It wasn't until eleven that my parents finally arrived, pulling two large suitcases behind them.
A videographer from the wedding company followed, filming everything in silence.
My father smiled apologetically:
"Sorry for the wait—withdrawing that much cash from the bank took longer than expected."
"Today was supposed to be the children's wedding day. Since Brent isn't well enough to attend, we shouldn't let an auspicious date go to waste. We'll handle the formalities privately today and hold the ceremony properly another time."
My mother stepped forward with a warm smile and slowly unzipped one of the suitcases.
A mountain of red-wrapped cash filled the interior, stacked high and dense. Each bundle was tied with a red cord knotted in an elaborate pattern—festive and striking.
Brent and Marilyn stared, their eyes going round, their mouths stretching into greedy grins.
Then my mother opened the second suitcase. Inside, arranged with perfect precision, lay the gold jewelry Brent's family had sent as betrothal gifts.
At the sight of the gold, Brent and his mother exchanged a glance. Something strange flickered across their faces.
But it vanished in an instant.
My mother continued warmly:
"This is the million-dollar cash dowry we've prepared for Miranda, along with your family's gold betrothal gifts—all of it's here."
"We're handing everything over to the young couple today, to give their new household a solid foundation."
Brent waved his hands hastily, even switching to a more familiar address:
"Mom, that gold was our gift to Mira. There's no need to bring it back."
I saw right through his little scheme.
He wanted the gold to stay in my possession so he could later accuse me of swapping it for fakes.
But my mother shook her head:
"That won't do. Since it was given to Miranda, it belongs to both of you now. It should stay in your home together."
"Besides, we'll need to display it again at the wedding ceremony. We're getting older—our hands aren't as steady as they used to be. It would be terrible if we accidentally damaged something."
I hurried forward, tugging at Brent's sleeve as I urged him on.
"Brent, Mom's right. This is all our property now—of course we should keep it ourselves. It'll be much more convenient when we need it."