Chapter 2: The Signature on the Wedding Receipt
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My mother's signature was unmistakable.
She had a distinctive way of writing the letter M, with the final stroke curling beneath her name.
I'd seen it thousands of times on birthday cards, school forms, and the handwritten recipe book she left me.
But Mom had been dead for eleven months.
I touched the paper.
"That's impossible.""
Victoria lowered her voice.
"I understand this is upsetting.""
"She's dead.""
Victoria's eyes widened.
"I'm sorry?""
"My mother died eleven months ago. She couldn't have authorized this.""
Behind me, Daniel cleared his throat.
"Emily, maybe we should go home.""
I turned around.
"Did you know?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"There's a lot you don't understand.""
"Then explain it.""
Brianna finally stepped out of the fitting area, still wearing my dress.
"Daniel, just tell her.""
He shot her an irritated look.
"Not now, Brianna.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Oh, now you want me to be quiet?""
I looked between them.
"How long?""
Neither answered.
"How long have you been together?""
Daniel glanced toward the receptionist.
"Can we please have this conversation somewhere private?""
"No. You've had six years of private conversations. I'm done being the only person who doesn't know what's happening.""
Victoria gently closed the folder.
"Miss Carter, I can provide copies of every document associated with this booking. But I should tell you something else.""
She opened a second file.
"The person who arranged the dress alteration requested that we remove the original embroidery labels and replace them with a new bridal identification tag.""
My heart tightened.
"What?""
Victoria pointed to a small label attached inside the gown.
BRIANNA CARTER.
I stared at it.
That label hadn't been there when I delivered the dress for its final inspection.
I'd hand-stitched my own initials into the lining.
E.C.
I'd also embroidered a tiny blue forget-me-not beside them.
It was my mother's favorite flower.
"Who authorized removing my initials?""
Victoria checked the paperwork.
"Your mother.""
I shook my head.
"No. Someone forged her signature.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Emily, please. You're making this worse.""
I looked at him.
"Worse than what? You replacing me with my sister?""
His jaw tightened.
"Nobody replaced you.""
Brianna suddenly laughed.
"Daniel, stop pretending. We both know the truth.""
He turned toward her.
"Shut up.""
That was the first time I'd heard him speak to her like that.
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
"Don't you dare speak to me that way. You promised me everything.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
Everything.
What exactly had he promised?
I looked at Victoria.
"Can I see the payment authorization?""
She slid it across the counter.
The account number belonged to our joint wedding savings account.
I'd opened that account four years earlier. Every month, I deposited part of my salary from my job as an interior designer.
Daniel contributed occasionally, but I had funded most of it.
There had been $31,600 in the account three weeks earlier.
The bridal package alone cost $14,800.
I took out my phone and opened my banking app.
My balance was $2,143.
I stared at the screen.
"No.""
I refreshed it.
The number didn't change.
"Where's the rest of the money?""
Daniel reached for my phone.
"Emily, give me a second to explain.""
I pulled it away.
"Don't touch me.""
Brianna adjusted the pearl-covered sleeve.
"Well, it's not like the money disappeared. It went toward the wedding.""
"Our wedding?""
She looked directly at me.
"Not yours.""
I felt the words hit harder than a slap.
Victoria quietly stepped between us.
"Miss Carter, I recommend you preserve all these documents. We can also provide the transaction references and the names listed on the booking.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at Daniel.
"Did you steal from me?""
He exhaled.
"We were going to tell you.""
"When?""
He said nothing.
"When I arrived at the venue and found my sister standing at the altar?""
Brianna's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Daniel finally spoke.
"Things between us have been over for a while.""
I almost laughed.
"Apparently, nobody told me.""
He looked away.
"You were always busy. Your work, the dress, the wedding details. Brianna was there for me.""
I stared at him.
"She was there for you?""
Brianna lifted her chin.
"Someone had to be.""
I remembered the nights I'd stayed up sewing tiny flowers onto the bodice while Daniel complained that I wasn't spending enough time with him.
I'd thought I was building our future.
He'd been building another one with my sister.
Then Victoria returned with a printed booking confirmation.
"There's something else I think you should know.""
She placed it beside the payment receipt.
The booking included a special instruction.
Do not contact Emily Carter regarding the bridal appointment. The family will explain the arrangement after the ceremony.
I read it twice.
Then I noticed the authorization date.
It had been submitted six weeks before my mother's death.
My hands went cold.
"Six weeks?""
Victoria nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He didn't deny it.
Then I looked at Brianna.
She was staring at the floor.
"Mom knew?""
Neither answered.
I picked up the paperwork and put it inside my handbag.
"I'm taking these.""
Victoria nodded.
"Of course.""
As I turned to leave, Brianna called after me.
"Emily, wait!""
I stopped.
She walked toward me, holding the front of my dress.
"There's something Mom wanted you to understand.""
I slowly turned.
"What?""
Brianna swallowed.
"She didn't want you marrying Daniel.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did she help you marry him?""
Brianna's eyes filled.
"Because she knew something about you that you don't.""
Before I could ask what she meant, Daniel grabbed her wrist.
"That's enough.""
May you like
But Brianna pulled away.
And for the first time, she looked more frightened of Daniel than she was of me.
