For several seconds, James couldn't move. He looked from the frightened little girl holding the microphone to Vanessa, who had suddenly become desperate to stop Marcus from connecting his phone. The man James had hired to manage the wedding's sound equipment stood near the stage, waiting for permission. James could hear guests whispering, but the words sounded distant. He had spent eighteen months believing Vanessa was the woman who would restore happiness to his family. Now his daughter's terror suggested he might have misunderstood everything.
"Play it," James said.
Vanessa grabbed his arm. "Darling, you're not seriously going to let a child humiliate us in front of everyone."
James gently removed her hand.
"If there's nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about."
Marcus connected his phone to the ballroom's speakers. A faint clicking sound came first, followed by Vanessa's unmistakable voice.
"He's already signed most of the documents. After the wedding, the remaining assets will be easy to transfer."
Another woman asked whether James might discover the arrangement.
Vanessa laughed.
"James is still grieving his wife. Men like him are desperate to believe somebody loves them."
James felt his stomach tighten.
The recording continued.
"His construction company alone is worth several million. The lake house, the investments, and the family property will make the entire operation worthwhile."
Someone asked about Lily.
Vanessa's answer came without hesitation.
"The brat goes to boarding school. I didn't spend eighteen months pretending to enjoy bedtime stories so I could raise someone else's child."
The entire ballroom fell silent.
Lily began crying harder.
James looked at Vanessa, struggling to recognize the woman standing beside him.
"Tell me that's not your voice."
Vanessa opened her mouth, then closed it.
"It's been edited."
Marcus shook his head. "I preserved the original recording. Your lawyer can examine it."
James turned toward Lily. His daughter was shaking so badly she could barely hold the microphone. He suddenly remembered how often she had asked whether Vanessa truly loved her. He remembered the nightmares, the reluctance to stay alone with his fiancée, and the excuses he'd accepted because confronting them seemed uncomfortable.
He walked toward Lily and knelt beside her.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
She threw herself into his arms.
"Please don't let her send me away."
James held her tightly.
"Nobody is sending you anywhere."
Behind him, Vanessa's voice changed.
"James, you're making a terrible mistake."
He stood, keeping Lily close.
"No," he answered. "I think I almost made one."
Then Marcus interrupted.
"Mr. Carter, there's another part of the recording."
James looked toward him.
"What else?"
Marcus swallowed.
"She wasn't only planning to steal your money. She was planning something for the honeymoon."