THE BRIDE LOCKED THE GROOM'S DAUGHTER IN THE BATHROOM

Lucas arrived twelve minutes later.

He found Rebecca sitting in the mansion library while Margaret stood near the window.

Sophie remained upstairs with Nathan's wife.

Lucas did not greet Rebecca.

He looked at the flash drive on the table.

"What's on it?"

Rebecca stared at him.

"You were supposed to marry me today."

Lucas's face did not change.

"You locked my daughter in a bathroom."

"I know."

"Then don't ask me to comfort you."

Rebecca looked down.

For several seconds no one spoke.

Then she pushed the drive toward him.

"My father kept backups."

"Of what?"

"Everything."

Lucas did not touch it.

Rebecca continued.

"He thought keeping evidence gave him leverage over other people involved."

Margaret looked disgusted.

"Insurance."

"Yes."

"What is the audio?"

Rebecca closed her eyes.

"A voicemail Anna left me."

Lucas stiffened.

"When?"

"The night she died."

The room became completely silent.

Rebecca's voice shook.

"Anna called because she knew I had warned my father about the investigation. She was furious."

Lucas stared.

"You've had a message from my wife for seven years?"

Rebecca nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I deleted it from my phone."

"Then how is it there?"

"My father had copied my phone records. He didn't trust me."

Lucas's hands curled into fists.

"What did Anna say?"

Rebecca began crying.

"Listen."

Ian arrived twenty minutes later with a forensic specialist.

They copied the drive before opening anything.

The audio file lasted one minute and twelve seconds.

Anna's voice filled the library.

She sounded angry.

Rebecca, I know you told Charles. I know because he called me ten minutes after I spoke to you. I'm driving to Margaret's now with copies. If your father thinks intimidation is going to stop me, tell him he's wrong. I trusted you. I tried to protect you from this. But if you keep protecting him, you're making a choice. And someday you are going to have to live with it.

Then road noise.

Anna inhaled.

The message continued.

There's a dark SUV behind me again. It has been following me since the office.

Lucas stood.

Rebecca covered her mouth.

Anna's voice became quieter.

If something happens, tell Lucas the records are at the cottage. Tell him Sophie comes before everything. Please do one decent thing, Rebecca.

The recording ended.

Lucas could not move.

Margaret cried silently.

Rebecca buried her face in her hands.

Lucas finally spoke.

"Did you tell me?"

Rebecca shook her head.

"Did you tell police?"

"No."

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No."

Lucas turned away.

Rebecca stood.

"I was terrified."

"So was Anna."

"I was twenty-four."

"Anna was thirty-one and being followed."

"My father told me he had nothing to do with the crash."

"You believed him?"

"I wanted to."

Lucas looked back.

"You always want to believe the version that costs you the least."

Rebecca flinched.

He pointed toward the ceiling.

"Sophie told me you hurt her. I wanted to believe you because believing my daughter meant losing you."

Rebecca began sobbing.

Lucas's voice broke.

"And today I finally understand what I did."

Margaret touched his arm.

Lucas pulled himself together.

He looked at Rebecca.

"Why did you approach me?"

Rebecca sat again.

For the first time, she answered without protecting herself.

"My father sent me."

Lucas closed his eyes.

"He knew the audit clause. He knew if you remarried, the trust would be reviewed. He wanted someone close enough to control the process."

"So you chose me."

"At first, yes."

"At first."

"I fell in love with you."

Lucas said nothing.

Rebecca continued.

"That made everything harder, not easier."

"Poor you."

"I know how that sounds."

"You married your victim's husband."

"I didn't kill Anna."

"You helped hide what happened before her death."

Rebecca nodded, crying.

"Yes."

"And you isolated her child from her grandmother."

"Yes."

"You tried to become Sophie's guardian."

"My father told me it was necessary to protect us."

"Us?"

Rebecca whispered.

"My family."

Lucas stared at her.

"Not mine."

She had no answer.

Margaret leaned forward.

"What about Stonebridge Academy?"

Rebecca wiped her face.

"My father wanted Sophie away before the audit interviews."

"Why?"

"Because children are interviewed separately during guardianship disputes. He was afraid she'd mention the letters, the cottage, or things she'd overheard."

Lucas felt sick.

"So you were going to send my daughter away because she was inconvenient evidence."

Rebecca looked down.

"Yes."

That single word ended whatever remained between them.

Lucas stood.

"You need to leave."

Rebecca looked up.

"What happens to me?"

"That's no longer my decision."

"Lucas."

He shook his head.