Chapter 20 - THE SECOND WEDDING
The Grand Meridian ballroom had been decorated to resemble Brianna’s wedding reception.
White roses covered the tables.
An orchestra recording played through hidden speakers.
A silver tray rested beside the champagne tower.
Lydia had rebuilt the room where the Mercer family had fallen.
Brianna entered alone.
Elena and Naomi watched through cameras concealed in Brianna’s earrings and necklace.
At the center of the ballroom stood a table with a document, a pen, and a portable fingerprint scanner.
Lydia appeared on the balcony above.
“You kept the dress.”
“It belonged to a woman who didn’t know the truth,” Brianna replied. “I wanted her to see how the story ended.”
Lydia descended the staircase.
Two private security guards followed her.
They were unarmed, but Naomi had confirmed that several exits were locked.
“What am I signing?” Brianna asked.
“A statement confirming that Account Six was created for your benefit.”
“That’s false.”
“Truth has never mattered to banks as much as paperwork.”
Brianna looked at the document.
It claimed she had knowingly allowed Celeste and Daniel to manage the account.
In exchange, Lydia promised to transfer the remaining money into a victim compensation fund and destroy the second ledger.
“You expect me to believe you’ll help the victims?” Brianna asked.
“I expect you to understand that prison is filled with people who refused practical solutions.”
“You visited my mother there.”
Lydia’s expression hardened.
“Your mother confused arrogance with intelligence.”
“She trusted you.”
“She used me.”
“And you used everyone else.”
Lydia placed the pen before Brianna.
“Sign.”
In the surveillance van outside, Naomi waited for a direct admission connecting Lydia to the forged transfers.
Elena watched Brianna’s hand move toward the document.
Then Brianna stopped.
“My grandfather created Account Six.”
“Yes.”
“My mother stole my trust.”
“Yes.”
“Daniel used Elena’s money.”
“Yes.”
“And you kept the records that allowed all of them to do it.”
Lydia smiled.
“I kept the records that ensured they could never betray me.”
That was enough.
Naomi ordered agents to enter.
But before they reached the ballroom, the lights went out.
Emergency shutters lowered over the exits.
When backup lighting appeared, Lydia was gone.
The document remained on the table.
So did Brianna’s wedding ring.
Elena’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Brianna, answer me.”
Silence.
Then the camera in Brianna’s necklace turned toward a service corridor.
Brianna was following Lydia.
“Stop,” Elena said. “Let the agents handle it.”
Brianna whispered, “She has the ledger.”
May you like
At the end of the corridor, Lydia opened a private elevator.
Brianna entered before the doors closed.
