My Fiancé Left the Phone Line Open One Day Before Our Wedding, and I Heard Him Tell His Mother He Planned to Take My House, My Savings, and Then Get Rid of Me. So I Changed a Few Details About the Ceremony—and When the Final Wedding Gift Appeared on the Screen, Nathan Learned He Had Never Been the One Running the Con.

I just need access first.

Not access to me.

Not only to my money.

Access to Melissa’s daughters.

I called Grace.

She did not answer.

I called again.

Nothing.

Lily said, “She’s probably sleeping.”

I called a third time.

Straight to voicemail.

My entire body tightened.

“Where is she?”

“At her apartment.”

“Alone?”

“With her roommate.”

Ben was already reaching for his keys.

“I’ll go.”

“No.”

“Mom—”

“No one goes anywhere alone tonight.”

I called Grace’s roommate.

She answered groggily.

“Mrs. Walker?”

“Is Grace there?”

“Yeah. She’s asleep.”

Relief nearly dropped me to the floor.

“Wake her.”

“What?”

“Please.”

Thirty seconds later, Grace came on.

“Mom?”

“Do you have Melissa’s flash drive?”