Lucas nodded. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Hazel. Tell us everything you know.”
I detailed the situation, from the tacky wedding photos to the heartache in Jinny’s eyes. Madison took notes while Lucas listened intently. When I finished, he leaned forward.
“Sounds like Diane and Charles have a history of shady dealings,” Lucas said. “I’ll start digging into their past. It won’t take long to uncover the truth.”
And true to his word, within days, Lucas had a stack of evidence.
“Hazel, you were right,” he said when we met in his office. “Diane and Charles have been involved in multiple scams. They’ve been taking advantage of people for years.”
He laid out documents showing their deceitful actions, from falsified loans to embezzlement.
“Thank you, Lucas,” I said. “This is exactly what we need.”
Madison, who had been reviewing the evidence, looked up. “Hazel, with this information, we can take legal action. But first, I suggest confronting them directly. Sometimes, the threat of exposure is enough to make people come clean.”
I nodded. “I agree. I want to confront them, but I want to do it right. Let’s plan a surprise ‘family meeting’ at a fancy restaurant. They won’t see it coming, and it will give us the upper hand.”
Lucas smiled. “I like the way you think. Let’s set it up.”
With Madison’s help, we arranged the meeting. The plan was simple. Diane and Charles wouldn’t suspect a thing until it was too late. We booked a private room at an upscale restaurant, ensuring privacy for the confrontation.
On D-day, I arrived early at the restaurant. I set up the projector with all the evidence Lucas had gathered. Everything was ready. Now, we just had to wait.
Jinny, Nathan, Diane, and Charles arrived shortly after, exchanging pleasantries and completely unaware of what was coming.
“Thank you all for coming,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady. “I have something important to share.”
I clicked the remote, and the first slide appeared on the screen. “This is the evidence we’ve gathered about the money you took from Jinny’s wedding fund,” I said, looking directly at Diane and Charles.
Their faces turned from smug to horrified as I continued. “You used that money for your home repairs and car. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ve been involved in multiple scams, taking advantage of people for years.”
