Chapter 10: The Forty-Thousand-Dollar Lie
For several seconds after Evelyn ended the call, nobody spoke.
Daniel sat motionless on the sofa, staring at his phone as if the device had suddenly become something dangerous.
Jonathan broke the silence.
"Daniel, I need you to answer one question honestly. Did you receive authorization codes for the revised wedding invoices?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't remember.""
"That's not an answer.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I received several text messages from the wedding management account. Tiffany said she needed me to approve some administrative changes because the vendors were having problems with their payment systems.""
"Did you approve them?""
"I might have.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Daniel, what exactly did you approve?""
He looked at me.
"I thought I was confirming delivery dates and service arrangements.""
"Did you read the amounts?""
His silence answered for him.
I walked toward the kitchen.
The numbers were beginning to feel unreal.
I had spent more than forty-five thousand dollars on a wedding that was supposed to be modest. Then I had sold family land to cover the additional expenses.
Now I was discovering that the people I had trusted might have inflated invoices to extract even more.
Jonathan followed me.
"Margaret, don't confront anyone yet. We need the original invoices and payment records.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
But understanding didn't make the betrayal easier.
At 1:15 p.m., Evelyn sent the first batch of documents.
Jonathan spread them across my dining table.
The original florist invoice showed $8,400.
The revised version showed $14,900.
The original catering invoice was $12,600.
The revised version was $21,300.
The transportation invoice had increased from $3,200 to $7,800.
There were also differences in the lighting, entertainment, and accommodation charges.
Jonathan calculated the discrepancies.
"Based on these six documents, the potential overbilling is approximately $40,000.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Was any of that money actually paid?""
"Some of the payments appear to have been processed through the wedding management account. We need the bank records to determine the final amount.""
Daniel stood behind us.
"I didn't know.""
I turned.
"You keep saying that.""
"Because it's true.""
"Then explain why your phone was receiving the authorization codes.""
He looked helpless.
"Tiffany said she was making things easier for everyone. She told me I was helping coordinate the wedding.""
Jonathan raised a hand.
"Daniel, don't speculate. We need to establish what you actually did.""
Daniel nodded.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Tiffany appeared.
Your mother is manipulating you. Come home immediately.
He ignored it.
Another message arrived.
If you don't return now, we're finished.
Daniel closed his eyes.
I watched him struggle with the decision.
Then he stood.
"I need to speak to her.""
Jonathan immediately objected.
"Not without advice.""
"I can't keep hiding from her.""
"You're not hiding. You're protecting yourself and preserving evidence.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Mom, she's my wife.""
I nodded slowly.
"I know.""
He seemed to expect me to say more.
I didn't.
Finally, he picked up his jacket.
"I'll call you later.""
When the door closed, I sat down.
Jonathan gathered the documents.
"Margaret, I think we should contact the bank's fraud department today. We should also request a formal accounting from the wedding vendors.""
"Do it.""
He nodded.
Then he asked, "Are you prepared for the possibility that Daniel may have knowingly participated?""
I stared at the photograph of Thomas on the mantel.
"No mother is prepared for that.""
Daniel returned at 6:30 p.m.
This time, he wasn't alone.
Tiffany stood beside him in a cream-colored coat, holding a leather handbag.
Her makeup was immaculate.
She looked as if she were arriving for a business lunch rather than entering the home of a woman she had slapped less than twenty-four hours earlier.
I opened the door.
"Why is she here?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"She wants to explain.""
Tiffany walked past me.
"Thank you. I think it's time we stopped behaving like strangers.""
I closed the door.
"You're the one who made us strangers.""
She ignored that and sat down.
"Margaret, I know yesterday was unpleasant.""
"Unpleasant?""
"Yes. I lost my temper. I shouldn't have raised my hand.""
I looked at her.
"You struck me.""
"I apologized.""
"No. You explained why you thought I deserved it.""
Her cheeks reddened.
Daniel sat between us.
"Can we please focus on the financial situation?""
Tiffany opened her handbag and removed a folder.
"I've brought the invoices.""
She placed them on the table.
"Everything is legitimate. The higher amounts reflect upgraded services and last-minute additions.""
Jonathan wasn't present, so I kept my voice steady.
"Why were the revised invoices sent through Sterling Events Consulting?""
"Because my father was coordinating the event.""
"Why were the amounts different from the invoices I received?""
"Administrative fees.""
"Forty thousand dollars in administrative fees?""
Tiffany rolled her eyes.
"Not everything is about money, Margaret.""
I stared at her.
"Apparently, everything is.""
She opened the folder.
"Look, I know you think my father is trying to take advantage of you. But he's a successful businessman. He handles millions of dollars.""
"Then he shouldn't need my savings.""
Her expression hardened.
"You've always had a problem with him.""
"I've never had a problem with him. I barely know him.""
"You embarrassed him at the reception.""
"Your father watched you slap me.""
Daniel shifted in his chair.
Tiffany turned toward him.
"Are you going to let her keep attacking my family?""
Daniel looked at the folder.
"Why were the invoices increased?""
Tiffany blinked.
"We already discussed this.""
"No. We didn't.""
She sighed.
"Daniel, please. We have enough problems.""
"Did you add the charges?""
"Some of them were adjusted by the planner.""
"Did you approve the changes?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell me?""
She stared at him.
"You were involved in the wedding account.""
"That's not what I asked.""
For the first time, Tiffany seemed genuinely uncomfortable.
She closed the folder.
"Fine. Some amounts were moved around to cover other expenses.""
"What other expenses?""
"Things your mother doesn't need to know about.""
I leaned forward.
"If you used my money, I need to know.""
Tiffany looked at me.
"Your money was going toward the family.""
"Which family?""
She didn't answer.
Daniel stood.
"Tell me the truth, Tiffany.""
She looked at him for several seconds.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"My father needed the money to keep his business operating. I was trying to help him.""
"With forty thousand dollars?""
"With more than that.""
Daniel froze.
I stared at her.
"How much more?""
Tiffany looked toward the window.
Then she whispered:
"Seventy-five thousand.""
Daniel stepped backward.
"What?""
She started crying.
"Richard said he would repay everything after the investment meeting.""
Daniel looked at me.
I didn't move.
Tiffany wiped her face.
"Your mother has enough money. She wouldn't have noticed the difference.""
The room became silent.
Daniel stared at his wife.
"You thought she wouldn't notice?""
Tiffany snapped.
"She has a house, savings, investments, and that land sale money. We were going to build a future together!""
I looked at her.
"You were going to build your father's business with my retirement.""
She stood abruptly.
"I knew you would never understand!""
Then she grabbed her handbag and walked toward the door.
Daniel didn't follow.
Instead, he said quietly:
"Where did the seventy-five thousand go?""
Tiffany stopped.
Her back remained toward us.
Then she turned her head.
"Ask your father-in-law.""
And she left.
May you like
Daniel stood in the middle of my living room, staring at the closed door.
For the first time, he looked genuinely afraid of the woman he had married.
