Chapter 3The Wedding Day Shakedown

"Vince, where's Meg? Why are you by yourself?"

I steadied my mom and felt her hands trembling. "Mom, I didn't bring her here."

"What happened? Did the car break down?"

The relatives crowded around us too, everyone firing questions at once.

I didn't say a word and headed straight for the stage.

The emcee was testing the microphone. When he saw me come up, he smiled. "The groom's here, so let's get started..."

I snatched the microphone out of his hand.

Every eye in the room turned to me. I looked at all the familiar faces below the stage and took a deep breath. "To my dear friends and family, I'm truly sorry. Today's wedding is canceled."

The room erupted.

"Canceled? Is this some kind of joke?"

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Where's the bride?"

I gripped the microphone, my voice eerily calm. "Please, eat and drink as much as you like. Today's bill is on me. As for the wedding gift and cash envelopes you brought, my buddy will return them to each of you shortly."

Not all of Megan's relatives had arrived yet, but they already filled several tables.

Megan's aunt, Pamela Statham, stood up and jabbed a finger at my nose. "Vince! What kind of game are you playing? You leave our Meg hanging at home and then come here to throw your weight around?"

"Exactly! What a jerk! He must be seeing someone on the side!"

Even my own relatives looked embarrassed. My aunts and older cousins swarmed me, scolding me for being so impulsive.

"Vince, couples fight and make up all the time. How can you treat something this big like a game?"

"Hurry up and bring Meg back, and apologize to everyone."

I let out a cold laugh, took out my phone, and connected it to the hotel's big screen. "Before you start yelling at me, take a look at this."

I put the 20,000-dollar transfer record up on the big screen and told them about the 66,000-dollar send-off fee Megan had demanded.

Pamela, who'd been cursing me a moment ago, stood there with her mouth hanging open, unable to make a sound.

My mom was so furious she was shaking all over. "This is outrageous! They're selling their daughter!"

"I always said the Portmans' son was a gambler, but I never thought they'd be this shameless."

"66,000? That's highway robbery!"

"This isn't a wedding. It's a con job!"

The faces at the Portmans' tables turned green.

I ignored them and called over the hotel manager, Weston Pattison. "Mr. Pattison, the wedding's off."

The manager looked troubled. "Mr. Ridley, the food's already cooking..."

I waved a hand. "The wedding's off anyway. I'm not going to be anybody's sucker. Anyone who wants to stay and eat, make sure they're fed. Anyone who doesn't, there's the door."

My relatives and friends cheered.

"Way to stand up for yourself, Vince! You can't marry a woman like that!"

Just then, Megan called. I put her on speaker and held the phone up to the microphone. Her haughty voice came through loud and clear.

"Vince, where the hell are you? Why aren't the cars back yet?

"I'm giving you a way out. I'm on my way downstairs. You've got ten minutes to bring the cars back. Otherwise, the price goes up another 10,000 dollars!"

I sneered at the phone. "Megan, are you still dreaming? The wedding's been canceled."

She clearly hadn't expected that. After a stunned pause, she shrieked, "Vince! You wouldn't dare!"

"What wouldn't I dare to do?"

With that, I hung up and blocked her number.

After the guests left the hotel, I took my mom and my dad back to our old house.

Suddenly, someone pounded on the door so hard it shook. Jeanie's voice came from outside. "Vince! You coward! Get your ass out here!"

My dad sighed. "Let them in. Some things need to be said."

The moment the door opened a crack, it was shoved wide open.

Megan came in with Jeanie, her mom, and Johnny right behind her. Johnny was carrying half a brick.

"Vince, you bastard! You abandoned Meg and made her the laughingstock of the whole neighborhood!" Jeanie jabbed a finger at my nose as she cursed me out.