Chapter 3: The Woman in Scarlet
At 11:47 p.m., the wedding reception was still going.
I could hear music from the garden through the closed kitchen windows.
My guests were dancing.
My husband's guests were drinking champagne.
And my husband was somewhere across town with Vanessa.
I stood in my father's study wearing a wedding gown that suddenly felt like someone else's costume.
“Call him,” I said.
My father looked at me.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
He handed me the phone.
I dialed Ethan.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Finally.””
His voice was irritated.
Not worried.
Not apologetic.
I looked at my mother.
She was standing beside the desk, arms folded.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“At the hotel.””
“With Vanessa?””
Silence.
Then Ethan sighed.
“Laurel, seriously?””
“With Vanessa?””
“She needed a ride.””
“Then why didn't you take her home?””
“She was upset.””
“So you took her to a hotel?””
Another silence.
“It's not what you think.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then tell me what it is.””
“Vanessa and I are talking.””
“On our wedding night?””
“You walked out.””
“You told me to move over so your ex could sit between us.””
“She wasn't going to sit between us.””
“She was.””
“You're twisting everything.””
I laughed quietly.
“You're right.””
“What?””
“I am twisting it.””
I turned toward the window.
“I should have realized sooner.””
Ethan's voice softened.
“Come back.””
I said nothing.
“Laurie.””
He only called me Laurie when he wanted something.
“Come back,” he repeated.
“We'll talk tomorrow.””
“Tomorrow?””
“Yes.””
“About Vanessa?””
“About us.””
“Do you love her?””
Silence.
Longer this time.
I didn't need an answer.
I hung up.
My father stared at me.
“What did he say?””
“He didn't answer.””
My father nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
“It's Vanessa.””
I stiffened.
“How did you get my number?””
She laughed.
“Ethan gave it to me years ago.””
“What do you want?””
“I wanted to explain.””
“I don't need an explanation.””
“Yes, you do.””
Her voice was calm.
Almost cheerful.
“You think tonight was about a ride.””
I didn't speak.
“It wasn't.””
My father stepped closer.
Vanessa continued.
“You've always been so lucky, Laurel.””
“What does that mean?””
“Perfect parents. Perfect house. Perfect wedding. Perfect husband.””
Her voice changed.
“Everything just falls into your lap.””
“Say what you called to say.””
“I've known Ethan since college.””
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
She laughed softly.
“He never stopped loving me.””
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
“Then you should have married him.””
“I tried.””
“What happened?””
“You happened.””
My eyes narrowed.
“You didn't even know me.””
“I knew your family.””
That sentence stopped me.
“My family?””
“Your father.””
“What about him?””
Vanessa went silent for a moment.
Then she said, “Ask him what happened to my father's company.””
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
My father was already looking at me.
“What did she say?””
I repeated it.
His face hardened.
My mother whispered, “Richard…”
“I know.””
I looked between them.
“What happened to her father's company?””
My father pulled out another file.
“Twenty years ago, Vanessa's father owned Caldwell Materials.””
“Caldwell?””
“Yes.””
“Ethan's family?””
My father nodded.
“The company failed.””
“Why?””
“There was a financial fraud investigation.””
“And you bought it?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“The government seized it.””
I frowned.
“Then why does Vanessa think you took it?””
“Because her father blamed me.””
“Did you?””
My father looked directly at me.
“No.””
I wanted to believe him.
But then he added:
“I helped uncover the fraud.””
My mother closed her eyes.
“What?””
My father sat down.
“Vanessa's father had been moving money through shell companies. He was going to bankrupt several suppliers. I found evidence and gave it to federal investigators.””
I stared at him.
“So that's why she hates us.””
“Yes.””
“And Ethan?””
My father's silence told me enough.
“He knows?””
“He knows part of it.””
“Why would he want to marry me?””
My father didn't answer immediately.
Then he said something I will never forget.
“Because your controlling shares are the last thing Vanessa's family needs.””
The room went silent.
I thought about the email.
Once you're in control, you can make sure those shares end up where they belong.
My stomach turned.
“They're trying to get Whitmore.””
“Yes.””
“Through Ethan.””
“Yes.””
I walked to the desk.
“What was supposed to happen after the wedding?””
My father reached for another document.
“According to the email, Ethan planned to pressure you into transferring your shares.””
“How?””
“We don't know yet.””
“Then let's find out.””
My father looked at me carefully.
“Are you sure?””
I nodded.
“I want Ethan to think I still know nothing.””
My mother frowned.
“Why?””
I looked toward the wedding garden.
Because suddenly I understood something.
Ethan's greatest advantage wasn't money.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't his position at Whitmore.
It was the fact that he believed I was harmless.
“I want him comfortable,” I said.
My father slowly smiled.
“That sounds like my daughter.””
At 1:15 a.m., I returned to the reception.
The music stopped when I walked into the garden.
Two hundred faces turned toward me.
My mother stepped behind me.
My father stood at my side.
And then the crowd parted.
Ethan had returned.
He was still wearing his wedding suit.
Vanessa stood beside him.
Still in scarlet.
Ethan smiled.
“There you are.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She smiled back.
Ethan took one step toward me.
“Can we please stop this?””
I looked at my husband.
Then at the woman standing beside him.
“Of course.””
He relaxed.
“Good.””
I smiled.
“Let's finish our wedding night.””
Vanessa's expression flickered.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Ethan reached for my hand.
I let him take it.
And while everyone watched, I smiled as if nothing had happened.
But beneath the table, my father's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
His face went white.
He looked at me.
May you like
Then he whispered four words.
“It's already been filed.””
