4: 4
The spotlights swung together onto the stage, and I took the microphone.
My eyes settled on Lola.
"Lola, it's been eight years. From meeting online to standing here today, I've never once regretted it. People call me a fool, they say I'd spend anything on you. But I know you're worth it!"
The crowd broke into cheers and clapping, and Lola's eyes went red.
I reached into the inner pocket of my suit and drew out a bank card. "This holds every cent I've saved in over ten years. Three million, six hundred and eighty thousand dollars!"
"From today, it's yours! From now on you'll handle all the money in this house. Everything I earn is for you to spend!"
The words were barely out before the whole hall erupted.
"My God, he handed over the whole three-plus million? This guy has really lost it!"
"That woman's got some kind of talent! She's got him wrapped around her finger!"
The mother-in-law was shaking all over with excitement. "Over three million, all his savings... our Lola's about to strike it rich!"
Only my mother had gone white. "Leon, no!"
She shot to her feet and started for the stage, but the mother-in-law yanked her back hard. "Hey now! What do you think you're doing?"
"Your son's giving her the money of his own free will, we're not robbing anyone! What, your boy loves his wife, and that's a problem for you? Don't be so petty, you're his mother!"
"Exactly! It's a beautiful thing, the kids caring about each other beats anything!"
"You're one shameless mother-in-law, can't even bear to part with this little bit!"
My mother's lips trembled with fury, and the tears fell right there.
Through the blinding lights, she shook her head at me, desperate.
But I turned my face away as if I hadn't seen a thing, and pushed the bank card a little closer.
Lola's face flushed deep red, her breath coming fast, her hand already reaching. A second before her fingertips touched the card—
I twisted my wrist away. "Wait."
Her head snapped up, the joy in her eyes not yet faded. "What is it, Leon?"
I smiled at her. "Lola, I know you're a good girl. I'm willing to hand you everything I have because I know you love me back. But they don't know that!"
I turned and pointed at the crowd below. "Today, in front of every friend and relative here, I never want you to feel slighted again. I want everyone to see that we gave each other our whole hearts, that this goes both ways!"
"I'm giving you all three million, six hundred and eighty thousand. So why don't you hand me your savings in exchange, let everyone see that you love me every bit as much as I love you!"
Cheers went up from the floor at once.
"Yeah! Let's see the bride step up too! Give us a show!"
The smile froze on Lola's face, a flash of panic crossing her eyes before she forced herself calm.
She shot a quick glance down at her mother, her mind racing.
Even if she wired over every cent she had, it still wouldn't come close to the three million, six hundred and eighty thousand on my card.
Any way you sliced it, she came out ahead!
And with all these eyes on her, if she refused, and I caught the guilt on her face, she'd have nowhere left to cry!
So she shot me a pouting, sulky look, her voice going soft and sweet.
"You're awful, testing me in front of all these people! My money's your money anyway, of course I'll give it all to you!"
"I want everyone to know I love you for real too!"
She pulled out her phone right then and, gritting her teeth, tapped through the transfer.
Two seconds later, my pocket buzzed.
I dropped my eyes to the screen, the deposit alert plain as day. One million, seven hundred and ninety thousand dollars!
All the money she'd conned out of me over eight years, plus every last cent she'd saved of her own.
Not a dollar short.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, and when I looked up again, I gazed at her, moved.
"So can that bank card come to me now?"
She sidled up and hooked her arm through mine, her voice all excitement and expectation.
I held out my hand to her. "Of course."
Her pupils blew wide, her fingertips trembling wildly.
The instant she closed her hand around the card, I let my lips curve just slightly:
"This wedding's off."
