“She said she only needed to stay married for two months because once the marriage was official, the money would transfer automatically.”
His jaw tightened.
“That doesn’t sound like Amelia.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I explained how Oliver had shown me the service hallway and how I had watched Amelia speaking while she prepared for the ceremony. I admitted that nothing she said afterward proved anything.
It was simply the expression on her face that reminded me of someone from my past who had deceived many people before disappearing.
Adrienne leaned back in his chair.
“That’s only a feeling.”
“You’re right.”
I reached into my purse and handed him my phone.
“So I called Margaret.”
He silently opened the screenshots she had sent. His eyes moved slowly across every page.
Civil lawsuit.
Gregory Bennett versus Amelia Carter.
Claim for repayment of transferred funds.
Settlement reached.
No trial. No verdict.
He looked up.
“She told me she’d never been engaged before.”
“I know.”
He read the documents again.
“There has to be another explanation.”
“There might be.”
Neither of us spoke for several moments.
Finally, I looked directly into his eyes.
“You can still marry her today.”
His head lifted.
“I’m not here to force your decision.”
I pushed the phone toward him.
“If this is all a misunderstanding, then you’ll spend the rest of your lives laughing about your overly cautious mother. And if it isn’t…”
I swallowed.
“Then you’ll be legally married before discovering the truth.”
His gaze drifted toward the window overlooking the gardens, where rows of white chairs waited beneath blooming trees.
“My trust.”
I nodded.
“Your father’s trust becomes available immediately after the marriage license is filed.”
He lowered his eyes.
“You remembered?”
“Of course I remembered.”
His father had created that trust years before his illness. He believed financial security should support a lasting marriage, not encourage reckless decisions.
Neither of us imagined it might someday become a reason someone would pretend to love our son.
Adrienne rubbed his forehead.