Chapter 9: The Woman at Table Twelve
Isaiah's mind raced through every face he'd seen that afternoon.
The bridesmaids.
The cousins.
The servers.
The family friends.
The woman who had hugged Evelyn near the entrance.
The woman at table twelve.
He remembered her now.
Black woman, early thirties.
Simple navy dress.
Gold necklace.
She had sat alone for most of the reception.
Isaiah had assumed she was one of Brielle's distant relatives.
He looked at Brielle.
"You knew?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Camille nodded.
"She didn't.""
"Then how did she get invited?""
Camille's voice was quiet.
"She wasn't.""
Isaiah stared.
"What?""
"She came because I told her to.""
Brielle looked at her mother.
"Mom, what did you do?""
"I needed her here.""
"Why?""
"Because she deserves to know who her father was.""
Brielle stepped backward.
"This is insane.""
Isaiah walked toward the ballroom doors.
Marcus followed.
"Isaiah.""
"I need to see her.""
They crossed the hallway.
The reception had been moved into a smaller adjoining room.
Guests whispered as Isaiah passed.
He ignored them.
He reached table twelve.
The woman was still there.
She sat with her hands folded.
She looked up.
Her eyes met his.
She stood.
"Isaiah?""
He stopped.
"You're Ava.""
Her face changed.
"Yes.""
Brielle stood several feet behind him.
Camille followed.
Ava looked at her.
"You told him.""
Camille nodded.
"I had to.""
Ava's eyes filled.
"I didn't want this to happen like this.""
Isaiah pulled out the chair.
"Sit.""
Ava sat.
He sat opposite her.
Brielle remained standing.
Isaiah looked at Ava.
"Did you know my father?""
"No.""
"Did you know your father?""
Ava shook her head.
"Not really.""
"What does that mean?""
"My mother told me his name.""
"Who was your mother?""
"She died when I was twelve.""
Isaiah lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry.""
Ava nodded.
"She left me a box.""
"What was inside?""
"Letters.""
"From my father?""
"Some.""
"Did he know about you?""
Ava looked at Camille.
"Yes.""
Camille closed her eyes.
Isaiah stared.
"How?""
Ava took a folded letter from her purse.
"He found me.""
She handed it to Isaiah.
The envelope was old.
His father's handwriting covered the front.
*For Ava, when she's old enough.*
Isaiah opened it.
Inside was a short letter.
He read silently.
His father's words explained that he had discovered Ava existed only a few months before his death.
He had wanted to meet her.
He had wanted to tell her he loved her.
But he was afraid his father would use her against him.
At the bottom, one line was underlined.
*If something happens to me, don't trust the people trying to take the house.*
Isaiah looked up.
"Who tried to take it?""
Ava shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Brielle stepped closer.
"Then why did you come here?""
Ava looked at her.
"Because your mother contacted me.""
Brielle turned to Camille.
"Why?""
Camille's eyes filled.
"Because I found out the person who altered the deed was looking for Ava.""
Isaiah stood.
"Why would anyone care about her?""
Camille answered.
"Because she is the legal heir to something your grandfather never wanted discovered.""
Daniel appeared behind them.
"What?""
Camille looked at him.
"The original partnership agreement.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"That's impossible.""
"No.""
Camille shook her head.
"Thomas found it before he died.""
Isaiah looked at Daniel.
"What agreement?""
Daniel's voice was slow.
"Your grandfather didn't own the original company alone.""
"Who did?""
"His first business partner.""
"Who?""
Camille looked at Ava.
"Her father.""
Isaiah stared.
"Nathan Hart?""
Camille nodded.
"Thomas's best friend.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"That changes everything.""
Isaiah frowned.
"How?""
Daniel opened the ledger.
"The house wasn't purchased with your grandfather's money.""
He turned a page.
"It was purchased with company funds.""
"Which means?""
"Half of the company belonged to Nathan Hart.""
Ava whispered,
"My father.""
Daniel nodded.
"And when Nathan died, his share should have passed to his children.""
Isaiah looked at Brielle.
"And Ava.""
"Yes.""
"Then why does my grandfather's company own the house?""
Daniel pointed to another document.
"Because Nathan's share was transferred.""
"To whom?""
"Your grandfather.""
"Legally?""
"No.""
Isaiah's eyes hardened.
"It was forged.""
Daniel nodded.
"Just like the deed.""
Ava covered her mouth.
Isaiah looked around.
"Who knew all of this?""
Camille answered,
"Your father.""
"Evelyn?""
"Yes.""
"Your mother?""
"Yes.""
"Who else?""
Daniel's expression became grave.
"Someone who has been very close to your family for decades.""
Isaiah stared.
"Who?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Ava suddenly looked toward the hallway.
Her eyes widened.
"That's him.""
Isaiah turned.
An older man stood at the end of the corridor.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
Calm expression.
Isaiah recognized him immediately.
His mother's second husband.
Uncle Raymond.
He had been at every holiday.
Every birthday.
Every family gathering.
Isaiah's voice dropped.
"Raymond?""
Raymond smiled.
"Congratulations, Isaiah.""
Isaiah took one step forward.
"You forged the deed.""
Raymond's smile disappeared.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Daniel stepped beside Isaiah.
"We have the original.""
Raymond looked at him.
"Do you?""
Isaiah held up the USB drive.
"We have the records.""
Raymond's face remained calm.
"Records can be manipulated.""
Camille stepped forward.
"And tapes?""
Raymond's eyes moved to her.
"Camille.""
She shook her head.
"You should have left us alone.""
Raymond laughed quietly.
"You still think you understand what happened.""
Isaiah's fists tightened.
"You were there.""
"Where?""
"At the hospital.""
Raymond's expression changed.
Just slightly.
But Isaiah saw it.
"You were there when my father died.""
Raymond looked at Evelyn.
She began to cry.
"You knew," she whispered.
Raymond sighed.
"Your husband made a mistake.""
Isaiah stepped closer.
"What mistake?""
"He thought exposing the truth would save everyone.""
"And you killed him?""
Raymond's face hardened.
"No.""
"Then who did?""
Raymond looked at Brielle.
"Ask her.""
Brielle froze.
Isaiah turned.
"What does that mean?""
Raymond continued.
"Ask Brielle what happened the night she found her mother's files.""
Brielle shook her head.
"I don't know what he's talking about.""
Raymond smiled.
"You don't remember?""
"Remember what?""
"The envelope.""
Her face changed.
Isaiah saw it.
"Brielle?""
She backed away.
"I was nineteen.""
"What happened?""
"I found something.""
"What?""
"A letter.""
"From who?""
"My father.""
Ava stood.
"What did it say?""
Brielle looked at her.
"It said he had been paid.""
Isaiah's stomach dropped.
"By my grandfather?""
Brielle nodded.
"For what?""
"I don't know.""
Raymond laughed.
"Tell him.""
Brielle stared at the floor.
"He was paid to lie.""
"About what?""
"About your father's death.""
Silence.
Isaiah could barely breathe.
"What lie?""
Brielle looked up at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"He told the police he wasn't at the hospital.""
Isaiah's face went cold.
"But he was.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Brielle whispered,
"Because he was the one who gave your grandfather access to your father.""
Ava stepped backward.
"No.""
Brielle covered her mouth.
"I didn't know until years later.""
Isaiah stared at her.
"Your father helped mine get killed?""
"I don't know.""
"You just said—"
"I said he helped him get access. I don't know what happened after.""
Raymond interrupted.
"He opened the door.""
Isaiah looked at him.
"Then you walked in.""
Raymond's silence was answer enough.
Isaiah moved forward.
"Why?""
Raymond's expression became strangely tired.
"Because your father was going to destroy everything.""
"Everything you stole?""
"Everything your grandfather built.""
"My grandfather was a criminal.""
Raymond shook his head.
"Your grandfather was trying to protect this family.""
Isaiah laughed bitterly.
"By killing my father?""
"Your father would have exposed the money.""
"And?""
"People would have gone to prison.""
Isaiah stared.
"Who?""
Raymond looked at Evelyn.
"Your grandmother.""
Evelyn's face collapsed.
Isaiah turned toward her.
"Grandma?""
She whispered,
"I didn't know.""
Raymond smiled.
"She signed the papers.""
"I was forced!""
"You signed.""
"I didn't know what they meant.""
"You knew enough.""
Isaiah's breathing became heavy.
He looked at the ledger.
Then at the USB drive.
Then at Brielle.
He finally understood why his grandfather had feared the marriage.
Not because Brielle wanted the house.
Because Brielle's family was connected to the people who had stolen it.
And the person standing before him had spent years making sure nobody discovered the truth.
Daniel suddenly reached for Isaiah's arm.
"Don't.""
Raymond looked at them.
"What?""
Daniel whispered,
"Look at the exit.""
Isaiah turned.
Two men stood near the doors.
Not guests.
Security.
Raymond's security.
One of them locked the door.
Isaiah's heart jumped.
Raymond smiled.
"You should have opened the safe and left.""
Isaiah stepped backward.
"What are you doing?""
"Ending this.""
Camille grabbed Brielle.
Ava stood.
Marcus moved toward Isaiah.
Daniel clutched the ledger.
Raymond reached inside his jacket.
Isaiah's eyes dropped to his hand.
A metallic glint appeared.
Not a gun.
A phone.
Raymond held it up.
On the screen was a live video.
The family house.
Evelyn's house.
Someone was standing inside.
Isaiah recognized the room.
His grandfather's study.
Raymond smiled.
"You thought the safe was the important part.""
He tapped the screen.
"It's not.""
Isaiah stared.
"What is?""
Raymond's smile disappeared.
"The firebox.""
On the video, flames suddenly appeared behind the fireplace.
Evelyn screamed.
"The house!""
Isaiah lunged toward the door.
It wouldn't open.
Raymond watched calmly.
"By the time you get there, the last evidence will be gone.""
Isaiah turned toward him.
"What evidence?""
Raymond's eyes locked onto his.
"The original will.""
He paused.
May you like
"The one that names the real owner of everything.""
And then the ballroom lights went out.