I pulled out my phone to call the police but was interrupted by a man stepping forward, his badge visible.
“Ma’am, my name is Peter Greenwood, and I’m the chief of the local police department. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” he said sternly. “This is my sister’s wedding, and I know Arnold well.
He’s a good man. You’re clearly confused.”
Defeated and furious, I left, my mind racing with plans for exposing John’s true identity. I couldn’t let him deceive Catherine as he had deceived me.
At a nearby cafe, I mulled over my options while sipping strong black coffee. Remembering Catherine’s story about her grandmother’s sister, Linda, who she wished could see her happiness, sparked an idea. It had been decades since Catherine last saw her.
“What if Linda comes to the wedding today?” I murmured to myself, envisioning a plan. There would be no real Linda—I would take her place. Then, I called Carla, a talented makeup artist, and asked her to make me look like a 90-year-old woman.
She agreed, and came to my place in no time. Soon, I was sitting in my living room, transformed into an elderly woman, ready to reintroduce myself as Linda at the wedding. I was determined to expose Arnold and prevent another disaster.
Approaching the banquet hall entrance as “Linda,” I told the guards, “My name is Linda, I believe I’m expected.”
They hesitated, not finding my name on the list. “Oh, dear, there must be some mistake. Please, could you call Miss Catherine?” I requested with a frail voice.
Soon, Catherine approached, puzzled. “Who are you?” she asked. “Don’t you recognize your grandmother Linda?” I replied, maintaining the elderly act.
Tears welled up in Catherine’s eyes as she embraced me. “Grandma? Wow, you look…it’s been ages!
How did you— How did you know about today?”
“Grandma Linda always knows, my dear Catherine!” I chuckled. Inside, I sought out the event coordinator and requested the microphone. Addressing the gathering, I began, “Good evening, everyone.
I am so delighted to be here today to celebrate the union of these two wonderful souls.”
I glanced at Arnold, then announced, “And I have brought with me a very precious gift. A legacy that has been passed down in our family from generation to generation.”
Pulling out a fake sparkling diamond, I declared, “This is a precious diamond, worth about $800,000. It has been in the bank storage all my life, and I will return it there today.
I give Catherine the right to use this storage and keep this diamond safe.”
While Catherine thanked me with tears, I watched Arnold closely. Two hours later, he made his move. He stood up, excused himself to use the toilet, and moments later, the lights went out.
I knew it was Arnold. I knew he had his eyes on the diamond in my purse. I quickly hid behind the back entrance with a glass decanter in my hand, leaving my purse on the table.
As Arnold rushed through with the diamond, I struck him on the back of the head. He collapsed, dropping the diamond. “You were right,” Catherine’s brother, the police chief, said upon witnessing the scene.
He soon called his team at the wedding venue to arrest Arnold. Catherine approached with shock and gratitude on her face. “Amanda, it was you all along?” she whispered.
I confirmed, explaining my actions to protect her. She was too shaken by the events on what was supposed to be the biggest day of her life. But a week later, imagine my surprise when she showed up to meet me, thanked me, and offered me a job as her personal assistant.
“I’d be honored, Catherine,” I accepted, embracing a hopeful future.
