Chapter 6: The Family's Real Interest
Andre read the message again.
Then a third time.
He looked at his mother as if he were seeing a stranger.
“What money?””
Cynthia's expression shifted.
For the first time, she seemed unable to decide which explanation would cause the least damage.
“It's not what you think.””
Andre held up the phone.
“Then tell me what it is.””
Alicia stood beside him, her fingers wrapped around the strap of her handbag.
She had never discussed her bakery account with Cynthia.
Not once.
She had never shared her earnings, her savings, or the amount of money she kept for business expenses.
How could Cynthia know about it?
And why was she discussing access with someone named Derek?
Brielle spoke nervously.
“I didn't know what Mom meant.””
Cynthia turned sharply.
“Why did you save that conversation?””
“Because you told me to keep screenshots of everything.””
“I told you to keep the payment records!””
“You said all of them!””
Richard stepped closer.
“Perhaps we should stop pretending this is only about cakes.””
Cynthia glared at him.
“This is a private matter.””
Andre ignored her.
“Who is Derek?””
Cynthia crossed her arms.
“A family acquaintance.””
“What does he have to do with Alicia's bakery account?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why did you mention him?””
Cynthia looked at Alicia.
“Because I was trying to understand how you two would manage your finances after marriage.””
Alicia stared at her.
“You never asked me about my finances.””
“You don't need to be defensive.””
“I haven't told you how much money I have.””
Cynthia gave a dismissive wave.
“Everyone knows you run a successful bakery.””
“Knowing I own a bakery isn't the same as knowing what's in my account.””
Andre looked back at the message.
“Mom, you said you could get access after we married.””
Cynthia sighed.
“Marriage is about sharing.””
“Between husband and wife.””
“Exactly!””
Andre stared at her.
“Then why were you discussing my fiancée's money with Derek?””
Cynthia had no answer.
Brielle slowly lowered her phone.
Alicia looked at the younger woman.
“Brielle, can I ask you something?””
Brielle avoided her eyes.
“What?””
“Did you know your mother was planning to access my business money?””
“No.””
“Did you know she had collected money using my name?””
“I knew about the contributions.””
“Did you know she planned to tell everyone I was giving the cakes away for free?””
Brielle hesitated.
Then she nodded.
Alicia's expression softened, but only slightly.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Brielle looked embarrassed.
“Because Mom said you would agree eventually.””
Alicia let out a quiet breath.
“So everyone knew what was expected of me except me.””
Nobody responded.
Cynthia finally stepped forward.
“Enough. I will not stand here and let my daughter-in-law interrogate me.””
Andre looked at her.
“She isn't your daughter-in-law yet.””
Cynthia's face hardened.
“And perhaps she never will be if she continues behaving this way.””
Andre's voice became colder.
“Don't threaten her.””
“I'm not threatening anyone. I'm telling you the truth.””
She pointed toward Alicia.
“Look at her. She's already making you choose between your mother and the woman you're marrying.””
Andre shook his head.
“You made that choice when you decided her money was something you could plan around.””
Cynthia raised her voice.
“I was thinking about your future!””
“My future doesn't belong to you.””
The words echoed across the corridor.
Several relatives had stopped pretending not to listen.
Cynthia looked around and lowered her voice.
“Come into the private room. We'll settle this without an audience.””
Andre glanced at Alicia.
She nodded reluctantly.
They followed Cynthia into a small conference room beside the reception hall.
Brielle came behind them.
Richard and Eleanor remained outside, agreeing to wait until the payment issue was resolved.
Inside, Cynthia placed her handbag on the table.
She removed a tissue and dabbed at the corner of her eyes.
“I never thought my own son would humiliate me like this.””
Andre pulled out a chair.
“Please stop.””
“Stop what?””
“Crying to avoid answering questions.””
Cynthia lowered the tissue.
Alicia sat quietly.
She was beginning to understand that every conversation with this woman followed the same pattern.
A demand.
A refusal.
An accusation.
Then a sudden display of hurt feelings.
Cynthia turned toward Alicia.
“Let's speak honestly. You have a business. You make good money.
Andre has a respectable career, but he has responsibilities. Once you're married, there will be expenses.””
Alicia nodded.
“Of course.””
“Family celebrations. Holidays. Property.
Future children. These things require planning.””
“I agree.””
“Then why are you acting as if sharing money is an insult?””
Alicia leaned forward.
“Sharing money with my husband isn't an insult. Having someone else plan how to take it is.””
Cynthia's eyes narrowed.
“Take it? Such an ugly word.””
“Then explain the message.””
Cynthia looked at Andre.
“Your father and I have been helping you financially for years.””
Andre frowned.
“What does that have to do with Alicia?””
“We have debts.””
Alicia looked up.
“What debts?””
Cynthia hesitated.
Then she opened her handbag and removed a folded document.
She placed it on the table.
“This is why I needed to know whether Alicia's business could support the family.””
Andre unfolded the document.
It was a bank notice.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he read the amount again.
“Mom, is this real?””
Cynthia didn't answer.
Andre turned the paper toward Alicia.
It showed a substantial outstanding loan balance.
The borrower was Cynthia.
The lender was a private finance company.
And the payment deadline was less than two weeks away.
Alicia looked at Cynthia.
“Is this why you collected the money for the cakes?””
Cynthia quickly shook her head.
“No. That money was for tomorrow's event.””
“Then why did you mention my bakery account?””
“Because I wanted to know whether you could help if necessary.””
Alicia stared at her.
“You haven't even asked me.””
Cynthia sighed.
“Because I knew you would misunderstand.””
Andre put the document down.
“Mom, how much do you owe?””
Cynthia looked at him.
“That's not important right now.””
“It is important if you're discussing my fiancée's money with someone else.””
Cynthia pressed her hands together.
“I was hoping that once you were married, you would both help me.””
Andre looked stunned.
“Both of us?””
“Yes. You're my son.””
“I already help you.””
“Not enough.””
Alicia felt a chill run down her back.
The twelve cakes.
The forged signature.
The money collected from relatives.
The message about her bakery account.
They weren't separate incidents anymore.
They were pieces of the same plan.
Cynthia had seen Alicia's business not as something she had built through years of hard work, but as a resource waiting to be claimed.
Then Cynthia said something that made Alicia's heart sink.
“Besides, the wedding arrangements are already underway. It would be a shame to cancel everything over a little financial disagreement.””
Andre slowly looked up.
“What wedding arrangements?””
Cynthia reached into her handbag again.
This time, she produced a printed document.
It was a venue reservation confirmation.
Andre stared at it.
The wedding date was correct.
The venue was correct.
But beneath the names of the bride and groom was another detail.
*Financial guarantor: Alicia Bennett.*
Alicia stood up.
“I never signed that.””
Cynthia looked from her to Andre.
“It's just a preliminary arrangement.””
Andre picked up the document.
“Who submitted this?””
Cynthia's lips tightened.
“I handled the paperwork.””
Alicia looked at the signature.
It was similar to the one on the cake receipt.
The same narrow capital A.
The same incorrect final stroke.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Cynthia, how many documents have you signed using my name?””
For the first time, Cynthia didn't try to smile.
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And Andre realized that the cake money might have been the smallest part of what his mother had planned.
The next chapters can carry the story into the wedding paperwork, the financial deception, and the consequences of Cynthia's choices.
