The Wedding Day Shakedown

I spent five years delivering food and saved up enough to buy a home, all so I could marry my girlfriend of five years, Megan Portman. On the day of the bride pickup, the bridesmaids went all out with their pre-wedding mini games, and I happily played along. But once every cash envelope had been handed out, I realized something was off. Megan's best friend, Jeanie Westwood, pulled out her phone and opened her payment app. "We want to share in the good luck too. There are eighteen of us here, so each of us gets 999 dollars. We'll bless your marriage to be a long-lasting and happy one." After a lot of pleading, I scraped together 20,000 dollars and sent it over. I figured that was enough to finally win my bride. Instead, Megan sat on the bed and refused to let her feet touch the floor. "My mom just laid down the law. The send-off fee is going up. Let's round it off to 66,000 dollars." I was stunned. "Didn't we agree on 6,600 dollars? Where am I supposed to get another 60,000 dollars right now?" Megan played with her nails, her face cold. "That's your problem. If you can't come up with the money, I'm not putting my shoes on." I looked around at the room full of relatives enjoying the show and stood up. "This wedding is off." Chapter 1 "Hey, hey, hey! Vince, don't you know how this works?" Behind Jeanie Westwood, seventeen bridesmaids stood in a row. I quickly put on an apologetic smile and pulled out the fat cash envelope I'd prepared ahead of time. "Thank you for all your hard work, ladies. Here's a little something to treat yourselves to coffee." Jeanie glanced at how thick the envelope was and snorted. She tossed it right back into my arms. "Do we look like beggars to you?" She took out her phone, pulled up her payment app, and shoved it in my face. Right behind her, all seventeen bridesmaids held up their phones in unison. "We want to share in the good luck too. There are eighteen of us here, so each of us gets 999 dollars. We'll bless your marriage to be a long-lasting and happy one." Jeanie tilted her head, her face full of mockery. My head started buzzing. Eighteen times 999 dollars came to almost 18,000 dollars. I'd spent five years delivering food, rain or shine, and buying our home had already drained every penny I had. For today's wedding alone, I'd paid 30,000 dollars for the wedding gifts, 5,000 dollars for the bridal gold jewelry set, and well over 10,000 dollars for the banquet and the wedding planner. My pockets were completely empty. "Jeanie, quit joking around. There's no way I brought that kind of money." I wiped the sweat off my face and looked at Megan Portman. "Meg, it's almost time for the ceremony. Let's not keep the family waiting." Megan finally looked up. There wasn't a trace of a bride's joy in her eyes, only impatience. "Jeanie is looking out for me. If you won't even part with this little bit of money, how are you going to treat me well down the road?" The relatives around us started heckling. Some laughed, while others just enjoyed the show. I gritted my teeth and swallowed every last scrap of pride. "Could you go a little lower? I really can't come up with that much right now." Jeanie let out a sarcastic huff. "Vince, you don't even have this much? Quit embarrassing Meg, would you?" "Seriously, why get married if you're broke?" "What a cheapskate. Meg's going to have a rough life with him." The jeers stabbed into my ears like needles. I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. I maxed out my credit cards. I drained my buy-now-pay-later account and my cash-advance line. Then I texted a few close friends and swallowed my pride to borrow from every one of them. In the end, I barely scraped together 100,000 dollars. I handed my phone to Jeanie so she could see. "Jeanie, this is all I could get. Can I make up the rest later?" Jeanie curled her lip and scanned the code with a look of disgust. "Fine. Since you're at least showing some sincerity, I'll let you pass." My heart bled as the 20,000 dollars went through. It was the money I'd set aside for the mortgage. The bridesmaids finally parted and cleared a path. I let out a breath of relief and got down on one knee, ready to put Megan's shoes on her. As long as I took her home, the wedding was as good as done. Life might be hard and exhausting from here on out, but as long as the two of us did right by each other, we'd make it through. I reached for the shoebox beside the bed. It was empty. I paused and looked up at Megan. "Meg, where are your shoes?" Megan tucked her feet under the hem of her gown and looked down at me. "There's no rush on the shoes." She held up her hand and signaled a number. "My mom just laid down the law. The send-off fee is going up." Chapter 2 "Let's round it off to 66,000 dollars." "How much?" "66,000 dollars." Megan's tone was flat, as if she were talking about what to have for dinner. "Didn't we agree on 6,600 dollars? I already paid 30,000 for the wedding gifts. How can the send-off fee suddenly jump tenfold?" My voice was shaking. Megan picked impatiently at her freshly done nails. "My brother owes some money and needs it fast. You're about to be his brother-in-law. What's wrong with helping out a little?" "Those are gambling debts! Loan shark money!" I couldn't help yelling. "Johnny is a bottomless pit. Nobody could ever fill him up!" Megan's face darkened, and she slapped the bed hard. "Vince! What are you yelling for? He's my brother! Just tell me whether you're paying or not." Jeanie fanned the flames from the side. "Oh my. You're not even married yet, and he's already yelling at his wife. Imagine what he'll be like later! "Meg, you have to get this money. It's insurance for your brother, and it'll show us Vince's determination to marry you." I looked at Megan, searching her face for even a hint of sympathy or hesitation. There was none. Only coldness and entitlement. "Where am I supposed to get 60,000 dollars right now? Even selling my kidney wouldn't cover that!" I was practically begging. "Meg, for the sake of our five years together, please stop this, okay? We're really going to miss the ceremony." Megan gave a cold laugh. "If you don't have the money, don't touch me. If you can't come up with it, I'm not putting my shoes on." The whole room full of relatives was watching the show, and some had even taken out their phones to record it. Jeanie stood with her arms crossed, looking smug. Megan's face was icy, as if I were a total stranger. At that moment, something inside me snapped. Five years of deliveries had run my legs ragged and burned the skin off my back. I'd scrimped and saved, never daring to buy new clothes or eat out, all to give her a home. And in her eyes, I was nothing but an ATM. I wasn't even worth one of her gambler brother's toes. Screw this wedding. I slowly stood up and brushed the dust off my knees. "Fine." Megan thought I'd caved, and the corners of her mouth had just started curling into a smug smile when I pulled out my phone in front of everyone. I opened my chat with my real estate agent, Gabe Collins, and held down the voice message button. "Gabe, list the house now. Urgent sale. The price is negotiable. Cash buyers only, and the faster, the better." When I finished, I stuffed my phone back into my pocket, turned, and walked out. Megan froze, her smile stiffening on her face. Jeanie came to her senses and pointed at me, yelling, "Vince! Who are you trying to scare? If you've got the guts, don't come back!" Megan panicked too. "If you walk out that door, don't ever expect me to take you back!" I didn't even break stride. I kicked a chair out of my way. "I'm calling off the wedding." When the driver saw me come downstairs, he poked his head out. "So, did you get her? Are we heading out?" I waved him off, ripped the boutonniere off my chest, and threw it in the trash. "We're not going anywhere. Everyone can go home." The driver was stunned. "Go home? But the ceremony time..." "The wedding's off. Thanks for making the trip, guys. I'll still pay you the tips." I transferred the money to the head of the wedding car fleet and watched the row of Audis decorated with "Just Married" signs slowly drive away. I felt hollow inside. I hopped straight onto the electric delivery scooter parked in the corner. It had been my trusty partner back when I did deliveries, and I'd never had the heart to get rid of it. I never would've guessed that on the day I went to pick up my bride, it would be the thing I ended up counting on. My phone was vibrating like crazy in my pocket. I didn't need to look to know my family was calling. My mom, Cathy Ridley, had high blood pressure, so I had to get there fast. I stopped at a convenience store on the way and bought the cheapest pack of cigarettes they had. I lit one and took a deep drag, coughing until tears streamed down my face. When I got to the hotel, the welcome arch was still standing by the entrance. It read, "Congratulations, Vince & Megan!" It looked like a sick joke. My mom stood at the entrance in a brand-new mother-of-the-bride dress, looking around anxiously. When she saw me walk in alone, her expression changed instantly. Chapter 3 "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. Chapter 4 Megan just cried. "I don't want to live anymore! We dated for five years, and this is how you treat me?" My mom heard the commotion and forced herself out of the bedroom. She was soft-hearted, and when she saw how pitifully Megan was crying, she instinctively reached out to her. "Meg, honey, let's talk this out calmly..." But Jeanie shoved her away. "Spare us the fake concern! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" The push sent my mom's lower back slamming into the shoe cabinet. Something in my head exploded. "Jeanie! You're asking for it!" I grabbed her by the collar and flung her aside. She screamed as she hit the wall, wincing in pain. When Johnny saw that, he raised the brick and charged. "You dare lay a hand on my girl? I'll kill you!" I grabbed a baseball bat from behind the door. "Come on! Take one more step and see what happens!" My eyes were bloodshot as I glared at him. "This is my house! You're trespassing! Want me to send you to jail for a few years?" Johnny was the type to bully the weak and cower before the strong. Seeing how furious I was, he didn't dare bring the brick down. When Megan's mom saw that intimidation wasn't working, she started throwing a fit. "Everyone, come look! He's bullying a poor widow and her kids!" I looked at the whole family coldly. "You're the ones who burned every bridge by demanding 66,000 dollars. And you still have the nerve to come here and make a scene?" Megan got up from the floor, clutching her stomach, her face pale. "Vince, are you really this heartless? How dare you push me? How dare you dump me? I'm carrying your baby!" My mom forgot all about her back and stared at Megan's stomach, shocked and overjoyed. "Meg... are you serious? You're pregnant?" Seeing that, Megan immediately straightened up, a flash of smugness in her eyes. "Two months along. I was going to surprise you at the wedding. I never thought you'd treat me like this." My mom immediately turned and grabbed my hand. "Vince, for... for the baby's sake, we'll figure out the money somehow..." Seeing the hope in her eyes, I dropped the baseball bat on the floor. "Fine. Let's go to the hospital." Megan's face changed. "Why the hospital? I already told you I'm pregnant. You don't believe me?" "No, I don't." I looked her straight in the eye. "We're going to the hospital for an ultrasound right now. "If the report shows a gestational sac, forget 66,000 dollars. I'll give up the house and sell my kidney to get you every last cent. "Not only that, I'll get down on my knees and apologize, and I'll treat you like a queen." When we got to the hospital's ER, Megan made an excuse to use the bathroom. I planted myself outside the women's restroom and called to the cleaning lady inside. "Ma'am, could you keep an eye on the woman in the embroidered wedding gown? Don't let her run, and don't let her make any calls. She's mentally unstable!" Megan shrieked from inside, furious. "Vince, you creep!" A few minutes later, I practically marched her into the ultrasound room. Ten minutes after that, the doctor came out holding the report and gave our whole group a strange look. "Who's the family?" The doctor frowned and handed the report over. I took it and glanced at it. Just then, Megan came out after fixing her clothes, still trying to act frail. My mom was trembling with rage. Out of nowhere, she found the strength to rush forward and slap Megan hard across the face. "You liar! Lying to an old woman about something like this! Have you no conscience?" she sobbed. Megan was stunned, clutching her cheek. Then she shrieked, "So it's my fault I'm not pregnant? Your son's the problem! "So what if I lied? Would you have paid if I hadn't? My brother needs that money to save his life!" I looked at her twisted face, and the last shred of feeling I had for her vanished. "Fine. Since you're not pregnant, let's settle the score." Right then and there, I took out my phone and dialed 911.