My 18-year-old daughter, Serena, was head over heels in love with a 60-year-old man named Edison and insisted on marrying him. No matter how much I objected, she wouldn’t change her mind. She called it true love, but I was shaken when I uncovered a shocking truth about him.
It was a calm afternoon, and I was sorting through the mail when the doorbell rang. Serena had come home early from her part-time job, her energy and the familiar scent of vanilla filling the room. I always looked forward to her visits, but today felt different.
“Hey, Dad! You won’t believe what happened with Jessica at work,” she started, then noticed my worried expression. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Come on in,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. But as we chatted, she dropped a bombshell that left me stunned.
“Dad, I’ve met someone. His name’s Edison, and we’re in love. We’re getting married,” she announced, her face lighting up. “He’s sixty.”
Sixty. The number echoed in my head. My daughter, barely an adult, with a man almost three times her age? I was struggling to take it in. “Sixty, Serena? Can’t you see the problem here?”
“Age doesn’t matter, Dad,” she replied firmly. “Edison gets me in ways no one else does. He loves me.”
“Serena, think about the future. He’s so much older—”
“It’s not about numbers, Dad! He makes me feel loved and cared for,” she insisted. “Please, just meet him. You’ll understand.”
Even though I was worried, I agreed to meet Edison, hoping to see what she saw in him.
The next evening, we went to Edison’s place. While Serena chatted with him, I stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air. That’s when I overheard something that chilled me to the bone.
“Annie, relax. I’m her brother. It’s just a game to clear some debts,” Edison’s smooth voice said.
“You’re playing with that girl’s heart for money, Edison,” the woman replied angrily. “This is reckless.”
My blood ran cold. Edison was using my daughter for a bet. Furious, I stormed back inside to confront Serena.
“Serena, he’s lying to you. This is just a game to him!” I blurted out, my heart racing.
“Dad, no! You’ve never liked him!” she snapped, tears in her eyes. “You don’t understand. Edison cares about me. You weren’t even there for me after Mom died. I needed you, not boarding schools and nannies.”
Her words hit me hard, but I knew I had to deal with Edison first. As I tried to explain, Edison walked in. My anger exploded, and before I knew it, I punched him.
“Stay away from my daughter!” I yelled.
Serena was furious, defending Edison and pushing me away. I left that night, heartbroken but determined to save her.
I enlisted a friend who was a private investigator. Within days, I had a full report on Edison’s dark past—failed businesses, a gambling addiction, and mountains of debt. With this information, I tracked down Duke, Edison’s former business partner, who confirmed everything.
With Duke’s help, I planned to confront Edison where he felt most at home—his favorite casino. Disguised as “Parker,” a wealthy man from Texas, I joined Edison at the poker table. After a tense game, I won with a royal flush. When Edison recognized me, his face went pale.
“Leave my daughter alone, or this will get worse for you,” I warned.
Edison reluctantly agreed to back off, but I had a nagging feeling it wasn’t over.
The next day, I was stunned to learn from Serena’s friend that she was planning an engagement party. Desperate, I showed up, determined to stop the wedding. I confronted Edison at the party, dragging him into a bathroom to confront him privately.
“You think you can just take my daughter’s life like this?” I said, pinning him against the wall.
“She loves me, and I know things that could ruin you,” Edison sneered, hinting at secrets from my past.
But just then, a surprising ally appeared—Annie, Edison’s sister. She had overheard everything and was ready to expose him. Together, we came up with a plan to reveal Edison’s lies.
At the wedding, just as Edison was about to put the ring on Serena’s finger, a group of women stood up, one by one, sharing their stories of how Edison had conned them. The room exploded into chaos as his true nature was exposed. Serena, devastated, threw her ring aside and ran out of the church.
To seal Edison’s fate, the police arrived and arrested him for fraud and other charges. It was finally over.
Later, Serena came to me, tearful and full of regret. “Dad, I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you,” she sobbed.
I hugged her tightly and handed her a plane ticket to Boston, where she had always dreamed of studying fashion design. “It’s time for a fresh start, Serena. Go chase your dreams.”
She smiled through her tears, grateful. “Thank you, Dad. I love you.”
Through this painful ordeal, I learned the importance of being there for your children, no matter how tough things get. If I had been more present, Serena might never have fallen for someone like Edison. But now, we had a second chance, and I was determined to never let her down again.
