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.

Another line.

Linda Bennett presents herself under varying relationships depending on target: mother, aunt, business associate, counselor.

My stomach clenched.

She had played Nathan’s mother because I would trust a man whose mother seemed to adore me.

The cruelty was almost elegant.

Then we found a folder labeled:

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS

Grace gripped my shoulder.

“Open it.”

Ben clicked.

There was one video.

Melissa appeared on the screen.

Alive.

For the first time in nine years.

Her hair was tied back.

She looked exhausted.

She glanced behind herself before speaking.

“If you’re watching this, I either got scared enough to send it or I didn’t get the chance.”

Grace made a broken sound.

I reached for her hand.

Melissa continued.

“The people I’m investigating are dangerous financially. I don’t know if they are physically dangerous, but I’ve started receiving calls.”

My heart hammered.

She described Ashford.