Chapter 55

Tammie POV

“It’s been decided, Tammie,” my mother, Mrs. Daniella Johnson, said firmly as she leaned back in her seat, her manicured fingers clasped together.

Her voice carried the no-nonsense tone I had grown up with, one that brooked no arguments.

I blinked at her, stunned. “What’s been decided, Mother?”

“Your wedding,” she replied, meeting my gaze with her sharp blue eyes. “It’s going to be a small, intimate affair. A parlor wedding, to be precise. No grand event, no massive guest list. Just a select few of the most reputable elites.”

I sat up straighter, my heart sinking. “A parlor wedding? But why? We’ve been planning this for months! People are expecting…''

I tried convincing my mom because I also needed the media to see me once again and so that Max would regret how he had mistreated and maltreated her.

“People can expect all they want,” she interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “What matters is your father’s safety.”

“Father’s safety?” I asked, frowning. “What does this have to do with him?”

Mother’s face tightened. “Do you remember your engagement ball, Tammie? That night could have ended in tragedy.”

My mind instantly went back to the glittering event, the music, the laughter…and the chaos that followed.

An assassin had caused chaos in the engagement the party, targeting my father, Mr. Kenneth Johnson. If it weren’t for the quick actions of his security detail, he might not be here today.

“I remember,” I said softly, my voice tinged with guilt.

“That’s why,” Mother continued, her voice firm, “we’re keeping this wedding small. Crowds attract trouble, and I won’t risk losing your father because of some over-the-top ceremony. We’ll invite only those we trust…people with impeccable reputations.”

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. “I understand, but this isn’t what I envisioned. Everyone will talk about how low-key it is. They’ll think we’re hiding something.”

“Let them talk,” Mother said sharply. “This is about more than appearances. We’re also keeping the date of the wedding away from the media. Only those who need to know will be informed.”

I wanted to argue, to insist on the grand wedding I had always dreamed of. But when I thought of my father lying in the hospital, recovering from a brush with death, I couldn’t bring myself to push back.

“Fine,” I said finally, my voice resigned.

Mother raised an eyebrow. “Fine? No protests? That’s unlike you.”

“What do you want me to say, Mother?” I asked, exasperated. “That I’m thrilled about this change? I’m not. But I understand why you’re doing it. And honestly…” I hesitated, biting my lip.

“Honestly, what?” she prompted, her gaze narrowing.

“I need this wedding to happen,” I admitted, looking away.

“And why is that?”

I hesitated, my cheeks burning. “It’s personal.”

Mother leaned forward, her curiosity evident. “Tammie, if there’s something I should know…”

“There isn’t,” I cut her off, my tone sharper than intended. I couldn’t tell her that I needed this wedding to go through just to make Max jealous.

Max, the man who had broken my heart and walked away like I was nothing. I wanted him to see me happy, moving on, living the life he thought I couldn’t have without him.

Mother studied me for a moment before leaning back with a nod. “Very well. But remember, once your father is a little better, we’ll finalize the date. Not before.”

I nodded, the weight of everything settling heavily on my shoulders. “I understand.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall.

My Mother’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking the quiet. She picked it up, scrolling briefly before setting it back down. Then she looked at me, her expression shifting to one of concern.

“Tammie, there’s one more thing I need to do,” she said, standing up.

“What is it?” I asked, watching her curiously.

She didn’t answer right away, instead walking over to the large bay window and staring out at the expansive garden. After a moment, she turned back to me, her expression serious.

“I need to call the officer stationed outside your father’s hospital room,” she said finally. “I want to ensure no one gets in who doesn’t belong there.”

“Is that really necessary?” I asked, frowning.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “After what happened at the engagement ball, I don’t trust anyone. Not even the staff. The only people allowed in that room should be the doctors, nurses, Richard, you, and me. No one else.”

I nodded, understanding her paranoia but still feeling uneasy. “Alright, do what you have to do.”

Mother picked up her phone again, dialing swiftly. She paced the room as the call connected.

“Officer Grant?” she said when the line was picked up. “This is Mrs. Daniella Johnson.”

There was a brief pause, and then she continued. “I want to make some things very clear. From now on, no one is allowed into Mr. Johnson’s room except for the doctor, the nurses, my daughter, Richard, and myself. No exceptions. Is that understood?”

I couldn’t hear the officer’s response, but I saw Mother’s expression relax slightly. “Good. And keep the media out of the hospital entirely. The last thing we need is for them to get wind of this.”

She ended the call and set the phone down with a sigh. “There. That should take care of any potential problems.”

I nodded, though a strange sense of foreboding settled over me. Something about the way she spoke, the way she was so adamant about keeping people out, made me uneasy.

“Mother,” I said hesitantly, “do you think… Someone might try again? To hurt Father?”

She looked at me, her eyes sharp and calculating. “I don’t know, Tammie. But I’m not taking any chances.”

Her words hung heavy in the air, filling the room with a tension I couldn’t shake.

As she sat back down, her phone buzzed again. She picked it up, her brows furrowing as she read the message. Her face paled slightly, and she quickly set the phone down, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Is everything alright?” I asked, my stomach twisting.

She didn’t answer right away, her gaze distant. Then she looked at me, her expression unreadable. “Yes, everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

But the tightness in her voice told me otherwise. Something was wrong, and whatever it was, she wasn’t telling me.