Chapter 7 - My Father’s Big Promise
Chloe’s father was named Stephen Mercer.
I had met him four times.
Quiet man.
Successful dentist.
Far less wealthy than Julian liked to imply.
Stephen called me directly that night.
“I’m sorry to bother you.”
“You’re not.”
“I think we need to compare stories.”
We did.
What I learned made me angry enough to stop feeling hurt.
Julian told Stephen that my parents were paying half the wedding.
He told my parents Chloe’s family would reimburse major expenses after the ceremony.
He told me Chloe’s trust would eventually cover part of the cost.
He told vendors I was the financial sponsor.
He told Chloe I had volunteered because I wanted to make up for being “difficult” about her marrying Julian.
Everyone had been given a different version.
Every version had one purpose.
Keep the wedding growing.
Keep questions separate.
Keep me paying.
Then Stephen said.
“Your father asked me tonight for fifty thousand.”
“What reason did he give?”
“He said you froze funds unexpectedly and the families needed to unite.”
“Did you send it?”
“No.”
“Thank you.”
Stephen sighed.
“I should have asked questions months ago.”
“So should I.”
He told me something else.
Chloe and Julian were planning to move into a downtown condominium after the honeymoon.
Rent.
$7,800 per month.
I laughed.
“Julian can’t afford that.”
“I know.”
“Who was paying?”
Stephen sounded embarrassed.
“He said you bought the unit.”
I stopped laughing.
“What?”
“He said it was your wedding gift.”
I had not bought any condominium.
But I knew exactly where the lie came from.
Six months earlier, I had looked at an investment condo.
I decided against it.
Julian knew.
Apparently he had transformed consideration into ownership.
Stephen continued.
“Chloe thinks they’re getting the keys after the honeymoon.”
I called Marisol immediately.
She checked property records.
No condo.
No purchase.
But there was an application.
A lease application in Julian and Chloe’s names.
Guarantor.
Michael Carter.
My income attached again.
My copied signature on page eleven.
The management company had not finalized it because they were waiting for proof of my authorization.
I felt nauseated.
May you like
The wedding was not the end of my family’s plan.
It was the beginning of another bill.
