Chapter 4
I refused to let Raymond turn my wedding into a courtroom.
But I also refused to ignore what he was doing.
I called my wedding coordinator, Simone, and explained that Raymond Ellis was not authorized to enter the ceremony or reception.
Simone had worked with hundreds of families.
She remained calm.
"Understood, Nia."
I took a breath.
"Please make sure the venue manager knows."
"Already handling it."
Then I called Elijah again.
My fiancé answered immediately.
"Baby?"
"I'm coming."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
I looked toward Arthur.
He was helping Mom straighten the sleeves of her dress.
For twenty-three years, they had built a marriage grounded in patience and respect.
Raymond had no right to destroy that.
"I'm okay," I said.
Elijah hesitated.
"Nia, I need to tell you something."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Raymond is telling guests that Arthur paid him to disappear."
I closed my eyes.
"I know."
"You do?"
"Mom and Dad explained what happened."
Elijah lowered his voice.
"Then you know there's something else."
I frowned.
"What?"
"The woman with Raymond says she has records."
I took a breath.
"What kind?"
"Bank records."
My heart began pounding.
Elijah continued.
"She says Arthur transferred money to Raymond years ago."
I looked toward Arthur.
He noticed my expression.
"Nia?"
I covered the phone.
"Raymond brought bank records."
Arthur's face changed.
Then he nodded slowly.
"I expected that."
I stared at him.
"You did?"
He looked exhausted.
"Raymond has used those records before."
Mom approached.
"What records?"
Arthur sighed.
"The debt payment."
She closed her eyes.
I returned to the call.
"Elijah, don't argue with them."
"Okay."
"And don't let them speak to the guests."
"I'm trying."
I heard shouting in the background.
Then Elijah said, "I need to go. Security is here."
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Arthur touched my shoulder.
"Nia, you don't need to solve this before getting married."
I looked at him.
"Dad, I don't want people believing you bought your place in my life."
He smiled sadly.
"The people who know me won't believe that."
I shook my head.
"But I know you. And I want the truth."
Mom took my hand.
"Then we'll tell you everything."
We sat together one final time before leaving.
Arthur explained that he paid a debt connected to a vehicle Mom needed for work.
The payment was made directly to a creditor as part of resolving a financial dispute.
It did not purchase custody.
It did not prevent Raymond from contacting me.
And it did not create any obligation for Raymond to disappear.
"Do you have the documents?" I asked.
Arthur nodded.
"Yes."
He went to his office and returned with a small folder.
Inside were copies of the settlement paperwork, bank confirmation, and correspondence from Mom's attorney.
I read slowly.
The payment amount was eighteen thousand dollars.
The creditor was a financing company.
The records supported Arthur's explanation.
I looked up.
"Why didn't you show me these years ago?"
Mom's eyes filled.
"Because we didn't want you carrying the ugliness of our past."
I took a breath.
"I understand."
Then I added, "But I wish you'd trusted me with the truth sooner."
Arthur nodded.
"That's fair."
I smiled sadly.
"Thank you."
We left for the wedding venue twenty minutes later.
I rode with Mom.
Arthur traveled separately so he could prepare for the processional.
As the car approached the church, I saw people gathered near the entrance.
My stomach tightened.
Then I spotted Raymond.
He stood beside a woman wearing a dark blue dress.
She appeared to be in her early forties.
Her expression was tense.
Raymond was speaking angrily to the venue manager.
I felt my hands tremble.
Mom looked toward the entrance.
"Oh, no."
I took a breath.
"Stay in the car."
She turned.
"Nia—"
"I need to handle this."
The driver stopped near the side entrance.
I stepped out carefully, lifting the hem of my gown.
Simone hurried toward me.
"Nia, please use the private entrance."
I shook my head.
"Not until I speak to Raymond."
She looked concerned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Elijah appeared near the doorway.
He immediately came toward me.
"You shouldn't be dealing with this today."
I took his hand.
"I know."
He looked into my eyes.
"Then let me."
I smiled sadly.
"I love you for that."
I squeezed his fingers.
"But this is my decision."
He nodded.
"I'll stay beside you."
We approached Raymond.
He turned when he saw me.
His expression changed instantly.
"Nia!"
He opened his arms.
I stopped several feet away.
"Don't."
He lowered them.
"Sweetheart—"
"Do not call me that."
His face tightened.
"I'm your father."
I took a breath.
"You're my biological father."
He stared at me.
I continued.
"That doesn't give you the right to disrupt my wedding."
His expression hardened.
"I came because you deserve the truth."
"I already know the truth about Mom's injury."
The woman beside him looked startled.
Raymond's face changed.
"What?"
I stared at him.
"I know what happened."
He recovered quickly.
"Arthur told you his version."
"Mom told me too."
Raymond scoffed.
"She's been manipulated."
I felt anger rising.
"Stop."
He opened his mouth.
I raised my hand.
"Stop talking about my mother like she can't think for herself."
The woman beside him shifted uncomfortably.
I looked at her.
"Who are you?"
She hesitated.
"My name is Celeste."
Raymond interrupted.
"She's my wife."
I nodded slowly.
"Then you should know something."
Celeste looked at me.
"Your husband has been threatening to expose my stepfather on my wedding day."
She looked toward Raymond.
He frowned.
"Nia, don't twist this."
I continued.
"He claims Arthur paid him to disappear."
Celeste swallowed.
"I saw the bank transfer."
I nodded.
"Then you saw a payment. Did you see the debt agreement connected to it?"
She hesitated.
"No."
Raymond stepped forward.
"That's irrelevant."
I looked at him.
"No, it's not."
Elijah moved slightly closer.
I continued.
"The payment was made to a financing company to resolve a vehicle debt. It wasn't paid to buy custody."
Celeste stared at Raymond.
"Raymond?"
His expression darkened.
"She's repeating Arthur's lies."
I took out my phone.
"I have copies of the records."
He looked furious.
I continued.
"And if you want to dispute them, you can do that through appropriate channels."
Raymond raised his voice.
"You've been brainwashed!"
Several guests turned.
My heart pounded.
But I didn't step backward.
"No."
I looked directly at him.
"I've been loved."
He stared at me.
I continued.
"That's what you can't stand."
For a moment, Raymond said nothing.
Then he pointed toward Elijah.
"You think this marriage is going to last?"
My stomach dropped.
Elijah stepped forward.
"Sir, that's enough."
Raymond laughed.
"You're marrying a girl who doesn't even respect her own blood."
I felt something inside me harden.
I looked at the venue manager.
"Please ask him to leave."
Raymond's smile disappeared.
"Nia!"
I stepped back.
"You are not walking me down the aisle."
His face twisted.
"And you're not staying at my wedding."
The security staff approached.
Raymond looked around at the watching guests.
Then he shouted, "You'll regret this!"
I didn't answer.
I turned toward Elijah.
He took my hand.
"Come on."
We walked toward the private entrance.
I could hear Raymond arguing behind us.
But I didn't turn around.
Then Celeste called my name.
"Nia!"
I stopped.
She stood a few feet away.
Her face was pale.
"I need to ask you something."
I looked at her.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"Did Raymond tell you he had no choice about leaving?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes filled.
She looked down.
Then she whispered, "He told me the same thing about his first family."
My stomach tightened.
Celeste continued.
"But last night, I found letters."
I stared at her.
"What letters?"
She looked toward Raymond.
He was still arguing with security.
Then she whispered, "Letters your mother sent him when you were little."
My breath caught.
She opened her handbag.
Inside was a small bundle of envelopes.
Each one had my mother's handwriting.
And every envelope carried my name.
I stared at them.
Celeste's voice broke.
"Raymond kept them all."
I looked at her.
"Did he read them?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
My heart began pounding.
Then she whispered something that made my knees weak.
"Nia, your mother wasn't keeping you away from him."
I stared at the envelopes.
May you like
Celeste began crying.
"She was begging him to come see you."
