My 18-year-old daughter, Serena, had fallen deeply in love with a 60-year-old man named Edison and was set on marrying him, despite my strong objections. She called it true love, but everything changed when I discovered a horrifying truth about him.
It was a quiet afternoon, and I was going through the mail when the doorbell rang. Serena had come home early from her part-time job, and as she stepped in, her lively energy and the sweet smell of vanilla filled the room. I always looked forward to these visits, but today felt off.
“Hey, Dad! You won’t believe what happened with Jessica at work,” Serena said excitedly, but then she paused, noticing my worried expression. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Come in,” I said, trying to sound casual. But as we talked, 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. Then she added, “He’s sixty.”
Sixty. The number echoed in my mind. My daughter, barely an adult, with a man almost three times her age? It was hard to believe. “Sixty, Serena? Don’t you see the problem here?”
“Age doesn’t matter, Dad,” she said firmly. “Edison understands me in ways no one else does. He loves me.”
“Serena, think about the future. He’s so much older—”
“It’s not about the age, Dad! He makes me feel loved and cared for,” she insisted. “Please, just meet him. You’ll see.”
Despite my concerns, I agreed to meet Edison, hoping to understand what Serena saw in him.
The following 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 a conversation that chilled me to the bone.
“Annie, relax. I’m her brother. It’s just a harmless game to clear some debts,” Edison’s voice said smoothly.
“You’re playing with that girl’s heart for money, Edison,” a woman’s voice replied, angry. “This is reckless.”
A shiver ran down my spine as I realized Edison was using my daughter as part of a bet. Furious, I stormed back inside to confront Serena.
“Serena, he’s lying to you. This is all a game to him!” I shouted, my heart pounding as I relayed what I had overheard.
“Dad, no! You’ve never liked him!” she retorted, tears filling her eyes. “You don’t understand. Edison really cares about me. You weren’t even there for me after Mom died. I needed you, not boarding schools and nannies.”
Her words were like a punch to the gut, but I knew we needed to deal with Edison first. As I tried to explain, Edison walked in. My anger boiled over, and before I knew it, I’d punched him.
“Stay away from my daughter!” I yelled.
But Serena was furious, defending Edison and pushing me away. I left that night, heartbroken but determined to protect her.
I called in a friend who was a private investigator. Within days, I had a full report on Edison’s grim past—failed businesses, a gambling addiction, and heaps of debt. With this information, I tracked down Duke, Edison’s former business partner, who confirmed everything.
With Duke’s help, I devised a plan to confront Edison where he felt most comfortable—his favorite casino. Disguised as “Parker,” a wealthy Texan, I took a seat at Edison’s poker table. After a tense game, I won with a royal flush. When Edison realized who I was, his face turned white.
“Leave my daughter alone, or things will get worse for you,” I warned him.
Reluctantly, Edison agreed to back off, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t over.
The next day, I was shocked to hear from Serena’s friend that she was planning an engagement party. Desperate, I showed up, determined to stop the wedding. I confronted Edison during the party, dragging him into a bathroom for a private talk.
“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 before things could get out of hand, a surprising ally emerged—Annie, Edison’s sister. She had overheard everything and was ready to expose him. Together, we set up a plan to reveal Edison’s deceit.
At the wedding, just as Edison was about to put the ring on Serena’s finger, a group of women stood up, sharing their stories of how Edison had conned them. The room erupted into chaos as his true nature was exposed. Serena, heartbroken, threw her ring aside and fled the church.
To seal Edison’s fate, the police arrived and arrested him for fraud and other charges. It was over.
Later, Serena came to me, broken and full of regret. “Dad, I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you,” she cried.
I hugged her tightly and handed her a plane ticket to Boston, where she had once dreamed of studying fashion design. “It’s time for a fresh start, Serena. Go follow your dreams.”
She smiled through her tears, grateful. “Thank you, Dad. I love you.”
Through this painful ordeal, I learned how crucial it is to be 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.