.
“You ruined everything.”
I almost laughed.
“That's an interesting opening.”
She crossed her arms.
“Daniel says you're trying to destroy his career.”
I looked at her.
“Daniel destroyed his own career when he submitted documents he had no authority to sign.”
Her expression changed.
“What documents?”
I studied her.
“You don't know?”
She hesitated.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty.
Vanessa had believed Daniel was planning to leave me.
She'd believed the money would become his.
She'd believed she'd be the woman standing beside him when the dust settled.
I looked at her.
“Did Daniel tell you the trust automatically transfers after marriage?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
I smiled faintly.
“He lied.”
Vanessa stared.
“What?”
“The trust doesn't work that way.”
Her face went pale.
I continued.
“He's been trying to obtain control through documents I never authorized.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“Ask him.”
She sat down slowly.
Then whispered:
“He told me we'd move to Monaco.”
I stared.
“Did he?”
She nodded.
“He said everything was arranged.”
I looked at her.
“And you believed him.”
She began crying.
I didn't comfort her.
I didn't insult her either.
Then I asked:
“Why did you destroy my dress?”
She looked up.
Tears ran down her face.
“Because he wouldn't cancel the wedding.”
I stared.
“So you decided to hurt me.”
She nodded.
I swallowed.
“That lace belonged to my grandmother.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I didn't know.”
I shook my head.
“You didn't need to know.”
Silence.
Then I said:
“You knew it was mine.”
Vanessa began sobbing.
I stood.
“The police have the footage. The hotel has the damage report. My attorney will contact you.”
She looked terrified.
“Emily, please—”
I shook my head.
“No.”
I walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Vanessa?”
She looked up.
“Daniel lied to both of us.”
I paused.
“But only one of us entered someone else's room with a blade.”
I left.
Outside, Claire was waiting.
She looked at my face.
“How'd it go?”
I exhaled.
“Exactly how I expected.”
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I declined.
It rang again.
And again.
Finally, a message appeared.
Emily, you have no idea what you've done.
I stared.
May you like
Then typed:
Actually, Daniel, I do.
