Chapter 2
The document in my hand wasn't a wedding invoice.
It was a bank transfer authorization.
And my son's signature appeared at the bottom.
I held it high enough for Daniel to see.
"Do you recognize this?"
He stepped closer.
His face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Answer me."
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
She shook her head violently.
"Don't say anything!"
I stared at her.
"Interesting."
Celeste began moving toward the stage.
"Richard, this is completely inappropriate!"
I looked at her.
"Then you won't mind explaining why your daughter's private company received money from an account connected to my retirement investments."
Her face froze.
The guests began whispering.
Vanessa grabbed Daniel's arm.
"Tell him to stop!"
Daniel didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the paper.
I turned toward the microphone.
"Six weeks ago, my accountant discovered an attempted transfer of two hundred and eighty thousand dollars."
A murmur spread across the ballroom.
"The destination was a company called V&C Luxury Events."
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I continued.
"I was told it was a legitimate wedding vendor."
I looked toward Celeste.
"But the company wasn't hired to provide food, music, flowers, or anything else you see in this room."
Daniel swallowed.
"Dad, please."
I stared at him.
"What did you sign?"
He hesitated.
"Vanessa told me it was paperwork for the wedding."
I felt a familiar disappointment settle over me.
"Did you read it?"
He looked down.
"No."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Because he trusts me!"
I turned toward her.
"Trust doesn't give you permission to use somebody else's money."
She laughed sharply.
"You offered to pay!"
"For a wedding, Vanessa. Not for your private company."
Celeste pointed toward me.
"You're embarrassing my daughter!"
I almost laughed.
Then I looked toward Elaine.
She sat quietly, her beautiful dress ruined.
"Your daughter pushed my wife into a muddy flowerbed."
Celeste opened her mouth.
I raised my hand.
"Don't lecture me about embarrassment."
A few guests began applauding.
I didn't want applause.
I wanted answers.
I looked at Daniel.
"Son, did you authorize money to be taken from my account?"
His face tightened.
"No."
I studied him.
"Then why is your signature here?"
He stared at the page.
"I thought I was acknowledging wedding expenses."
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Who told you that?"
"Vanessa."
She immediately shouted.
"Daniel!"
He turned toward her.
"What?"
"Don't let your father interrogate you!"
For the first time, he looked frightened of her rather than me.
I lowered the microphone.
Then I addressed the guests.
"I'm sorry you've been caught in a family dispute. Please give us some space while the wedding planner makes arrangements."
Monica approached.
Her expression was serious.
"Mr. Bennett, we need to discuss the remaining services."
I nodded.
"I'll speak with you privately. I intend to honor any obligations I'm legally responsible for and dispute anything unauthorized."
She looked relieved.
Then I handed her the microphone.
I stepped down from the stage.
Elaine tried to stand.
I hurried toward her.
"Baby, don't."
She looked at me.
"Richard, please take me home."
Her voice broke my heart.
I wanted to leave immediately.
But I also knew Vanessa was now desperate.
And desperate people sometimes destroyed evidence.
I turned toward our driver, Harold, who was standing near the ballroom entrance.
"Please bring the car around."
He nodded.
Then I looked at Monica.
"Can you arrange a private room where Elaine can clean up?"
"Of course."
She led us toward a quiet dressing suite.
I helped Elaine sit.
She looked at her muddy gown.
Then she began sobbing.
"Everyone saw me."
I knelt beside her.
"I know."
"I felt so stupid."
I gently took her hands.
"Elaine, you did nothing wrong."
She shook her head.
"I shouldn't have touched Vanessa's dress."
I looked into her eyes.
"Straightening a train doesn't justify being shoved."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
I held her.
For several minutes, we said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Daniel didn't help me."
My throat tightened.
"I know."
She looked devastated.
"Our own son."
I closed my eyes.
That hurt more than the money.
More than the ruined wedding.
More than the public humiliation.
We had raised Daniel with love.
We taught him to respect people.
To tell the truth.
To stand up for those who were vulnerable.
Yet when his mother fell, he stayed beside the woman who pushed her.
I kissed Elaine's forehead.
"We'll deal with him."
She shook her head.
"I don't want to lose our son."
I held her tighter.
"Neither do I."
A knock sounded at the door.
I stood.
"Who is it?"
"Mr. Bennett? It's Monica."
I opened the door.
She looked nervous.
"There's someone asking to speak with you."
I frowned.
"Who?"
"A man named Julian Brooks."
I didn't recognize the name.
Monica continued.
"He says he worked with V&C Luxury Events."
My stomach tightened.
"Where is he?"
"In the hallway."
I stepped outside.
A young Black man in a gray suit stood beside the wall.
He looked terrified.
"Mr. Bennett?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"My name is Julian Brooks. I'm an accountant."
I stared at him.
"How can I help you?"
He looked toward the ballroom.
Then lowered his voice.
"I wasn't supposed to come here."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
He reached into his briefcase.
Then he removed a flash drive.
"Because Vanessa and Celeste have been moving money through fake wedding invoices."
I felt cold.
He looked directly into my eyes.
"And your son's signature isn't the only one they used."
I stared at the flash drive.
Julian swallowed.
May you like
"Mr. Bennett, somebody forged your wife's signature too."
And suddenly, the ruined wedding dress wasn't the only thing Elaine had lost without knowing it.
