Chapter 4: The Groom Nobody Told Me About
"Mom said you already knew about the groom.""
Brielle's words hung in the garage.
I stared at her.
"What groom?""
She looked toward the hallway again.
"You're going to have to ask Mom.""
"No. You're going to tell me.""
Brielle tightened her grip on the shopping bag.
"I shouldn't have said anything.""
"You're right. You shouldn't have. But now you have.""
She rolled her eyes, trying to recover the confidence she'd lost.
"Look, Michael, it's not my fault you don't pay attention to what's happening in your own house.""
I took one step toward her.
"Don't play games with me. What wedding are you talking about?""
She hesitated.
Then she said, "Mine.""
I blinked.
"You're getting married?""
"Not officially announced yet.""
"To whom?""
She looked down.
"Tyler.""
I knew the name.
Tyler Grant was a young businessman I'd met twice at a charity dinner. He had a polished smile, expensive watches, and an impressive talent for making every conversation sound like a sales pitch.
He was also someone I'd recently considered introducing to a few investors.
But I had never imagined he was involved with Brielle.
"How long has this been going on?""
"Almost a year.""
"A year?""
She nodded.
"Mom knows. She's been helping us.""
I looked at the shopping bag in her hand.
"Helping you do what?""
"Plan everything.""
"With whose money?""
Brielle's expression hardened.
"Your money. Obviously.""
I stared at her.
She said it so casually.
As though my entire life's work were a family allowance she could distribute whenever she wanted.
"Did Tyler ask you to marry him?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Three months ago.""
"And when were you planning to tell me?""
She shrugged.
"After everything was finalized.""
"What does that mean?""
Brielle glanced toward the house.
"Mom said there was no reason to tell you until the paperwork was done. She wanted to make sure everything was secure first.""
My heart started pounding.
"Secure for whom?""
"For me.""
I looked at her for several seconds.
Then I asked the question I was afraid to hear answered.
"Does Tyler know about the property transfer?""
Brielle didn't respond.
"Does he know about V.B. Holdings?""
She looked away.
That was enough.
"Get your mother," I said.
Brielle shook her head.
"Michael, please don't make this worse.""
"Get. Your. Mother.""
She walked inside.
I remained in the garage, holding the itinerary.
My phone was still connected to Daniel.
"Did you hear that?"" I asked.
"I heard enough," he replied.
"Find out everything about Tyler Grant.""
"I will.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"I want every transaction connected to V.B. Holdings investigated.""
"Understood.""
I ended the call.
A few moments later, Vanella entered the garage.
She was wearing a cream cardigan over her beige dress, her hair perfectly arranged. She looked like a woman arriving for an ordinary conversation.
But her eyes went straight to the itinerary in my hand.
"What is that?""
I held it up.
"Your explanation.""
She sighed.
"Michael, this is getting ridiculous.""
"Who's Tyler Grant?""
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"Why are you asking about Tyler?""
"Because your daughter just told me she's engaged to him.""
Vanella crossed her arms.
"Well, congratulations. You've finally learned something about your stepdaughter's life.""
"Don't avoid the question.""
She walked toward the workbench and placed her purse down.
"Tyler is a wonderful young man.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"They're in love.""
"That's interesting. Because I don't remember being invited to the engagement.""
Vanella gave a bitter laugh.
"You've been so busy protecting Ava that you haven't noticed Brielle growing up.""
I ignored the insult.
"Why did you tell Brielle I was going to give her my house and my company?""
Vanella's mouth opened.
Then closed.
I continued.
"Why did you tell her the property transfer was already arranged?""
She stepped closer.
"Michael, you need to calm down.""
"I'm perfectly calm.""
"No, you're not. You're looking for reasons to destroy this family.""
I laughed without humor.
"You're transferring my property to your sister's company without my knowledge, and I'm destroying the family?""
Vanella's expression hardened.
"You signed the papers.""
"I signed what you told me were insurance documents.""
"You should have read them.""
I stared at her.
There it was.
No apology.
No explanation.
Just an attempt to make me responsible for what she had done.
"Did you lie to me?""
Vanella looked toward the garage door.
"Marriage requires trust.""
"Exactly.""
She took a breath.
"Look, Brielle and Tyler want to build a life together. They need financial stability. You have more than enough to help them.""
"Then they can build their life with their own money.""
"Tyler comes from a respectable family.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
Vanella's voice dropped.
"You promised me security when we got married.""
"I gave you security.""
"Not enough!""
The words exploded out of her.
She seemed surprised by her own volume.
I stared at her.
"Not enough?""
She looked away.
"Michael, you have no idea what it's like being married to a man who treats his daughter like she's the only person in the world.""
I felt a cold emptiness settle in my chest.
"Ava lost her mother. I have spent my life making sure she never feels abandoned again. That's not something I'm going to apologize for.""
Vanella shook her head.
"And what about Brielle? Does she get nothing?""
"She gets the opportunity to make her own life.""
"She deserves more than that.""
"Then give it to her.""
Vanella's eyes narrowed.
"You're being cruel.""
"No. I'm finally paying attention.""
At that moment, Brielle appeared in the doorway.
"Mom, Tyler is calling.""
Vanella turned.
"Tell him I'll call him back.""
Brielle looked at me.
"He wants to know if everything is still happening.""
"What exactly is supposed to happen?""
Neither woman answered.
I pulled out my phone and called Daniel again.
"Put Tyler Grant's name on the list," I said.
"I want a complete review of his business connections.""
Vanella stepped forward.
"Michael, don't involve other people in this.""
I looked at her.
"You involved other people when you started moving my property.""
She grabbed the edge of the workbench.
"You're going to regret this.""
"Maybe. But I won't regret protecting my daughter.""
I walked past her.
As I entered the hallway, I heard Brielle whisper something.
"Mom, what if Tyler finds out?""
Vanella answered quietly.
"He won't. Not if we do what we planned.""
I stopped.
Then I turned around.
"What did you plan?""
Both women froze.
Vanella forced a smile.
"Nothing, Michael.""
I didn't believe her.
Not anymore.
That evening, Daniel sent me a message.
He had found something.
Tyler Grant wasn't just Brielle's fiancé.
He was the managing director of a small investment firm that had recently attempted to purchase three commercial properties in our area.
Two of those properties had changed ownership under circumstances that Daniel considered suspicious.
And one of the companies involved had the same registered business address as V.B. Holdings.
I read the message twice.
Then another notification appeared.
Ava had sent me a photograph.
It showed an engagement invitation sitting on Vanella's bedroom dresser.
The wedding date was printed in elegant gold lettering.
November 8.
Four days after the supposed Hawaii return.
Beneath the date was a line that made my blood run cold:
*Venue: Carter Estate.*
My estate.
The mansion where I was standing.
The home I had built for my daughter.
And apparently, the place where Vanella intended to marry her daughter without even asking me.
But the photograph contained one more detail.
At the bottom of the invitation, beneath Brielle and Tyler's names, someone had printed:
*With the blessing of Michael Carter.*
I hadn't given anyone my blessing.
May you like
And I was beginning to suspect that the wedding wasn't simply a celebration.
It was part of the plan.
