Chapter 4: The Name on the Paper
The name beneath the property transfer was *Evelyn Marie Cole*.
Isaiah read it twice.
Then a third time.
His grip tightened around the envelope.
Brielle stepped closer.
"What does my name have to do with this?""
Isaiah looked up sharply.
"Your name?""
Brielle froze.
The coordinator lowered her eyes.
"I think you should read the second page.""
Isaiah pulled it out.
It was a copy of a property agreement.
At the top was the address of Evelyn's house.
The house Isaiah had grown up in.
The house his grandfather had built before Isaiah was born.
The house where Evelyn still lived.
His voice dropped.
"Why is Grandma's address on this?""
Brielle's face had gone pale.
"I don't know.""
Isaiah looked at her.
"You don't know?""
"No.""
"Then why did you recognize the address?""
"I didn't.""
"You just did.""
"I didn't say anything.""
"You asked what your name had to do with it.""
Brielle stared at him.
The ballroom was so quiet Isaiah could hear the faint hum of the air conditioning.
The wedding coordinator shifted uncomfortably.
"I was told to give that to you today.""
"By who?""
She hesitated.
"Mr. Cole.""
Isaiah frowned.
"My father?""
"No.""
"Then who?""
She looked at the envelope.
"Your grandfather's attorney.""
Isaiah stopped breathing for a second.
His grandfather had been dead for almost four years.
"What attorney?""
The coordinator handed him another card.
Isaiah read it.
*Daniel Whitmore, Whitmore & Price, Attorneys at Law.*
He knew the name.
His grandfather had used the firm for everything.
Property.
Business.
Estate planning.
Isaiah turned to Evelyn.
She was staring at the floor.
"Grandma?""
She didn't answer.
"Grandma, what is this?""
Evelyn's shoulders rose and fell.
"I was hoping you wouldn't have to find out today.""
Brielle looked at her.
"Find out what?""
Evelyn finally raised her eyes.
"That house was supposed to belong to Isaiah.""
Brielle's face changed.
"What?""
Isaiah looked at the document again.
The second page contained a handwritten note.
His grandfather's signature was at the bottom.
Isaiah recognized it instantly.
*Isaiah will receive the house upon his marriage, provided the marriage is entered into without coercion, fraud, or financial inducement.*
His eyes moved lower.
Another paragraph.
*If evidence emerges that the marriage was entered into primarily to obtain or control the property, ownership shall remain with Evelyn Marie Cole.*
Isaiah's mouth went dry.
He looked at Brielle.
She stared at him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?""
He didn't answer.
Brielle took the paper from his hand.
She read.
Her expression shifted from confusion to shock.
Then anger.
"You think I married you for a house?""
Isaiah's voice was quiet.
"I don't know what to think.""
"You don't know?""
She laughed bitterly.
"After everything we've been through?""
He looked at her.
"Then tell me why my grandfather's attorney sent this to our wedding.""
"I don't know.""
"Tell me why Grandma looks like she's known about it.""
"I don't know.""
"Tell me why you asked about the house last month.""
Brielle's eyes widened.
"I asked because you told me you grew up there.""
"You asked how much it was worth.""
"I was curious.""
"You asked if your name would be on the deed.""
Brielle's face hardened.
"Because you said we'd eventually own it together.""
"I never said that.""
"You did.""
"No.""
"You absolutely did.""
Isaiah shook his head.
"I told you it was Grandma's.""
"You told me your grandfather left it to you.""
"Eventually.""
"Exactly.""
"That's not the same thing.""
Brielle stepped closer.
"So now you're accusing me of marrying you for money?""
"I'm asking questions.""
"You destroyed our wedding.""
"I didn't destroy our marriage.""
"You ripped the cake apart in front of everyone!""
"You humiliated my grandmother in front of everyone.""
"Because she brought me trash!""
The words echoed.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Isaiah stared at Brielle.
The room seemed to shrink.
Brielle realized what she had said.
She covered her mouth.
"I didn't mean—"
"You did.""
Isaiah's voice was almost a whisper.
"You did mean it.""
He turned away.
Marcus approached.
"Isaiah.""
Isaiah held up one hand.
"Not yet.""
He walked toward Evelyn.
She looked up at him.
"Grandma, did Grandpa really leave me the house?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want the house to become the reason you got married.""
Isaiah's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn looked at Brielle.
"I was afraid someone would see the house before they saw you.""
Brielle stepped forward.
"That's insulting.""
Evelyn didn't flinch.
"I'm sorry.""
"No, you're not.""
Isaiah turned.
"Brielle.""
"What?""
"Let her finish.""
Brielle crossed her arms.
Evelyn continued.
"Your grandfather knew you would inherit the house eventually. But he worried about what might happen if someone wanted it more than they wanted you.""
Isaiah looked at the document.
"How long have you known?""
"Since last Christmas.""
"And you never told me?""
"I tried.""
"When?""
"The week before you proposed.""
Isaiah frowned.
"You said you didn't want to talk about Grandpa.""
"I changed my mind.""
"You told me to focus on my future.""
"I did.""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"I wanted you to choose your future without knowing what was waiting behind it.""
Isaiah looked at Brielle.
"And she knew?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Isaiah's eyes moved back to Brielle.
"You knew.""
Brielle's face went still.
"I knew about the house.""
"How?""
She swallowed.
"Your mother told me.""
Isaiah stared.
"My mother?""
"She mentioned it.""
"When?""
"Months ago.""
"And you never told me.""
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"It mattered enough for you to ask about the deed.""
"I was your fiancée.""
"Exactly.""
Brielle's eyes filled.
"I loved you.""
Isaiah's jaw tightened.
"I wanted to believe that.""
"You should.""
"I wanted to.""
She stepped closer.
"Isaiah, listen to me.""
He didn't move.
"I didn't marry you for a house.""
"Then why did your financial advisor call my grandfather's attorney two weeks before our wedding?""
Brielle froze.
Isaiah saw it.
So did everyone else.
Marcus looked at Isaiah.
"What advisor?""
Brielle shook her head.
"That's not what it sounds like.""
Isaiah's voice dropped.
"What did you do?""
"I was trying to understand our finances.""
"You weren't on my finances.""
"I was going to be your wife.""
"That doesn't answer the question.""
Brielle looked around the room.
The guests were still watching.
Her bridesmaids whispered among themselves.
One of them, Tasha, stepped forward.
"Brielle...""
Brielle snapped.
"Not now.""
Tasha stopped.
Isaiah looked at the coordinator.
"Was there anything else?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
She handed him a second envelope.
"This one was specifically marked for Evelyn.""
Evelyn's face went pale.
Isaiah opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
An older photograph.
His grandfather stood in front of the family house.
Beside him stood Evelyn.
And beside Evelyn stood a much younger Brielle.
Isaiah stared.
His heart began pounding.
Brielle saw the photograph.
Her face drained of color.
Isaiah slowly looked at her.
"You've been to my grandmother's house before.""
Brielle said nothing.
"Before I introduced you?""
Nothing.
"Before we started dating?""
She looked down.
Evelyn whispered,
"Isaiah...""
He turned to his grandmother.
"How long has she known you?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"Longer than you think.""
Isaiah looked at Brielle again.
She opened her mouth.
"Isaiah, I can explain.""
He took one step backward.
"Then explain.""
Brielle's lips trembled.
But before she could speak, Isaiah's phone rang.
The screen showed the name of his mother's attorney.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Isaiah, I'm sorry to call you on your wedding day.""
Isaiah closed his eyes.
"What happened?""
"There is something you need to know about the property agreement.""
"What?""
The attorney paused.
"The document your grandfather left wasn't the original.""
Isaiah frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"The original was altered.""
Isaiah's eyes snapped open.
"Altered by who?""
The attorney took a breath.
"That's why I'm calling.""
Isaiah looked at Brielle.
Then Evelyn.
Then the photograph in his hand.
The attorney continued.
"We found the original this morning.""
Isaiah's voice went cold.
"And whose name is on it?""
There was a long silence.
May you like
Then the attorney said,
"Not yours.""