Chapter 2

"My parents are not paying one cent of that fraudulent bill," Ash stated, her voice leaving no room for argument. She stood by the window, looking out at the city lights, her back to Kevin.

"Ash, come on," Kevin pleaded, his voice wheedling. "It's a lot of money. If we just pay it, it goes away. No more drama."

"It's not our debt, Kevin. It's hers. The hotel needs to go after Brenda and her relatives for what they consumed and what they stole." Ash turned to face him. "This isn't just about money. It's about right and wrong."

Kevin ran a hand through his hair. "But she's my mom. Think of the scandal. It'll destroy her."

"She destroyed our wedding budget and tried to destroy my parents' generosity," Ash countered. "She needs to face consequences."

The phone rang. It was Brenda, her number flashing on Kevin's screen. He hesitated, then answered, keeping it off speaker this time.

Ash watched him. His shoulders slumped as he listened. He mumbled, "Yeah, Mom... I know... No, I don't want that..."

After a few minutes, he hung up, looking miserable.

"She's hysterical," he said. "She says if the hotel comes after her, she'll be ruined. She said... she said she can't live with the shame. That we're trying to kill her."

Ash felt a flicker of contempt. Emotional blackmail. Classic Brenda.

"And you believe that?"

"She's old, Ash. She doesn't have anything."

"She had enough energy to orchestrate a massive fraud and theft operation at our wedding," Ash said dryly. "She's not frail, Kevin, she's manipulative. And you're letting her do it."

"What do you want me to do?" he almost shouted, his frustration boiling over. "She's my mother! I can't just throw her to the wolves!"

"And I'm your wife!" Ash shot back. "And those 'wolves' are the hotel security and their legal team, trying to recover money your mother effectively stole. I am not letting my family be extorted. The hotel will pursue Brenda."

Kevin looked torn, his face a mask of indecision and weakness. "Ash, please. For me. Let's just... find a way to cover it. I'll get a loan..."

"No," Ash said, her voice firm. "This is where it stops. Either you support me in making Brenda accountable, or you're siding with her. There's no middle ground here."

He stared at her, then looked away, the silence stretching. Ash knew then that her fight wouldn't just be with Brenda, but with her own husband's lack of a backbone.