Chapter 2: The Phone Call That Changed Everything
“Emma, I’m so glad I reached you.””
The venue manager’s voice was polite.
Too polite.
People only used that tone when they were about to deliver bad news.
I stood in the middle of my kitchen, staring at the wedding papers spread across the table.
“Sarah, what’s going on?””
There was a pause.
“Unfortunately, we need to discuss tomorrow’s event.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Why?””
“Your remaining balance has not been completed.””
My heart sank.
“I thought everything was handled.””
“We were under the impression that Mr. Carter was taking care of it.””
I looked toward the empty chair where Daniel had been sitting.
The chair where my entire world had changed.
“He said he wasn’t paying,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry?””
I forced myself to speak louder.
“Nothing. How much is left?””
Sarah hesitated.
“Thirty-two thousand dollars.””
The number made my knees weak.
Thirty-two thousand.
For one day.
One beautiful, expensive day that suddenly felt impossible.
“Can we cancel some things?”” I asked.
“Emma, the event is tomorrow. The food has already been prepared. The staff has been scheduled. The decorations are being installed tonight.””
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
“Please don’t cancel.””
“We don’t want to cancel. But we need payment confirmation by 10 a.m. tomorrow.””
Ten a.m.
My wedding day.
I thanked her and hung up.
Then I stood there.
Completely still.
My fiancé, Ryan, walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later and immediately knew something was wrong.
He dropped his jacket on the chair.
“Emma?””
I looked up.
His smile faded.
“What happened?””
I tried to speak, but my voice cracked.
“Daniel isn’t paying for the wedding.””
Ryan frowned.
“What?””
“He never paid the balance.””
For a moment, he just stared at me.
Then he rubbed his face.
“Okay. Okay, we’ll figure it out.””
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But I saw the panic in his eyes.
“How much?””
I looked away.
“Thirty-two thousand.””
The silence that followed felt endless.
Ryan slowly sat down.
“Emma…”
“I know.””
“No, I’m not blaming you.””
“But you’re thinking it.””
He looked hurt.
“I’m thinking we should have talked about this.””
I turned away.
“He promised.””
“Your stepdad?””
I nodded.
Ryan sighed.
“I know you love him.””
That sentence hurt because it sounded like he wasn’t sure anymore.
“He’s my dad.””
Ryan didn’t answer.
And somehow, that silence hurt worse.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Michael.
*I heard about the wedding problem. I’ll call you soon.*
Relief rushed through me.
Maybe this was why he came back.
Maybe this was his chance.
Maybe he could finally prove he wanted to be my father.
I called him immediately.
He answered quickly.
“Emma.””
“Michael, I need help.””
A long pause.
Then:
“How much?””
I froze.
Not “Are you okay?””
Not “What happened?””
Just:
How much?
“Thirty-two thousand.””
Another pause.
“I see.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Can you help?””
“Emma…”
The hesitation told me everything before he said it.
“I’m sorry.””
My eyes closed.
“What do you mean?””
“I can’t just come up with that kind of money.””
I laughed bitterly.
“But you told everyone you wanted to be part of my life.””
“I do.””
“Then this is part of my life.””
“Emma, don’t do this.””
“Do what?””
“Make money the measure of whether I love you.””
The irony almost made me cry.
Because he was the one who had shown up after twenty-six years with expensive watches and fancy dinners.
And now the one moment I needed him, he couldn’t be there.
“I thought you wanted to walk me down the aisle,” I said.
“I do.””
“Then how?””
“I’ll be there.””
“But you can’t help?””
“No.””
I ended the call before he heard me cry.
Ryan found me sitting on the floor beside the kitchen cabinets.
He sat down next to me.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then he said quietly:
“Emma, maybe we should postpone.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
“We don’t have to let one day destroy us.””
“It’s not just one day.””
I wiped my face.
“It’s everything this wedding represents.””
My phone buzzed again.
This time, it was a text from an unknown number.
I opened it.
My blood turned cold.
The message contained a photograph.
A photograph of Daniel standing outside a bank earlier that day.
Underneath it was one sentence:
*You should know what your stepfather did before you hate him.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
A name.
May you like
A name I never expected to see.
*Your mother.*
