Chapter 7
I stared at the phone, unable to breathe.
My mother.
She'd helped arrange my marriage to Bennett.
She'd known his plans.
She'd been paid.
It couldn't be true.
My mother was sweet.
Kind.
Loving.
She'd always wanted what was best for me.
Hadn't she?
"Tessa?" my lawyer said. "Are you still there?"
"I'm here," I whispered. "But this can't be true. My mother would never do that."
"I wish I could tell you it's not true," she said gently. "But we have evidence. Bank records. Emails. Your mother received three hundred thousand dollars from Bennett's accounts. The payments started six months before your wedding. And continued until three months ago."
I felt sick.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
My mother had sold me.
For three hundred thousand dollars.
I hung up the phone.
I stumbled to the couch and sat down.
My hands were shaking.
Uncle Robert came into the room.
He saw my face.
"Tessa? What's wrong?"
"My mother," I whispered. "She helped Bennett arrange the marriage. She was paid three hundred thousand dollars to make sure I married him."
Uncle Robert's face went white.
"That's impossible. Your sister... she would never..."
"She did," I said, tears in my eyes. "The lawyers have the bank records. The emails. Bennett is calling her as a witness in his trial."
Uncle Robert sat down next to me.
He put his arm around me.
"I'm so sorry, Tessa. I can't believe she would do this. To her own daughter."
I thought about my mother.
About how happy she'd been when I told her Bennett had proposed.
About how she'd pushed me to marry him.
About how she'd always said he was the perfect husband.
About how she'd told me I was lucky to have him.
Even when I'd complained about him.
Even when I'd told her he was cold and distant.
She'd always told me to be a better wife.
To try harder.
To appreciate what I had.
She'd known.
The whole time.
She'd known what kind of man Bennett was.
She'd known his plans.
And she'd pushed me toward him anyway.
For money.
I felt betrayed.
Hurt.
Heartbroken.
How could my own mother do this to me?
I needed answers.
I called her.
She answered on the first ring.
"Tessa! I heard about the baby! Congratulations! She's beautiful! I've been trying to come see you, but—"
"Did you know?" I cut her off.
My voice was cold.
"Know what, honey?"
"Did you know what Bennett was? Did you help him arrange our marriage? Did he pay you?"
She was silent for a long moment.
Then she sighed.
"Tessa, let me explain—"
"So it's true," I said, my voice breaking. "You really did sell me to him. For three hundred thousand dollars."
"It wasn't like that," she said, her voice defensive. "I did it for you! I wanted you to have a good life! A wealthy husband! Security! I thought you'd be happy!"
"Happy?" I laughed bitterly. "I was miserable! He cheated on me! He froze my accounts! He let his mistress push me when I was eight months pregnant! And you knew what kind of man he was the whole time!"
"I didn't know he'd do those things!" she protested. "I knew he had some... business issues. But I thought he'd take care of you! I thought you'd be set for life!"
"You thought wrong," I said, tears streaming down my face. "And you got paid to make sure I married him. You sold your own daughter's happiness for money."
"I needed the money, Tessa!" she cried. "Your father's business was failing! We were going to lose the house! I had to do something! I thought this would help everyone! You'd get a rich husband, and we'd get the money we needed!"
I stared at the phone, horrified.
"You were going to lose the house? So you decided to sacrifice me instead?"
"It wasn't a sacrifice! It was an opportunity! You were always so quiet, so shy! I thought this was the best thing that could ever happen to you!"
I couldn't listen anymore.
"I never want to see you again," I said quietly.
"Tessa, wait! Don't do this! I'm your mother! I love you!"
"You don't love me," I said. "If you loved me, you would have cared about my happiness. Not my husband's bank account."
I hung up.
I blocked her number.
I blocked her on social media.
I cut her out of my life completely.
But the pain remained.
My own mother.
The woman who'd given birth to me.
Who'd raised me.
Who'd told me she loved me.
She'd betrayed me.
Worse than Bennett.
Worse than Sarah.
Because she was supposed to love me unconditionally.
She was supposed to protect me.
Instead, she'd sold me.
For money.
I cried for hours.
Uncle Robert held me.
He let me grieve.
He told me he was sorry.
That my mother had made a terrible mistake.
That she would regret it for the rest of her life.
But it didn't make the pain go away.
The next few weeks were difficult.
I had to deal with the betrayal of my mother.
I had to prepare for Bennett's trial.
I had to take care of Hope.
And I had to deal with the fact that my mother was going to testify against me.
For Bennett.
The trial began a month later.
It was the biggest trial Phoenix had ever seen.
The courtroom was packed.
Reporters filled the gallery.
Cameras were everywhere.
The prosecution went first.
They presented the evidence of embezzlement.
The money laundering.
The cartel connections.
They called witnesses.
Sarah testified.
She told the court everything.
About Bennett's crimes.
About Margot's involvement.
About the plan to marry me for my family's money and connections.
The security footage from the hospital was played.
The jury watched in horror as Margot pushed me.
As Bennett did nothing.
The emails and texts were presented.
The bank records.
The audio recordings.
The evidence against Bennett was overwhelming.
Then the defense had their turn.
They tried to paint Bennett as a victim.
As a man who'd been manipulated by Margot.
By the cartel.
By circumstances beyond his control.
And then they called their star witness.
My mother.
She walked into the courtroom.
She looked nervous.
Her eyes were red and puffy.
She avoided looking at me.
She took the witness stand.
Bennett's lawyer asked her questions.
"Mrs. Carter, did you know Bennett Finch before he started dating your daughter?"
"Yes," she said quietly.
"How did you meet him?"
"He came to me. He told me he was interested in Tessa. That he thought she was a wonderful woman. That he wanted to marry her."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him I thought it was a wonderful idea. Tessa was shy. She didn't date much. I thought Bennett was a good catch. Wealthy. Handsome. Successful. I thought he'd take care of her."
"And did Mr. Finch give you any money?"
She hesitated.
"Yes. He gave me three hundred thousand dollars. As a gift. To help with my husband's business."
"A gift?" the lawyer asked. "Or was it payment for making sure Tessa married him?"
"It was a gift!" she said, tears in her eyes. "I would never sell my daughter! I wanted what was best for her!"
"Mrs. Carter, is it true that you told Tessa she should be grateful to be married to Mr. Finch? Even when she told you she was unhappy?"
"Yes," she whispered. "I thought she was being dramatic. I thought she didn't appreciate how good she had it."
"Mrs. Carter, is it true that you encouraged Tessa to stay with Mr. Finch even after she told you he was having an affair?"
She looked down.
"Yes."
The courtroom was silent.
Everyone was staring at my mother.
Judging her.
Hating her.
Bennett's lawyer finished his questions.
Then it was my lawyer's turn for cross-examination.
She stood up.
She looked at my mother.
"Mrs. Carter, you say the money was a gift. But these emails tell a different story, don't they?"
She projected emails onto the screen.
Emails between my mother and Bennett.
From six months before the wedding.
"If you make sure Tessa marries me, the money is yours."
"She's starting to have doubts. You need to talk to her. Make her see reason."
"The final payment will be made after the wedding. Make sure she goes through with it."
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
My mother's face went white.
"Mrs. Carter," my lawyer said. "You didn't want what was best for your daughter, did you? You wanted what was best for yourself. You sold your daughter to a man you knew was dangerous. For three hundred thousand dollars. Isn't that true?"
My mother broke down crying.
"I'm sorry!" she sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Tessa! I made a mistake! I was desperate! I needed the money!"
She looked at me, tears streaming down her face.
"Please, Tessa! Forgive me! I'm your mother! I love you!"
I stared at her.
I felt nothing.
No love.
No sadness.
No anger.
Just emptiness.
The judge called a recess.
My mother was led out of the courtroom, still crying.
I stood up to leave.
Bennett was being led out by the guards.
As he passed me, he stopped.
He looked at me.
And he smiled.
A cold, knowing smile.
"You think this is over, Tessa?" he whispered. "You think you've won? My mother is here. And she's going to tell the court the truth about you."
I stared at him, confused.
His mother?
Eleanor Finch.
I hadn't seen her since the wedding.
She'd been quiet.
Distant.
I'd barely spoken to her.
What did she have to say about me?
And then I saw her.
Standing at the back of the courtroom.
Watching me.
Her face cold and expressionless.
She held up a folder.
May you like
And she mouthed two words that made my blood run cold.
"Game on."
