Chapter 12 - Julian Had Sold the Wedding
Julian had spent eight months building a lifestyle account online.
Luxury cars.
Restaurants.
Suits.
Vacation photos.
Many things he did not own.
Many experiences someone else funded.
Mostly me.
Apparently his wedding was supposed to become his breakthrough.
He had promised social media content to three local luxury brands.
A watch company.
A men’s clothing boutique.
A travel agency.
He told them the wedding would take place in Cedar Grove’s Grand Ballroom.
He promised photographs featuring imported floral walls.
Champagne towers.
A vintage Bentley.
A celebrity photographer.
In exchange, he received cash advances and products.
“How much?”
I asked.
He said nothing.
Chloe repeated.
“How much?”
“Twenty-eight thousand.”
Everyone went quiet.
“What happened to the money?”
Stephen asked.
Julian’s face hardened.
“Expenses.”
“What expenses?”
“Life.”
I already knew what that meant.
Debt.
Restaurants.
Clothes.
Probably some wedding bills.
Probably not enough.
Chloe stared at him.
“You used sponsorship money?”
“It was my money.”
“It was tied to deliverables.”
She understood contracts better than I expected.
Julian looked at me.
“This is why I needed the real wedding.”
No.
This was why he needed my money.
If the wedding became smaller, he could breach sponsor agreements.
He could owe money back.
His financial hole would grow.
Suddenly the uninviting made more sense too.
I had recently questioned why Julian posted online as if he personally funded everything.
He accused me of being jealous.
Maybe he had removed me because he did not want sponsors seeing the brother who actually paid.
I asked.
“Did any sponsor know I financed the event?”
“No.”
“Did they think you did?”
He looked away.
Of course.
The fake wealth was part of the product.
My bank account had become his costume department.
Then Chloe asked the question no one expected.
“Why did you uninvite Michael?”
Julian exploded.
“Because he ruins everything.”
“How?”
“He asks questions.”
Silence.
That was it.
No jealousy.
No personality conflict.
Questions.
I asked who was paying.
I asked why expenses changed.
I asked why his card failed.
I asked why Chloe’s family supposedly could not contribute.
Questions threatened the illusion.
So he removed me.
Then he expected my money to remain.
Chloe slowly removed her engagement ring.
Julian stared at her.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t know yet.”
May you like
She placed it on the table.
“But I’m starting to ask questions too.”
