Chapter 9 - The Wedding Day)
Sebastian opened the cedar box inside the car.
Lucinda's confession had been written four years earlier.
She had never delivered it.
In twelve handwritten pages, she described the shell companies, forged signatures, Martin's disappearance, Matteo's stroke, and Preston's role in delaying the ambulance.
She admitted helping hide the money.
She admitted destroying accounting records.
She admitted knowing Anna was investigating.
She also claimed Preston controlled the original ledger and had threatened to expose Lucinda as the sole architect of the fraud if she ever confessed.
At the bottom was a sentence that explained why Lucinda had never sent the letter.
I told myself I was protecting my mother, my name, and my future. The truth is simpler. I was protecting myself.
Sebastian closed the box.
He felt no sympathy.
But for the first time, he understood Lucinda's fear.
They returned to the mansion Friday afternoon.
The wedding was the next day.
Preston greeted them as though nothing had happened.
"Nice drive?"
Sebastian looked at him.
"Beautiful."
Preston smiled.
Lucinda walked past her brother without speaking.
Preston noticed.
Something changed in his expression.
That night, Sebastian met privately with federal investigators and family attorneys.
Thomas had already provided copies of Anna's files.
Martin agreed to cooperate in exchange for legal counsel and formal negotiations.
Lucinda had not yet agreed.
Sebastian could have canceled the wedding.
He almost did.
Elisa refused.
"We have spent two years building a life."
"This could turn into chaos."
"It already has."
"You deserve better than this."
Elisa looked at him.
"I deserve to choose."
He became quiet.
She continued.
"I am choosing you. I am choosing Leo. I am choosing tomorrow."
He reached for her.
"What if I spend the entire ceremony staring at the vase?"
She smiled faintly.
"Then I'll stand slightly to the left."
Wedding morning arrived bright and cold.
The mansion filled before noon.
Family members.
Business partners.
Old friends.
Politicians.
Artists.
Employees.
Nearly two hundred guests.
The antique vase stood beside the floral arch.
Nobody had opened it.
Sebastian wanted the original trust schedule recovered publicly.
His attorneys advised discretion.
Thomas advised caution.
Leo advised smashing the vase with a hammer.
Elisa told him that option lacked subtlety.
At 2:10 p.m., Lucinda entered Elisa's dressing suite.
Elisa was alone.
Lucinda closed the door.
"You should leave."
Elisa looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"I'm getting married in fifty minutes."
"I mean leave Sebastian."
Elisa turned.
"Why?"
"Because Preston is desperate."
"Good."
"You don't understand him."
"I understand enough."
Lucinda stepped closer.
"He knows I went to Maine."
"Then you should cooperate."
"If I do, he destroys me."
"You helped him."
Lucinda flinched.
Elisa continued.
"You don't get to ask for innocence now. You get to decide whether you keep making the same choice."
Lucinda looked toward the window.
"I didn't know Matteo would die."
"But you knew he needed help."
Tears appeared in Lucinda's eyes.
Elisa felt anger, not pity.
"What do you want from me?"
Lucinda whispered, "Keep Leo away from the ballroom."
Elisa went still.
"Why?"
Lucinda said nothing.
"Why?"
"Preston thinks Anna put something in the vase."
"We know."
Lucinda's head snapped toward her.
Elisa continued.
"We know about the trust schedule."
Fear crossed Lucinda's face.
"Then open it now."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Sebastian wants Preston to show us how far he's willing to go."
Lucinda laughed once.
"That's dangerous."
"So warn your brother."
"He doesn't listen to me anymore."
Elisa stepped closer.
"Then choose a side."
Lucinda left without answering.
At 2:52 p.m., Leo entered the ballroom carrying the ring box.
He saw Preston near the vase.
Preston was crouched beside the pedestal.
When he noticed Leo, he stood quickly.
"What are you doing?" Leo asked.
"Nothing."
Leo looked at the pedestal.
One of the stabilizing clamps had been loosened.
He knew because Thomas had shown him the security system.
Preston approached.
"You should be getting ready."
Leo backed away.
Preston's voice softened.
"Your mother caused a lot of trouble before she died."
Leo stopped.
"Don't talk about her."
"She filled your father's head with suspicion."
"You're lying."
Preston smiled.
"Am I?"
Leo saw Lucinda entering from the side hallway.
Her eyes widened.
"Leo, move away from the pedestal."
Preston turned.
That was all it took.
Leo stepped backward.
His heel struck the loosened base.
The pedestal shifted.
The vase tilted.
Leo reached for it.
Too late.
Porcelain struck marble.
The vase shattered.
May you like
The envelope slid onto the floor.
And the wedding stopped.
