Chapter 3: The Price of Being a Father
Richard read the message three times.
The invoice showed a balance of $18,400.
Below it was a handwritten note:
Payment due before November 15.
He stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
Ask Marcus why he has been telling people that the wedding money is going to help him restart his business.
Richard's breathing slowed.
He didn't immediately believe it.
He wanted to dismiss it as some kind of misunderstanding.
But the name on the invoice was unmistakable.
Marcus Reed.
Richard called the number.
A woman answered.
“Hello?””
“This is Richard Bennett. You sent me a photograph.””
There was a pause.
“Yes.””
“Who are you?””
“My name is Vanessa Cole. I used to work with Marcus.””
Richard leaned against the workbench.
“What exactly are you trying to tell me?””
Vanessa exhaled.
“I don't want to get involved in your family problems, but Marcus has been telling people that his daughter is getting married into a wealthy family.””
Richard said nothing.
“He's been talking about a large wedding payment. He told someone he was going to use the occasion to get back on his feet.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Are you sure?””
“I have messages.””
“Can you send them to me?””
“I can. But there's something else.””
Richard waited.
“Marcus has been asking questions about the wedding deposits. He wanted to know whether the money could be refunded if the event was canceled.””
Richard's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Why would he ask that?””
Vanessa was quiet.
“That's what I think you need to find out.””
The next morning, Richard drove to the wedding venue.
He had booked the historic Hawthorne Estate six months earlier.
It was a beautiful property with white stone columns, a long garden walkway, and a ballroom with enormous crystal chandeliers.
Olivia had fallen in love with it the moment she stepped through the entrance.
Richard had remembered her expression.
He had also remembered promising her that the day would be unforgettable.
At the reception desk, he asked to speak with the wedding coordinator.
A woman named Emily greeted him.
“Mr. Bennett! How are you? Everything is coming together beautifully.””
“Emily, I need to ask you something.””
“Of course.””
“Has anyone other than Olivia or me contacted you about the wedding payments?””
Emily looked confused.
“Actually, yes.””
Richard's stomach tightened.
“Who?””
“Mr. Reed.””
“When?””
“Several times over the past two weeks.””
Richard remained still.
“What did he ask?””
Emily opened a folder on her computer.
“He wanted to know whether the final payment could be transferred to another account if the original payer changed his mind.””
Richard looked at her.
“Did he say why?””
“He mentioned a family arrangement.””
“What kind of arrangement?””
Emily hesitated.
“He suggested that since he would be walking Olivia down the aisle, he might be taking responsibility for the remaining wedding expenses.””
Richard almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the audacity was extraordinary.
“Did you give him any information?””
“No. You're listed as the primary account holder.””
“Did he ask about refunds?””
Emily nodded.
“Yes. He asked about the cancellation policy and whether certain deposits could be returned.””
Richard looked toward the ballroom.
A team of decorators was arranging white flowers on long tables.
He imagined Olivia walking through those doors.
Then he imagined Marcus standing beside her, smiling for the cameras.
“Thank you, Emily.””
“Is everything okay?””
Richard forced a small smile.
“I hope so.””
He left the venue without making any changes.
But he took a photograph of every payment record.
That afternoon, Richard confronted Marcus.
He found him outside a restaurant near downtown.
Marcus was standing beside a black SUV, talking on his phone.
When he saw Richard, he ended the call.
“Richard. What a surprise.””
“We need to talk.””
Marcus glanced at his watch.
“I'm actually in a hurry.””
“It won't take long.””
Marcus sighed.
“Fine.””
Richard pulled out his phone and showed him the invoice.
Marcus's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Richard noticed.
“Where did you get that?”” Marcus asked.
“Does it matter?””
“Yes, it does.””
“Then explain why you owe someone eighteen thousand dollars.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“That's personal.””
“Not when you're discussing my daughter's wedding money.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Your daughter?””
Richard held his gaze.
“Don't play games with me.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You know what your problem is, Richard?””
“I imagine you're about to tell me.””
“You think because you paid for everything, you own her.””
Richard didn't move.
“I never said that.””
“You've been treating me like an intruder since the day I came back.””
“You left her for twenty years.””
“I made mistakes.””
“And now?””
Marcus looked away.
Richard continued.
“Now you're asking the wedding coordinator about refunds and payment transfers.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“Then explain it.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
Richard put his phone away.
“Fine.””
He turned to leave.
Marcus called after him.
“You're making a mistake.””
Richard stopped.
“What mistake?””
“Pushing me out of Olivia's life.””
Richard looked over his shoulder.
“I don't have to push you out. You were gone before I ever met her.””
Marcus's face flushed.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Marcus said something Richard would remember for a very long time.
“Blood is blood, Richard. You can pay for a thousand weddings, but you'll never change that.””
Richard looked at him.
“No. I can't.””
He paused.
“But I can tell the difference between someone who loves my daughter and someone who sees her as an opportunity.””
He walked away.
Olivia was waiting in the living room when Richard returned.
She had removed her wedding shoes and was sitting on the sofa with her phone.
Marcus had already called her.
Apparently, Richard's confrontation had not gone unnoticed.
“Dad, we need to talk.””
Richard placed his keys on the table.
“Okay.””
“Marcus told me what happened.””
Richard took off his jacket.
“What did he tell you?””
“That you accused him of stealing money.””
“I asked him about a debt.””
“He said you're trying to intimidate him.””
Richard looked at her.
“Olivia, did you know he has outstanding financial problems?””
She frowned.
“He told me about his business.””
“Did he tell you about the lawsuit?””
“No.””
“Did he tell you he contacted the wedding coordinator asking about refunds?””
Olivia hesitated.
“What?””
Richard nodded.
“That's what I thought.””
She stood.
“You shouldn't be investigating him.””
“I'm not investigating him. I'm asking questions because someone is trying to get access to money connected to your wedding.””
Olivia shook her head.
“He said you were angry because he was taking your place.””
Richard looked exhausted.
“Sweetheart, this isn't about walking you down the aisle.””
“Then what is it about?””
“It's about whether he's being honest with you.””
She crossed her arms.
“Why can't you just let me have this?””
Richard's voice softened.
“Have what?””
“A relationship with my father!””
The words echoed through the room.
Margaret appeared at the hallway entrance.
Richard looked at Olivia for a long moment.
Then he said, “I hope you get the relationship you want.””
Olivia's expression softened slightly.
“Then stop making everything difficult.””
Richard nodded.
“Okay.””
She seemed surprised by his response.
“Okay?””
“Yes.””
He walked toward the study.
Olivia watched him go.
For a brief moment, guilt flickered across her face.
But her phone buzzed.
A message from Marcus appeared.
Don't let him manipulate you. Remember, I'm the one who gave you life.
Olivia read it.
Then she typed:
I know. I believe you.
She pressed send.
Later that night, Margaret found Richard sitting at his desk.
A stack of wedding receipts covered the surface.
She picked up one.
The floral arrangements.
Another.
The photographer.
Then the venue deposit.
“You've kept every receipt,” she said.
Richard nodded.
“I wanted everything organized.””
Margaret sat across from him.
“Are you going to cancel the wedding?””
“No.””
“Are you going to stop paying?””
Richard stared at the final invoice.
“I don't know.””
Margaret reached for his hand.
“Richard, listen to me. You don't have to keep hurting yourself to prove you love her.””
He looked at her.
“That's not what I'm doing.””
“Then what are you doing?””
He took a long breath.
“I'm trying to figure out when being her father became something she could take away whenever she wanted.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“You didn't lose her.””
Richard shook his head.
“I hope you're right.””
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from Olivia.
Dad, I need you to send me the final wedding payment confirmation. Marcus says there's an issue with the venue, and he wants to help.
Richard frowned.
He typed a reply.
What issue?
The answer came almost immediately.
He says the venue might cancel if the final balance isn't transferred to his account.
Richard sat upright.
He read the message again.
Then he opened the email Emily had sent earlier.
The venue had already received the final payment.
In full.
There was no outstanding balance.
Richard looked at Margaret.
“Something isn't right.””
He called Olivia.
She answered on the third ring.
“Dad?””
“Sweetheart, listen carefully. The wedding venue has been paid.””
There was silence.
“What?””
“Every dollar. There is no outstanding balance.””
“But Marcus said—”
“Put him on the phone.””
A pause.
Then Marcus's voice came through.
“Richard, I think there's been a misunderstanding.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“What exactly did you tell Olivia?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Richard continued.
“Did you tell her the venue needed more money?””
“I'm trying to help.””
“By asking her to transfer money to you?””
Another pause.
Then Marcus said quietly, “You need to watch how you speak to me.””
Richard's expression changed.
“Why?””
“Because you're about to find out that you're not the only person who has a claim to this family.””
The call ended.
Richard stared at his phone.
A moment later, Olivia sent another message.
It contained a photograph of a document.
Her biological father's name was printed across the top.
And beneath it was a request that Richard had never expected to see.
*Marcus Reed was asking Olivia to sign over legal authority to manage her wedding payments.*
But that wasn't the most disturbing part.
At the bottom of the document was a second name.
May you like
Daniel Carter.
The man Olivia was supposed to marry.
