My 18-year-old daughter fell in love with a 60-year-old man and was marrying him against my wishes. She claimed she was madly in love with this guy. I was shocked when I discovered a chilling truth about him.
The late afternoon sun bathed the living room as I sifted through mundane mail, the doorbell’s chime announcing Serena’s early arrival from her part-time job. She breezed in, her vibrant presence filling the space with energy and the scent of vanilla. I eagerly waited for this time of the month when she’d visit me.
“Hey, Dad! You won’t believe what happened with my roommate, Jessica…” Serena paused, sensing my unease. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said.
“Everything’s great. Come on in, honey.”
“So,” I began, “you were saying…”
“But?”
“He’s sixty.”
The word ‘sixty’ hit me hard. My daughter, eighteen, with a man sixty — almost thrice her age?
Concern and disbelief clouded my judgment. “Sixty, Serena? That’s…
can’t you see the issue here?”
“Age doesn’t define love, Dad.
Edison understands me, believes in me.”
“But what about the future, Serena? He’s much older.”
“Love isn’t about numbers, Dad. It’s about feeling seen, loved, cared for, and Edison makes me feel that way,” Serena’s voice trembled with conviction.
“Please, can you at least meet him once? Trust me, you’ll love him.”
I was shocked beyond words. Was Serena not realizing what she was talking about?
Yet, I couldn’t refuse her. After all, what harm could a meeting do? I agreed to meet this Edison guy.
The next night at Edison’s, I needed a breather and went to the balcony. That’s when a snatch of conversation caught my ear. “Annie, come on now,” Edison’s voice, smooth and practiced, appeared.
“I’m your brother. You know me well. It’s just a bit of harmless fun.
A chance to win a little something extra.”
“This is reckless, Edison,” a woman’s voice, probably Annie’s, chided Edison. “You’re toying with that girl’s affections for some ‘harmless fun.’”
A cold dread twisted inside me. “What are you talking about?” Edison barked.
My heart sank. Edison was using my daughter just for a bet. I was furious.
I rushed back in and found Serena. “Serena, we’ve been fooled! It’s all a game to him!” I blurted out.
“Dad, what are you talking about?” Serena looked so confused and then shocked as I told her about the bet. “He’s lying to you, Serena! He’s just using you,” I said, my voice cracking.
Her words stung, but I knew we had to deal with Edison’s deception first. Then, I saw him entering the dining room. Edison.
I just couldn’t contain myself any longer. I lost it and punched him in the face, yelling, “Stay away from her daughter, you creep!”
But Serena was furious with me. “Stop it, Dad!
It’s my life, not yours!” she yelled, pushing me back. I knew no matter what I said at that moment, Serena would not take my side. She was blinded by the fake love Edison had shown her.
I eventually left, heartbroken but not beaten. I had to save my daughter. So, I called a buddy of mine who’s a private investigator.
A few days later, he gave me a report about Edison’s dark past of failures and gambling addiction. This was my shot to show Serena the truth about Edison and get her back. The report mentioned Duke R., Edison’s old business partner, who got left in the dust because of Edison’s mess-ups.
The report said Duke hung out at a place called Le Beans Café, a little diner outside of town. I grabbed the phone number listed for Duke and called him up. At Le Beans Café, under its dim lights, I met Duke.
Life had been tough on him, but he was ready to spill everything about Edison’s gambling issues. He wanted to help me keep my daughter safe from Edison. After meeting Duke that night, I went to Edison’s favorite casino, pretending to be “Parker,” a rich guy from Texas.
I looked the part and had my story ready. Sitting down at Edison’s table, I smiled. “Welcome, Parker.
Big game tonight. Feeling lucky?”
I played my cards right, literally, and ended up winning with a royal flush, beating Edison’s hand. He tried to keep calm, but I could tell he was rattled.
“Looks like beginner’s luck,” Edison snarled. “Or maybe some of us just know how to play,” I said, smiling slowly as I let him realize who I was. “Surprised to see me, Edison?”
He went white, finally getting what was happening.
“Billy? What’s this about?”
“It’s about Serena. Leave her alone, and we’re square,” I said firmly, not giving him a choice.
“Or,” I added, “you can settle the debt right now. In cash. And let’s just say, I have some… unconventional methods of collecting outstanding debts.”
“Fine, I’ll stay away from her,” he said reluctantly.
I left the casino feeling like I’d won but also worried. Edison gave in too easily, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end of it with Serena. The next morning, fury surged through me as Serena’s voicemail played yet again.
Why aren’t you answering my calls, honey? Desperation led me to call her friend, Sarah, who cheerfully informed me of Serena’s engagement party to Edison, a piece of news that left me reeling. “Engagement party?
With Edison?” I was shocked. “Yes! Didn’t Serena tell you?
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
