“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today—”
Grandma stood.
Everyone froze.
The officiant blinked.
“Ma’am?”
Grandma stepped into the aisle holding the black box.
“I have a gift for the bride and groom.”
Valerie laughed softly.
“Eleanor, not now.”
“Oh,” Grandma said. “Especially now.”
Dad whispered, “Please don’t.”
I looked at him.
He had said those words to everyone except the woman hurting me.
Grandma handed him the box.
“Open it.”
Dad didn’t move.
Valerie’s eyes flashed.
“For heaven’s sake, Jack. Just open it.”
He did.
His hands shook so badly the latch clicked twice before it released.
Inside was not a ring.
Not a letter.
Not a flash drive.
It was a stack of documents tied with red string.
On top was a court order.
Dad read the first page.
Then he made a sound like air leaving a tire.
Valerie snatched it from him.
Her face went white.
“What is this?”
Adrian stood behind Grandma.
“That is an emergency injunction freezing the wedding funds traced to the Sarah Collins Trust.”
Guests erupted in whispers.
Valerie stared at him.
“You can’t freeze a wedding.”
Adrian said, “No. But the court can freeze stolen funds.”
Dad sank onto the first step of the altar.
Valerie rounded on him.
“You said you handled this.”