Then Ryan Admitted Something Else

Josh looked at his brother.

“Did Mom tell you to open them?”

Ryan nodded.

“Yes.”

“Did you know Megan and I hadn’t agreed?”

Ryan looked embarrassed.

“I figured you wouldn’t care if it was money meant for me.”

Josh stared at him.

“And if it wasn’t?”

Ryan had no answer.

Megan did.

“Then apparently we were supposed to figure that out after you opened everything.”

Ryan looked down.

For the first time, he seemed genuinely ashamed.

Carol Eventually Returned to the Reception

But not before Josh made one thing clear.

No more touching the gift table.

No more opening cards.

No more “family accounting.”

Carol agreed reluctantly.

Megan wasn’t ready to forgive her.

But she also didn’t want the rest of the wedding to become a public spectacle.

So the reception continued.

Guests danced.

The cake was cut.

Most people never knew what happened in the hallway.

But several relatives noticed that Carol spent the rest of the evening sitting quietly.

And Ryan barely went near the gift table again.