Chapter 7: The Account He Wanted
The words didn’t make sense.
“He was trying to take control of it.””
I stared at Marcus.
Then at David.
Then back at Marcus.
“Take control?””
My voice sounded distant.
David immediately shook his head.
“That’s not true.””
But the speed of his response made my stomach tighten.
Not because it proved anything.
Because it sounded rehearsed.
The venue coordinator held the phone closer to her chest.
“I’m sorry, Maya, but the bank representative explained that the request came from someone claiming to have authority over the wedding expenses.””
I looked at David.
“Authority?””
He stepped forward.
“I was trying to help.””
My eyes narrowed.
“By freezing money you didn’t put in?””
“I was concerned.””
“About what?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“About how your stepfather was handling things.””
I turned toward Marcus.
“He never handled anything without asking me.””
David laughed softly.
“You don’t know what happened behind the scenes.””
That sentence made the room colder.
Because it sounded like an accusation.
I walked closer.
“What are you saying?””
David looked at Marcus.
“I’m saying maybe he wanted you dependent on him.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
Not anger.
Disbelief.
“You really believe that?””
David crossed his arms.
“You paid for everything.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told her the amount.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want her worrying.””
David shook his head.
“Or because you wanted her to feel indebted.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I looked at Marcus.
And for a second, I wondered if there was any possibility David was right.
Not because I believed him.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid that I had misunderstood everything.
Marcus saw the question in my face.
And somehow, that hurt him more than anything else.
“Maya.””
I looked away.
“I’m sorry.””
His voice became quiet.
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Don’t apologize for asking.””
That was Marcus.
Even now.
Even after being accused.
He was protecting my feelings.
“I should have asked,” I whispered.
“Yes.””
The answer surprised me.
He nodded.
“You should have.””
My eyes lifted.
He continued.
“Not because I did something wrong.””
He looked at the statement.
“But because love doesn’t mean never questioning someone.””
I swallowed.
That honesty meant more than any perfect answer.
David watched us.
Then he said:
“You’re really going to defend him?””
I turned.
“No.””
David looked surprised.
I continued.
“I’m going to listen to both sides.””
For the first time, his confidence disappeared.
Because he realized I wasn’t choosing based on emotion anymore.
I was looking for the truth.
The venue coordinator cleared her throat.
“There’s something else you should know.””
Everyone looked at her.
“What?””
She opened the folder.
“When the payment account was created, Mr. Carter added a secondary note.””
Marcus frowned.
“I didn’t add anything else.””
She shook her head.
“Not recently.””
She turned the page.
“It was added when the first deposit was made.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What note?””
She read slowly.
“If anyone attempts to alter, freeze, or redirect the wedding funds without Maya Johnson’s approval, all financial authority immediately returns to Maya.””
The room went silent.
I stared.
“Returns to me?””
The coordinator nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus looked confused.
“I never asked for that.””
“I know,” she said.
She looked at me.
“Your stepfather specifically requested that you have control.””
My eyes filled.
Again.
He had protected me.
Even from himself.
David stepped back.
“That doesn’t prove anything.””
I looked at him.
“No?””
He shook his head.
“He knew something like this would happen.””
Marcus looked at him.
“No.””
David turned.
“What?””
Marcus’s voice was calm.
“He knew I trusted Maya.””
The words hit harder than an argument.
Because David had been trying to prove Marcus wanted control.
But Marcus had spent the entire day giving it away.
The coordinator handed me the folder.
“Legally, the decision is yours now.””
I looked down.
My name.
My responsibility.
My choice.
The same thing Marcus had wanted from the beginning.
I closed the folder.
“David.””
He looked at me.
“I need you to answer one question.””
His expression tightened.
“Okay.””
“Why did you really request the hold?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then:
“I thought I deserved to be part of this.””
My heart sank.
“Part of the wedding?””
“Yes.””
I waited.
He looked frustrated.
“I missed years, Maya.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I know.””
“I wanted one moment.””
His voice cracked.
“One moment where people saw me as your father.””
I understood the pain.
I did.
But pain didn’t erase choices.
“You could have asked me.””
He looked down.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you’d say no.””
The answer was quiet.
And maybe that was the saddest part.
Because he wasn’t a villain.
He was just a man who wanted something he hadn’t earned.
But instead of admitting that…
He tried to take it.
I walked toward Marcus.
He looked at me.
“What are you doing?””
I handed him the folder.
He looked confused.
“Maya?””
“I want you to decide.””
His eyes widened.
“No.””
“Yes.””
He shook his head.
“This is your wedding.””
I smiled sadly.
“No.””
I looked around the room.
“This is my life.””
The room became silent.
“And I’m done letting other people decide what role they get.””
Marcus stared at me.
Then the venue coordinator’s phone rang.
She answered quickly.
“Yes?””
Her face changed.
Everyone noticed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
She slowly lowered the phone.
“The bank found another authorization request.””
My stomach tightened.
“From David?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“From someone else.””
