Chapter 7 - THE WEDDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Vanessa Cain’s wedding invitations were still stacked in the mansion when she was formally charged.
I found them three days later while cleaning the dining room.
Old habits.
Marcus had told me I did not need to work.
I told him I needed something normal.
He stopped arguing.
The headlines were everywhere.
SOCIETY HEIRESS ARRESTED IN BILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD PLOT.
COLE MERIDIAN EXECUTIVE KIDNAPPING SCHEME EXPOSED.
DEAD BUSINESS PARTNER FOUND ALIVE AFTER SIX YEARS.
Nobody mentioned the maid who found the first clue.
I preferred it that way.
Nathan remained under federal protection while investigators untangled six years of fraud, bribery and extortion.
He was not innocent.
That mattered.
He admitted helping Peter Cain move money between accounts before realizing Vanessa had expanded the scheme.
He had falsified financial reports.
He had lied to me from the day we met.
He had tried to protect us eventually.
But protection did not erase deception.
One afternoon, I took Lily to see him.
Marcus offered to come.
I said no.
This belonged to Lily.
Nathan sat in a quiet visitation room wearing a gray sweatshirt.
When we entered, he stood too quickly.
Then froze.
Lily hid behind my leg.
Nathan looked exactly as I remembered him looking at her as a newborn.
Like the entire world had just entered the room.
“Hi,” he whispered.
Lily stared.
“Are you Daddy Nathan?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
Nathan crouched.
“Yes, I am.”
“You went away.”
His face collapsed slightly.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I watched him carefully.
This was the moment.
He could lie.
He could make himself a hero.
He did neither.
“Because I was scared,” he said. “And because I made bad choices before you were born. Then some dangerous people told me they would hurt you and Mommy if I came home.”
Lily thought about this.
“Did you call police?”
Nathan’s mouth twitched through tears.
“I tried. But I should have tried harder.”
I almost smiled.
Three-year-olds had an unfair talent for cross-examination.
Lily looked at me.
“Is he bad?”
My chest hurt.
“No, baby.”
Nathan lowered his eyes.
I continued.
“He did some bad things. And he made mistakes.”
“Like when I draw wall?”
“Bigger than that.”
Nathan laughed weakly.
Lily stepped closer.
“Are you going jail?”
Nathan inhaled.
“Maybe for a little while.”
The federal prosecutor had offered him reduced charges in exchange for full cooperation.
He would likely serve time.
Not years and years.
But enough.
Lily handed him Mr. Bun.
“For jail.”
Nathan stared at the stuffed rabbit.
Then burst into tears.
I turned away.
Some moments were not mine to watch.
Back at the mansion, Marcus was waiting on the terrace.
“How did it go?”
“Hard.”
“Lily?”
“Confused.”
“Nathan?”
“Destroyed.”
Marcus nodded.
I sat beside him.
For a while, we watched the sunset.
Finally he said, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing danger into your life.”
I looked at him.
“Marcus, Vanessa targeted Lily before I even knew you beyond payroll signatures.”
“I still failed to see who she was.”
“So did I with Nathan.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
He had no answer.
I smiled faintly.
“Because billionaires are supposed to be smarter?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Silence.
Then Marcus said, “I almost married her.”
“Yes.”
“I had the venue booked.”
“I cleaned the engagement party.”
He looked at me.
“You hated the flower arrangements.”
“They were terrible.”
“You told Marta they looked like funeral flowers.”
My face heated.
“You heard that?”
“Yes.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
“I was standing behind you.”
I groaned.
He laughed.
Then the laughter faded.
“What do you want now?”
The question surprised me.
“What do you mean?”
“Your daughter has a trust worth more money than most people will ever see. You don’t need this job.”
“I know.”
“You don’t need this house.”
“I know.”
“You definitely don’t need me.”
My breath caught.
There it was.
Not a declaration.
Not quite.
But close enough.
I looked toward the windows.
“I spent years needing people.”
“My husband.”
“My sister.”
“Employers.”
“I hated it.”
Marcus listened.
“Now for the first time, I don’t have to need anyone.”
His expression became guarded.
I turned back.
“And that means if I stay somewhere, it can finally be because I want to.”
He did not breathe for a second.
“Do you want to stay?”
“Yes.”
His eyes softened.
“With Cole Meridian?”
I smiled.
“Don’t ruin it.”
For once, Marcus Cole looked uncertain.
It was strangely charming.
“I’m not good at this.”
“At what?”
“Whatever this is.”
“Talking?”
“Apparently.”
I leaned closer.
“Try.”
He looked at my mouth.
Then my eyes.
“Elena, I think about you when you’re not in the room.”
My heart pounded.
“I notice when Lily leaves her purple shoes in the hallway.”
“That seems dangerous.”
“I bought duck food because she asked me once.”
“I know.”
“I canceled a board meeting because she had a fever.”
“You did.”
“I want you both here.”
I whispered, “Better.”
“Was that good enough?”
“Almost.”
I kissed him.
Marcus froze.
For a billionaire who could negotiate billion-dollar acquisitions without notes, he was remarkably bad at being surprised.
Then his hand touched my cheek.
The kiss deepened.
Warm.
Careful.
Not rushed.
When we separated, someone clapped behind us.
Lily.
Of course.
She stood in the terrace doorway wearing pajamas.
“Again!”
I covered my face.
Marcus laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re three.”
She pointed at us.
“Mommy kiss Mister Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“Is he boyfriend?”
Marcus looked at me.
I looked at him.
Lily waited.
Finally I said, “Maybe.”
Marcus frowned.
“Maybe?”
I smiled sweetly.
“You said you weren’t good at this.”
He stared.
Then laughed.
It was the most relaxed I had ever seen him.
Lily climbed onto his lap.
“Can I call you Daddy Marcus?”
Everything stopped.
Marcus looked at me first.
He did not answer her until I nodded.
Then he looked down.
“You can call me Marcus.”
Lily frowned.
“Daddy Marcus is better.”
His eyes filled before he could hide it.
“All right.”
She hugged him.
And Marcus Cole, a man whose fiancée had nearly stolen half a billion dollars and destroyed his company, looked more overwhelmed by one toddler hug than he had by federal agents raiding his home.
That was when I realized something dangerous.
I was not falling for Marcus Cole.
May you like
I had already fallen.
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