Chapter 4 - THE HOUSE THEY HAD ALREADY CHOSEN
The post-office box led to an online registry.
Abigail opened it that night after changing every lock code in the apartment.
There it was.
A wedding website she had never seen.
Photographs of her and Logan copied from social media.
A story describing their romance.
Mostly fictional.
A countdown to a wedding date three weeks earlier than the date Abigail had in her calendar.
And a section titled:
OUR NEXT CHAPTER
It showed a four-bedroom house in Oakhaven.
Red brick.
White porch.
Large backyard.
Caption:
After the wedding, Abigail and Logan hope to begin married life closer to family.
Abigail stared at the screen.
She had never agreed to leave the city.
Her job was twenty minutes from the apartment.
Oakhaven was ninety minutes away.
Then she clicked the registry.
Guests had already contributed $18,400 toward a “down payment.”
Abigail called Logan.
He answered immediately.
“Abi—”
“The Oakhaven house.”
Silence.
“What about it?”
“Tell me.”
He sighed.
“My mom found it.”
“Of course.”
“She thought we could sell the apartment.”
Abigail closed her eyes.
“There is no we in the apartment.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is a house advertised to our wedding guests?”
“I told Mom it was premature.”
“But you let the website stay up.”
“I didn't know she published it.”
That sounded possible.
Abigail no longer knew what to believe.
“Did you tour the house?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“With Bernice?”
“Yes.”
“Did you make an offer?”
“No.”
“Did she?”
Logan hesitated.
“Yes.”
Abigail sat.
“With what money?”
“Gift contributions.”
“And?”
“She planned to use the ten thousand as earnest money.”
There it was.
Bernice had arrived at eight in the morning and demanded $10,000 because she needed to complete an offer on a house Abigail had never agreed to buy.
Using wedding guests’ money.
And expecting Abigail’s apartment eventually to fund the rest.
“What happens if I refuse to move?”
Logan answered quietly:
“Mom thought you’d change your mind after the wedding.”
Abigail laughed.
“Your mother seems to think marriage is a hostage situation.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“No.”
She looked around her apartment.
“My being expected to sell my home after the ceremony is unfair.”
He sighed.
“I know.”
“No, Logan. You know now because I caught you.”
He had no answer.
Renee helped Abigail separate her contributions from the wedding accounts.
The $11,000 transfer triggered a dispute.
Vendors froze further payments while ownership was reviewed.
The Beaumont cancellation would cost money.
But because Logan had signed contracts without Abigail’s authorization, several vendors agreed to release Abigail from liability.
Logan remained liable for portions he personally approved.
The fantasy wedding began collapsing.
Bernice called relatives and blamed Abigail.
That lasted two days.
Then someone sent Abigail screenshots from the wedding website.
A cousin named Marcy.
I thought you knew. This all seemed weird.
Marcy also sent messages Bernice had circulated.
Abigail is difficult about money, but once they’re married Logan will manage the household finances.
Another:
She doesn’t understand family yet. We’ll teach her.
Another:
Her apartment will give them a wonderful start once it’s sold.
Abigail stared.
This had never been a wedding.
It was an acquisition.
Not necessarily in Logan’s mind at first.
But certainly in Bernice’s.
Then Marcy sent one final screenshot.
A private chat between Bernice and Logan.
Bernice:
Do not let her sign a prenup.
Logan:
She hasn’t mentioned one.
Bernice:
Good. Keep it that way. After marriage her income can carry you while your business recovers.
Logan:
I don’t want to use her.
Bernice:
Marriage means building together. Stop being soft.
Abigail read Logan’s response.
Three words.
I know, Mom.
Not agreement exactly.
Not resistance either.
That became the pattern.
Logan’s greatest betrayal was not that he was as calculating as Bernice.
He wasn’t.
It was that every time she crossed a line, he chose silence because confronting her was harder.
May you like
And silence had slowly become participation.
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