Chapter 5
Corbin's hand froze on his laptop keyboard as he stared at the screen, his brow furrowed in confusion. I shouldn't have been there—shouldn't have seen what he was seeing—but I'd come to his office to drop off some documents Father had requested, and now I stood frozen in the doorway, watching my former love process what appeared to be bank statements.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered, scrolling through a transaction history that made my own financial training scream fraud.
I should have left. Should have minded my own business. But something kept me rooted to the spot as Corbin's fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard.
"Fifty thousand dollars," he whispered, his voice hollow. "Transferred to an account in the Caymans."
The door behind me clicked open, and Brielle's honey-sweet voice filled the room. "Corbin, darling, I was looking for you—" She stopped abruptly, her eyes darting to the screen. For just a fraction of a second, I saw something cold and calculating flash across her face before she composed herself.
"What is this?" Corbin demanded, turning to face her. His voice was controlled, but I could see the muscle working in his jaw.
Brielle's eyes immediately welled with tears. "I can explain," she whispered, one hand protectively covering her still-flat stomach.
"Then explain," Corbin said, his tone dangerously quiet.
She stepped closer, her lower lip quivering. "It's for us—for the baby. I wanted to set up a trust fund."
"A trust fund?" Corbin's eyebrow arched. "In an offshore account?"
"You don't understand," Brielle's voice broke perfectly. "Your family looks at me like I'm nothing. Like I'm after your money. I just wanted to show them—show you—that I'm thinking about our future."
I watched Corbin's expression soften, his protective instincts overriding his suspicion. "Brielle..."
"I feel so insecure here," she continued, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Everyone's judging me, whispering behind my back. I just wanted to do something right."
Corbin stood up, pulling her into his arms. "It's okay," he murmured into her hair. "I understand."
But as he held her, I caught the slight furrow in his brow—the first real seed of doubt I'd seen in him since Brielle's arrival.
---
The night air carried a hint of jasmine as I stood on my balcony, watching the city lights twinkle below. Tomorrow was my wedding day—a business arrangement, nothing more. At least, that's what I'd told myself.
"May I join you?"
I turned to find Thatcher leaning against the French doors, his usual confident smirk nowhere to be seen. Instead, his expression held something I'd never seen before—vulnerability.
"It's late," I said, wrapping my silk robe tighter around me.
"Not too late for the truth." He stepped onto the balcony, closing the doors behind him. The moonlight caught in his dark hair, softening his features.
"What truth?" I asked, though something in his eyes made my heart beat faster.
He moved closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "Tomorrow isn't just a business deal for me, Scarlett."
I blinked, caught off guard by his intensity. "What do you mean?"
Thatcher reached out, his fingers gently brushing my cheek. The touch sent electricity through me, and I found myself unable to step away.
"I've waited," he said, his voice low and earnest. "I've watched you love someone who didn't deserve you. And now I'm going to show you what real love looks like."
His words hung in the air between us, and suddenly I realized something profound: the obsessive love I'd felt for Corbin was gone—completely vanished, replaced by something new and unfamiliar fluttering in my chest.
"Thatcher..." I began, but he shook his head.
"Tomorrow," he promised, his thumb tracing my lower lip. "Tomorrow everything changes."
As he turned to leave, I caught his wrist. "Why now?" I whispered.
His smile was soft, almost shy. "Because now you're ready to see me."
---
"Are you sure about this?" Victoria asked, adjusting my veil in the mirror.
I smoothed my hands over the intricate lace of my wedding gown, feeling strangely calm. "Yes."
"No cold feet? No doubts?" She searched my face for any sign of hesitation.
I touched my pearl earrings—my mother's—and smiled. "None."
The truth was, I felt nothing but readiness. The Scarlett who had loved Corbin with blind devotion seemed like a distant memory now. In her place stood a woman who knew her worth and wouldn't settle for less.
My phone buzzed with a message from Samson: "Everything's in place."
I didn't reply, but my pulse quickened slightly. Across town, Samson would be meeting with Detective Chen, receiving the final evidence of Brielle's deception.
"Scarlett," Victoria said softly, "there's something you should know before you walk down that aisle."
I turned to face her, steady and composed. "What is it?"
"Thatcher—he's not who you think he is." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "He's been planning this for years."
Before I could ask what she meant, my phone buzzed again. This time it was Samson: "The trap is set."
I looked at my reflection one last time, adjusting my jewelry like armor. Whatever game was being played, I was ready for it.
"It's time," I told Victoria, rising from the chair.
As I stepped toward the door, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets would be revealed when I said "I do."
You may also like
