Chapter 15 - Vivian's Confession

Vivian froze with the phone against her ear. After Celeste hung up, she folded her hands together so tightly her knuckles went white.

"I was sixteen," she said. "I wasn't driving. I wasn't even near the highway."

"What did you do?" Evelyn asked.

"I heard Mom telling somebody to make Thomas miss a meeting. I thought she meant threaten his job. She asked me to call his house and find out when he'd be leaving."

Evelyn could scarcely speak. "You told her."

Vivian nodded. "I thought it was about business. The next morning he was dead. Mom said I had nothing to feel guilty about."

The confession left Evelyn shaking. Vivian had been a child manipulated by her mother. Thomas had still died after that call. There was no clean emotion to hold.

"I hate that you did it," Evelyn said. "And I hate that she made you think it was normal."

Vivian wiped her face. "I won't ask you to make me feel better."

They took the information straight to Price. Vivian agreed to give a recorded statement. The detective explained that the timing of a call did not prove participation in a crime, but it mattered to the investigation.

By morning, the city had put the waterfront rezoning hearing on hold. Cole Holdings issued a statement denying wrongdoing. Daniel's company suspended him as chief executive, pending an internal review.

Then a news alert arrived: COUNCILMAN VALE CLAIMS HART FAMILY FABRICATED EVIDENCE FOR PROFIT.

Attached was a photograph of Evelyn in her wedding dress, handcuffed outside Noah's apartment.

Noah slammed the table. "They're making you the villain."

Evelyn read the comments. Strangers called her a liar, an attention seeker, a woman who had staged the dress reveal for money.

A message arrived from an unfamiliar email address.

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After Vivian spoke, Evelyn went to the restroom and held the edge of the sink until her hands stopped shaking. She didn't want to comfort the woman who had tried to steal her wedding. She didn't want to punish a child for the things her mother had trained her to do. Both feelings crowded her chest. She washed her face, looked into the mirror, and decided she didn't have to solve forgiveness before breakfast.

WE HAVE THE REST OF THE WEDDING VIDEO. IT PROVES WHO GAVE THE ORDER. COME ALONE.