Chapter 6
The number belonged to a private phone purchased by Diane six months earlier.
When police confronted her attorney with the records, her story changed.
She admitted communicating with Derek privately.
She denied knowing about the ring theft.
The recovered messages said otherwise.
Diane:
Amanda cannot know about the debt before marriage.
Derek:
I need liquidity.
Diane:
The heirloom can bridge you for weeks. Replace it before appraisal.
Derek:
What if someone notices?
Diane:
No one studies old diamonds except Bernard.
Derek:
He will be at the reception.
Diane:
Then remove the ring before he sees it.
My mother had helped plan the theft.
The messages continued.
Derek:
Toby was in the hall again.
Diane:
Chloe lets him wander. If anything happens, suspicion will follow naturally.
Derek:
Use the child?
Diane:
I said suspicion will follow.
A distinction designed for court.
Not conscience.
Amanda read the messages inside Lydia Chen’s office.
She turned toward Diane.
“You knew he was in debt?”
Diane sat perfectly straight.
“I knew he had temporary liquidity problems.”
“You knew his financial disclosure was false.”
“He was under pressure.”
“You helped him steal Grandma’s ring.”
“I helped preserve your wedding.”
Amanda laughed.
A broken sound.
“By replacing the ring?”
“The original would have been returned.”
“You told him to blame Toby.”
“I did not say those words.”
“You told him suspicion would follow.”
Diane’s expression sharpened.
“Toby was crawling beneath tables in a restricted room.”
“He was looking for a toy Derek stole.”
My mother’s mouth opened.
Closed.
The red toy car mattered because it proved planning.
Derek had removed it from the room and placed it in his vehicle. He wanted Toby unable to explain why he had entered the suite without sounding confused.
“Why?” I asked Diane.
“Why protect Derek?”
She looked toward Amanda.
“Because she is thirty-six.”
The cruelty arrived disguised as concern.
“What does that mean?” Amanda whispered.
“It means good men at this level do not wait forever. Derek had debt, not disease. Marriage would stabilize him.”
“You thought my money would stabilize him.”
“You have more than you need.”
“It is my inheritance.”
“It is family capital.”
There was the belief beneath everything.
No asset belonged fully to an individual if Diane believed the family’s reputation needed it.
She had decided Amanda’s wealth could absorb Derek.
Toby’s dignity could absorb suspicion.
My motherhood could absorb assault.
The wedding could absorb fraud.
“Did you know he forged my signature?” Amanda asked.
“No.”
“Did you know he planned to access the trust?”
“I knew you would help him after marriage.”
“That was not your decision.”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“I was trying to keep you from ending up alone.”
May you like
Amanda stared at her.
“I married a thief because you were afraid of an empty chair.”
