Chapter 2: Who Told You That?
Her hands were shaking as she snatched the invoice back and stared at the total.
$47,000.
"You can't do this," she whispered.
"The wedding is in four days."
"I know," he said simply.
Then he picked up his jacket and walked toward the door.
"Wait—" Her voice cracked.
"You're really just going to leave?"
He paused with his hand on the door frame but didn't turn around.
"Call your real dad.
I'm sure he'll be happy to help."
She grabbed her phone with trembling fingers and dialed.
It rang four times.
Then voicemail.
She tried again.
Voicemail.
Her mother appeared in the doorway, still in her robe, eyes wide.
"What's going on?
Why is Richard leaving?"
The bride looked up, mascara already starting to run.
"I just...
I told him that Dad should walk me down the aisle instead."
Her mother went completely still.
"Sweetheart." Her voice dropped to barely a whisper.
"Your father doesn't know you exist.
He never wanted to."
The bride froze.
"What are you talking about?
He came back.
He reached out to me.
He said he wanted to be part of my life—"
May you like
Her mother's face shifted into something that looked almost like grief.
"Who told you that?" 😰
