Chapter 6: The Secret Behind the Wedding
Dad stared at Tiffany.
"What did my brother promise you?""
She adjusted the strap of her purse.
"Ask him.""
"I already spoke to him.""
"Then ask him what he said about the house.""
Dad frowned.
"What about the house?""
Tiffany gave a small, bitter laugh.
"You honestly don't know?""
David closed his briefcase.
"Khalil, don't answer anything else until we understand what she's referring to.""
Dad barely heard him.
"Tiffany. Explain.""
She walked toward the fireplace and picked up a decorative photograph from the mantel.
It was a picture of her and Dad taken during their engagement party.
She looked at it for a moment before putting it down.
"Your brother told me that after the wedding, things would be different.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Different how?""
"He said you were planning to restructure your estate.""
"My estate?""
"Yes.""
I looked between them.
Tiffany continued.
"He told me you wanted to protect your assets before the baby arrived.""
Dad went completely still.
"What baby?""
She placed a hand over her stomach.
"Our baby.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Dad said, "What does that have to do with Ariana?""
Tiffany looked at me.
"Everything.""
Denise moved closer.
"Tiffany, stop.""
But Tiffany ignored her.
"Your brother explained that the house was becoming complicated because Ariana still had rights connected to your first wife's estate.""
Dad looked confused.
"What rights?""
Tiffany shrugged.
"Her mother left her things. There were trusts. Financial arrangements. Your brother said it would be easier if Ariana lived somewhere else while everything was reorganized.""
Dad looked toward David.
David slowly nodded.
"That could explain why the school documents were submitted alongside the property paperwork.""
Dad turned back to Tiffany.
"Property paperwork?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her purse.
She pulled out a folded envelope and placed it on the coffee table.
"I was going to show you after the wedding.""
Dad didn't touch it.
"Open it.""
Tiffany shook her head.
"You don't understand. I wanted us to start our marriage without arguments.""
"Open it.""
With trembling fingers, she removed several documents.
The first page was a proposed property agreement.
The second contained financial information.
The third was a draft of a revised estate plan.
Dad scanned the pages.
Then his eyes stopped at one paragraph.
He read it again.
"What is this?""
David leaned forward.
"Let me see.""
Dad handed him the paper.
David examined it carefully.
"This document proposes changing the ownership structure of the residence and transferring certain interests into a marital trust.""
Dad looked at Tiffany.
"You wanted me to transfer part of the house?""
"Not just me. Our future child.""
"And Ariana?""
Tiffany looked away.
"She would be provided for.""
"How?""
"Through the education fund.""
Dad stared at her.
"You already emptied part of her education fund.""
"I was going to put it back!""
David interrupted.
"Let's be clear. This is a draft. It doesn't establish that any transfer has occurred. But the signature and authorization history need to be investigated.""
Dad nodded slowly.
Then he turned toward Tiffany.
"Did you prepare this with Samir?""
She didn't answer.
Dad took out his phone and called his brother again.
This time, he put the call on speaker.
Samir answered almost immediately.
"Khalil, I've been trying to call you.""
"Good. We're going to talk.""
"What's going on?""
"Did you help Tiffany prepare a property agreement?""
Silence.
Then Samir said, "I helped her understand the paperwork.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Did you tell her I was going to change the ownership of my house?""
"I told her you were considering estate planning.""
"I never told you that.""
"You mentioned it last year.""
"I mentioned making sure Ariana was protected.""
Samir sighed.
"Brother, listen. I thought we were trying to avoid problems before your marriage.""
Dad looked at Tiffany.
"Did you promise her something?""
Samir didn't answer.
"Samir?""
Finally, his brother spoke.
"She told me she wanted security for the baby. I said I'd help her discuss the options with you.""
Tiffany stepped forward.
"Tell him the rest.""
Dad's expression sharpened.
"What rest?""
Samir went quiet.
Then he said, "She asked me whether I could manage the property if something happened to you.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Dad stared at the phone.
"What does that mean?""
"I thought it was a hypothetical question.""
David immediately leaned toward the phone.
"Did you prepare any power-of-attorney documents?""
"No.""
"Did you sign any?""
"No.""
"Did you provide anyone with copies of Khalil's identification or financial records?""
Samir hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Yes.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Why?""
"Tiffany said she needed them for the estate planning appointment.""
Dad slowly lowered himself into the armchair.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he asked, "How long have you two been discussing my affairs?""
Samir sighed.
"Since the engagement.""
I looked at Denise.
She was crying silently.
Dad ended the call.
David collected the documents.
"We need copies of all correspondence between them. I'll also contact the relevant financial institutions and ask them to review any attempted changes.""
Tiffany suddenly laughed.
It was a strange, hollow sound.
"You all act like I'm some kind of criminal.""
Dad looked at her.
"You used my daughter's name, her money, and my signature without telling me.""
"I was trying to secure my future!""
"At her expense?""
Tiffany's eyes flashed.
"You have no idea what it's like to be second in your own marriage.""
Dad stood.
"This marriage isn't happening.""
The words seemed to drain the color from her face.
"What?""
"I said the wedding is canceled.""
Tiffany shook her head.
"You can't do that.""
"It's my wedding.""
"You'll destroy everything!""
"You already did.""
She turned toward me.
"This is because of her.""
Dad stepped between us.
"No. This is because of your choices.""
Tiffany began crying again.
But this time, nobody moved to comfort her.
Denise finally spoke.
"I need to tell you something else.""
Dad looked exhausted.
"Denise, what now?""
She opened her phone and showed us a photograph.
It was a screenshot of a message conversation between Tiffany and someone saved as *P. Wells*.
The message read:
*Once the wedding is over, Ariana will be out of the picture. Khalil will be too distracted with the baby to question anything.*
A second message appeared underneath.
*And if he refuses to sign, we use the report. By then, everyone will believe he's an unfit father.*
Dad stared at the screen.
David took a photograph of it.
"Who sent this?""
Denise answered quietly.
"Patricia. Tiffany's mother.""
Dad looked at Tiffany.
"Your mother planned this too?""
Tiffany wiped her cheeks.
"She was trying to protect me.""
"From my daughter?""
"From losing everything!""
Dad stepped closer.
"Did you make a false report about me?""
Tiffany's lips trembled.
"I didn't write it.""
"Did you arrange for someone to submit it?""
She looked toward Denise.
Then toward David.
Finally, she whispered, "I only wanted Ariana somewhere else until things settled down.""
Dad's expression became unreadable.
"Somewhere else?""
Tiffany nodded.
"I didn't want her hurt.""
I stepped forward.
"Then why did you tell me to start walking?""
She looked at me.
For once, she had no answer.
Dad turned toward David.
"I want every document preserved. Every email. Every payment. And I want someone to verify that no one has been authorized to collect my daughter.""
David nodded.
"I'll handle it.""
But before he could leave, Denise's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Her face went white.
Dad noticed.
"Who is it?""
Denise didn't answer.
The phone kept vibrating.
Finally, she held it up.
*Patricia Wells.*
Tiffany looked at the screen.
Then, slowly, she smiled.
"Answer it, Denise.""
Denise shook her head.
"Why?""
Tiffany's smile widened.
"Because I think everyone should hear what Mom has to say.""
Dad nodded toward the phone.
"Put it on speaker.""
Denise answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice immediately filled the room.
"Denise, where are you? I've been trying to reach you all afternoon.""
"I'm at Khalil's house.""
A pause.
Then Patricia asked, "Is Ariana still there?""
Dad stepped closer.
"Yes. And I'm listening.""
The voice on the other end went silent.
Then Patricia spoke again.
"Well, that's unfortunate.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"What exactly is unfortunate?""
Patricia sighed.
"That you found out before we finished arranging everything.""
My father gripped the edge of the table.
"Arranging what?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Your daughter isn't the only person whose future we've had to make arrangements for, Khalil.""
Then she said a name.
May you like
A name nobody in that room expected.
*"Ask your brother Samir who the real beneficiary of your estate was supposed to be.""*
