Chapter 5 - The Trust Fund Never Existed
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Chloe whispered.
“What exactly did Julian tell you?”
“That your family money was locked until after marriage.”
“My family has money.”
She said.
“But not like that.”
“My parents are comfortable.”
“There is no trust.”
I felt heat rise behind my neck.
“Did your father tell my parents otherwise?”
“No.”
“Why would he?”
I ended the call politely.
Then I called Mom.
No answer.
Dad.
No answer.
Finally, Dad texted.
BUSY FIXING YOUR MESS.
I stared at those words.
My mess.
Then Marisol called.
“Michael.”
“You need to look at something.”
She had run a public records search on the wedding-related contracts and some information I gave her.
Julian had debts.
A lot more than I knew.
Two personal loans in default.
A car note past due.
A civil judgment from a failed fitness franchise.
Credit card balances approaching $80,000.
I knew he struggled.
I had no idea how badly.
“Why would anyone plan this wedding with those numbers?”
Marisol asked.
“Because he expected someone else to pay.”
She did not need to say who.
Then she found something worse.
One of the wedding vendor applications included an income verification page.
My salary.
My employer.
My office number.
I stared at it.
“Why is my income there?”
“You were listed as financial sponsor.”
“I never completed that page.”
“Did you give Julian your tax documents?”
“No.”
Then I remembered.
Two years earlier, Mom asked for copies of my W-2s because she claimed the family accountant needed them for an inheritance question.
There had been no inheritance.
My stomach turned.
“Michael?”
“I think my mother gave him my financial information.”
Marisol became quiet.
“That is no longer wedding drama.”
“I know.”
She advised me to lock my credit immediately.
I did.
Then I pulled all three credit reports.
There were no new loans in my name.
Thank God.
But there had been four hard inquiries over the previous eight months.
Two from banks I did not use.
One from a luxury auto lender.
One from a personal loan company.
I felt physically sick.
Someone had been testing how far my credit could stretch.
Then the family chat exploded.
Julian posted.
VENUE IS THREATENING TO CANCEL BECAUSE MICHAEL IS HAVING A TANTRUM.
Dad replied.
SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARN WHAT FAMILY MEANS.
My aunt added.
SO SAD JEALOUSY CAN DO THIS.
I looked at Marisol across the video call.
She said.
“Do not defend yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because we still don’t know everything.”
She was right.
Ten minutes later, Cedar Grove’s event manager called me.
“Mr. Carter.”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to confirm something before taking action.”
“What?”
“Your brother says you authorized him to sign payment instructions on your behalf.”
May you like
I went completely still.
“I did not.”
