Chapter 2 - THE HOTEL THAT WAS NEVER HERS
David stood beside Isabella in the center of the ballroom, his face still pale from the argument with his mother.
Margaret looked from her son to the guests surrounding them, clearly expecting David to eventually retreat.
He did not.
“Mom,” he said quietly, “I want you to apologize to Isabella’s parents.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“I have nothing to apologize for.”
“You humiliated them at my wedding.”
“I simply made a financial decision.”
“You denied two elderly people dinner.”
“They are not elderly.”
“That’s what you took from this?”
A few guests lowered their eyes.
Someone near the orchestra whispered something.
Margaret looked around and realized the room was no longer on her side.
She turned back to David.
“You are making a scene because your new wife is emotional.”
Isabella felt something inside her snap.
“I’m not emotional.”
Margaret smiled.
“Of course you aren’t.”
Isabella took one slow breath.
Then she looked toward the catering manager.
“Please serve my parents.”
The manager immediately nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“I gave the instructions.”
“And I am giving new ones,” Isabella replied.
The manager froze.
Margaret's eyebrows lifted.
“You?”
Isabella looked directly at her.
“Yes.”
Margaret laughed softly.
“You don't control this hotel.”
Isabella didn't answer.
David did.
“Mom, stop.”
Margaret shook her head.
“You're defending her without even knowing what kind of family she comes from.”
David looked toward Michael and Elizabeth.
“I know enough.”
“No, you don't.”
Margaret pointed toward them.
“They came here wearing clothes that cost less than the flowers on those tables. Your father and I paid for every part of this wedding, and they couldn't even contribute to the reception.”
Michael stood slowly.
“Margaret.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Isabella knew that voice.
Her father used it when he had already reached the end of his patience.
Margaret looked at him.
“What?”
“I think you've made your point.”
“I have.”
“No.”
Michael glanced around the ballroom.
“You've revealed your character.”
Silence.
Margaret's face reddened.
Before she could respond, the catering manager approached with several servers.
“Mr. Bennett, we've arranged a full dinner for your table.”
Margaret frowned.
“Mr. Bennett?”
The manager immediately realized what he had said.
He looked at Isabella.
She gave him a small nod.
“Yes,” she said.
“My father is Mr. Bennett.”
Margaret blinked.
“What Bennett?”
Isabella said nothing.
Michael stepped closer.
“Michael Bennett.”
The name landed like a stone dropped into still water.
The ballroom became completely silent.
Margaret stared at him.
Then at Elizabeth.
Then back at Michael.
Someone whispered,
“The Bennett?”
Another guest murmured,
“Bennett Meridian?”
Margaret's face changed.
It happened slowly.
First confusion.
Then recognition.
Then horror.
She looked at Isabella.
“No.”
David frowned.
“Mom?”
Margaret's lips parted.
“You're…”
Isabella finally said it.
“My father is Michael Bennett.”
Margaret took a step backward.
“The Michael Bennett?”
Michael gave a polite nod.
“Good evening.”
Margaret looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath her feet.
David stared at Isabella.
She could see the questions forming in his eyes.
“You knew?” he whispered.
Isabella shook her head.
“I never wanted you to know because I wanted to know whether you loved me.”
David's face tightened.
“You should have told me.”
“I know.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
He looked hurt.
Isabella understood.
She had protected herself from being loved for money, but in doing so, she had also hidden something important from the man she married.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
David didn't answer immediately.
Then he took her hand.
“I wish you'd trusted me enough to tell me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of what people become when they know.”
David looked toward his mother.
Then he understood.
“I think you're right.”
Margaret suddenly spoke.
“This changes nothing.”
Everyone looked at her.
She straightened.
“This is still a Harrison wedding.”
Michael raised an eyebrow.
Margaret continued quickly.
“And I paid for it.”
The catering manager looked extremely uncomfortable.
Isabella almost smiled.
“Did you?”
Margaret stared at her.
“Yes.”
Isabella glanced toward the manager.
“Who signed the final event contract?”
The manager swallowed.
“Mrs. Harrison.”
“And who paid the deposit?”
“Mrs. Harrison.”
“Which account?”
The manager hesitated.
“I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't disclose financial information in front of guests.”
Margaret suddenly looked confident again.
“You see?”
Isabella nodded.
Then she reached into her small bridal purse.
She pulled out a slim black card.
The hotel manager's eyes widened.
Margaret noticed.
“What is that?”
Isabella placed the card on the table.
“Authorization.”
Margaret frowned.
“For what?”
The manager stepped closer.
“Mrs. Bennett, do you want me to confirm the ownership information?”
Isabella nodded.
“Yes.”
The manager looked around.
Then spoke clearly.
“Grand Bellamy Hotel is owned by Bellamy Hospitality Holdings.”
Margaret scoffed.
“So?”
The manager continued.
“Bellamy Hospitality Holdings is wholly owned by Bennett Meridian Group.”
Margaret's mouth fell open.
“And Bennett Meridian Group is controlled by…”
The manager looked at Michael.
“Mr. Bennett.”
Margaret slowly turned toward Isabella.
The room erupted into whispers.
David looked at Isabella in disbelief.
“You own this hotel?”
“My family does.”
Margaret's face had gone white.
“The wedding…”
Isabella looked at her.
“Was paid for with your money.”
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
“You knew.”
“I knew the hotel belonged to my family.”
“You let me organize everything here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Isabella's voice softened.
“Because I wanted to see who you were when you thought I had nothing.”
Margaret stared at her.
“And now?”
Isabella looked toward her parents.
“Now I know.”
For the first time that night, Margaret had nothing to say.
But the wedding was far from over.
Because while the guests were still processing the revelation, a man in a dark suit hurried into the ballroom.
He approached Michael.
“Sir.”
Michael turned.
“What is it?”
The man whispered something into his ear.
Michael's expression changed.
Isabella noticed immediately.
“What happened?”
Her father looked at her.
“It's your grandfather's old company lawyer.”
“Why?”
“He's been trying to reach me all evening.”
“About what?”
Michael looked toward Margaret.
Then toward David.
“There has been an attempted transfer of one of the family properties.”
Isabella frowned.
“Tonight?”
Michael nodded.
“And someone used your name to authorize it.”
The room seemed to disappear around her.
“What?”
Michael's voice dropped.
“Someone is trying to move one of our hotels.”
Isabella looked at Margaret.
Margaret's face had gone completely still.
For a second, their eyes met.
And Isabella saw something that frightened her.
May you like
Recognition.
Margaret knew exactly what Michael was talking about.
