ON MY SON’S WEDDING MORNING, OUR FAMILY DRIVER PUSHED ME INTO THE TRUNK AND THREW A BLANKET OVER …

A real family.

Everything Blake thought he was getting.

Text messages came next, printed and highlighted.

Natasha to an unknown number.

The Hayes family is worth millions. Hotels, real estate, investment portfolios. Once I’m in, we can access everything.

Another.

Blake is perfect, grieving, lonely, desperate for connection. He won’t see it coming.

My stomach turned.

Bank statements showed her research.

Searches for Hayes Properties Atlanta.

Hayes Hotel Group net worth.

Hayes family assets.

She’d been hunting us.

The final text made my blood run cold.

Once I marry into it, we’ll be protected. Randall can’t touch us. One year, then divorce, and we disappear with enough to start over.

“This is fraud,” I said quietly, hands trembling. “Identity theft. Bigamy. Enough to put her in prison.”

Footsteps on the porch.

Frederick appeared.

I’d texted him minutes ago.

“Mrs. Hayes, we need to go,” he said urgently. “The church is expecting us.”

I turned to Brett.

“Come to the church. Bring Zoe. Bring these documents.”

Brett’s face went white.

“Randall will be watching. If I show up and ruin this—”

He glanced at Zoe.

“He said he’d take her.”

“I’ll arrange security,” I said firmly. “You and Zoe will be safe.”

“But my son needs to know the truth before he says I do.”

“We expose her at the church publicly with evidence.”

Frederick stepped forward.

“Mr. Collins, I can coordinate with someone who handles situations like this discreetly. Your daughter will be protected.”

“You can do that?”

Brett’s voice cracked with hope.

“I’ve been protecting the Hayes family for fifteen years,” Frederick replied. “I won’t let harm come to an innocent child.”

Brett looked at Zoe, still humming, building her dollhouse kingdom.

Then back to me.

Guilt transformed into determination.

“For Zoe,” he said quietly. “And for Blake. He deserves the truth.”

I nodded.

“Then we give it to him.”

Frederick’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, expression tightening.

“Our contact at the church.”

He turned the phone toward me.

The message read:

Guests arriving. Bride and prep room getting ready. Groom asking where you are.

“Where is everyone? We need to leave now, Mrs. Hayes,” Frederick said.

I looked at Brett steadily.

“Be at the church before eleven. Park in the back lot. Stay there with Zoe until I signal you.”

“Don’t let Natasha see you.”

Brett nodded, clutching the folder.

“I’ll be there.”

“And Mr. Collins… thank you for doing the right thing.”

As Frederick and I hurried to the car, my mind raced ahead.

Three elements needed to converge.

Blake at the altar.

Natasha playing bride.

And Brett walking through those doors with proof.

The timing had to be perfect.

Frederick held the car door open.

“The church is 18 minutes away. We’re cutting it close.”

“Then drive fast,” I said.

As we pulled away, I glanced back.