SHE OPENED THE SPA DOOR AND FOUND HER FIANCÉ WITH HER BEST FRIEND

Chapter 05 - Marisol's First Confession

At 11:47 that night, Marisol knocked on Laura's hotel room door.

Laura had moved to another resort twenty miles away. Only her daughter, Emma, and Dana knew where she was.

So when Laura looked through the peephole and saw Marisol, anger replaced exhaustion.

She opened the door but did not invite her in.

"How did you find me?"

Marisol's face was swollen from crying. "Evan didn't. I asked Emma. She told me because I said there was something you needed to know."

"You have thirty seconds again."

Marisol swallowed.

"Evan told me you were planning to sell Bennett Coastal and move to Europe after the wedding."

Laura stared at her.

"I have never discussed selling it."

"I know that now."

"What else did he tell you?"

Marisol looked down.

He had told her Laura had become controlling. That Laura was secretly in debt. That the marriage was more business arrangement than love. That he felt trapped but could not leave before the wedding because he had invested too much money.

"And you believed him?"

"I believed what I wanted to believe."

That answer hurt more because it was honest.

Marisol reached into her purse and removed a small flash drive.

"Three weeks ago, I saw files on his laptop. Property lists. Bank transfers. Your mother's trust documents. I confronted him. He said it was all part of your estate planning."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Marisol's eyes filled.

"Because by then, telling you meant admitting everything else."

Laura did not take the drive immediately.

"Why bring it now?"

"Because tonight, after you left, Evan told me to keep my mouth shut or he'd make sure everyone thought I helped him steal from you."

Laura finally took it.

"Did you?"

Marisol flinched.

"I signed two marketing invoices for companies he chose. I thought they were legitimate. I don't know anymore."

Laura stepped back.

"Then you don't need my forgiveness tonight. You need a lawyer."