Chapter 9 - What Money Could Not BuyWedding preparations began, but another crisis tested the families before the ceremony.
A former Bennett executive who had helped hide the company’s financial problems was arrested for fraud. Reporters descended on the Bennett name again. Old accusations resurfaced. Commentators questioned whether Charles had known more than he admitted.
For the old Bennett family, scandal would have meant lawyers, statements, and silence.
Charles chose another path.
He cooperated fully.
He gave investigators documents.
He publicly acknowledged his failure to supervise the executive closely enough.
He did not claim victimhood.
The honesty cost him several remaining board positions.
It also restored something more valuable.
Trust.
Richard watched from a distance.
“You’re handling this well,” he told Charles.
Charles smiled tiredly.
“I had a good example.”
Richard shook his head.
“You made your own choices.”
“So did Victoria.”
That was true.
When reporters approached her outside a charity event and asked whether she regretted “allowing” Sophie to marry Ethan after the scandal, Victoria stopped walking.
A year earlier she might have answered with polished nonsense.
Instead she looked directly at the reporter.
“My daughter does not require my permission to love anyone.”
Then she continued walking.
Sophie watched the clip three times.
She sent her mother one message.
Proud of you.
Victoria cried for twenty minutes.
The wedding was held in spring at Richard’s rural property.
Not the Bennett estate.
Not Italy.
Not a resort.
The ceremony took place beneath enormous oak trees behind the farmhouse.
There were eighty guests after Victoria successfully negotiated upward from sixty.
Ethan wore a dark suit.
Sophie wore a simple ivory dress with no enormous train, no royal jewels, and no magazine exclusivity agreement.
Before the ceremony, Victoria entered the room where Sophie was preparing.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Victoria looked at her daughter.
“You’re beautiful.”
Sophie smiled.
“Thank you.”
Victoria held out a small box.
Inside was not expensive jewelry.
It was an old silver bracelet.
“My mother gave this to me when I got married.”
Sophie touched it carefully.
“I thought you said Grandma sold most of her jewelry.”
“She did.”
Victoria looked at the bracelet.
“This was one of the few pieces she kept because it wasn’t worth much.”
Sophie understood.
“That’s why you’re giving it to me.”
Victoria nodded.
“I spent most of my life thinking value and price were the same thing.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don’t anymore.”
Sophie hugged her.
Outside, Richard stood with Ethan.
“You nervous?” Richard asked.
“No.”
“Liar.”
Ethan laughed.
Richard adjusted his son’s tie.
Anna should have been there.
Both men felt her absence.
Richard reached into his pocket and handed Ethan a small photograph of his mother.
“She carried this picture of you in her wallet.”
Ethan looked at the photograph.
He was six years old, missing a front tooth.
His eyes filled.
“I didn’t know you still had this.”
Richard placed a hand on his shoulder.
“She’d be proud of you.”
Ethan looked toward the ceremony.
“And Sophie?”
Richard smiled.
“She’d love Sophie.”
May you like
The music began.
They walked outside.
