Here’s the Truth About Your Bride,” Said the Father Coldly, Handing His Son a Flash Drive

Heres the truth about your fiancée, his father said flatly, holding out a flash drive.

Edward kept glancing at his watch. Hed booked a table at “The White Piano”the most expensive restaurant in Manchesterand Alice was already ten minutes late, which never failed to sour his mood. Punctuality was one of those things Edward valued in people, right up there with honesty and a decent cup of tea.

He sighed, flipping through the menu for the third time, though he already knew exactly what hed order. Exhaustion and the lingering tension from his earlier conversation with his father had left his thoughts jumbled. Just as he decided to call Alice, the restaurant door swung open.

“Darling! Forgive me!” She swept in like a whirlwind in a pale blue dress that clung to her slender frame, dropping a quick kiss on his lips. She smelled like spring flowers and something faintly familiarlike homeand just like that, his irritation vanished.

“You know how I hate waiting,” he said, tryingand failingto sound stern as his lips betrayed him with a smile. It was impossible to stay mad at her.

“But I,” Alice shot him a playful look, “love knowing a handsome man is waiting for me in a posh restaurant. You wouldnt believe the trafficsome little old lady crossed the road at the speed of a tortoise!”

Edward laughed. “Admit it, you spent half an hour on your makeup.”

“I did not!” she gasped in mock outrage. “Twenty-five minutes, tops!”

He couldnt take his eyes off her. Soft chestnut waves tumbled over her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkled, and those dimples made her smile irresistible.

Every time he looked at her, he still couldnt believe his luck. Two years since theyd met, eighteen months together, a year engaged and now

“To us?” He lifted his champagne flute.

“To us,” she smiled, but something flickered in her eyes that made his stomach twist.

They ordered, chatting easily about their day. Alice, as always, was animatedtalking about her work at the clinic, a funny incident with a young patient, how the head doctor kept calling her his “golden nurse.”

“Hows work for you?” she asked, spearing a bite of salmon. “Still drowning in that project with your dad?”

“Same as ever. Deadlines are breathing down my neck.”

Alice nodded, then, as if it were nothing, said: “Speaking of deadlines when exactly are we setting a wedding date?”

Edward stiffened. Here we go again.

“Alice, weve talked about this. Once the projects finished”

“Yes, yes, I know,” she waved a hand impatiently. “But its been six months! Edward, I dont want to wait anymore. Weve been engaged a year. Whats the holdup?”

“Im not stalling. Its just not the right time.”

“And when will it be? When Im fifty? I want to be your wife, Edward. Not your girlfriend, not your fiancéeyour wife!”

“Ive got mountains of work”

“Oh, please! As if youll have to do more than show up on the day!”

“Its not about that,” Edward snapped, frustration rising. “I want everything perfect.”

“So do I!” she exclaimed. “And you know whats perfect? A beach wedding! Weve talked about it. Ive even looked at brochuresMaldives, Bali, Seychellestake your pick! They handle everything, we just show up.”

“Not this again! Do you need the glitz that badly? Or just the bragging rights?”

Alice shoved her plate away. “Oh, I see! You think Im with you for money? That I just want some lavish wedding?”

“Arent you?” The words slipped out before he could stop them. “All you talk about is weddings, trips, places you want to go. Never that you just want to be with me.”

“Youre impossible!” Her eyes welled up. “I just want to marry you! And you keep making excuses! If you dont want this, just say so!”

“Im not making excuses!” His voice rose, drawing glances from nearby diners. “Why do you keep pushing me?”

“Because I love you, you idiot! But you dont get itor maybe you just dont care!”

Edward threw down a few crisp £50 notes. “You know what? Im not doing this here. Call me when youve calmed down.” He stalked out, ignoring the waiters bewildered stare and Alices muffled sobs.

***

Edward sped through the city, well over the limit. His top-of-the-line Jaguar took the corners smoothly. He cranked up the music, trying to drown out his thoughtsuseless.

Why had things gotten so hard with Alice? When theyd first met, it had been different. He remembered that day clearly.

Hed gone to his fathers clinic for paperwork. Sir Richard Harringtonone of the countrys top cardiologists and owner of a chain of private medical centresnever mixed family with business.

“Business stays in the family,” he always said.

Edward, the only son and heir, had grown up under not just his parents care but the weight of expectations. School, university, workeveryone treated him differently. By twenty-five, hed had his fill of women who saw only his wallet. Models, businesswomen, socialitesall the same masks, the same calculating eyes.

Then he met Alice.

That day, shed been at reception, filling out forms. A simple nurses uniform, hair in a neat ponytail, nothing flashy. When she looked up and smiled, something inside him shifted. No pretensejust warmth and light.

He found excuses to talk to her, then coffee, then dinner

Alice wasnt like anyone hed known. Grew up ordinary, worked since sixteen, paid her own way. He loved that about herher realness, her humour, the way she never tried to be anything she wasnt.

His mother, Margaret, adored her.

“Shes genuine, darling. Hold onto her,” shed said after their first meeting. From then on, Alice was “my girl,” even when theyd just started dating.

His father, though Sir Richard never spoke against her. Valued her as an employee, praised her work. But whenever Edward mentioned serious plans, something shifted in his fathers gaze.

“Shes a lovely girl, Edward but not for you.” That phrase had stuck, planting doubt.

Maybe his father saw what he couldnt? Maybe Alice was like the othersjust better at hiding it.

Thoughts like that flared up after fights like tonight. Her pushing for the wedding, the dream ceremonyit reminded him of his exes. All theyd wanted was the big day, the jewellery, the status.

“Damn it!” he growled as the car screeched to a halt at a red light.

He loved Alice, no question. But tonight, shed cut deep. For the first time, hed seriously considered ending things. No matter how much he wanted her, he wouldnt be usednot even by her.

***

He got home near midnight. Not bothering with lights, he kicked off his shoes and trudged into the living roomonly to find his father there, whisky in hand, staring at the muted telly.

“Youre up?” Edward slumped into the opposite chair.

Sir Richard studied him. “Waiting for you. Your mother called Alice, wanted you both for Sunday dinner. Alice was in tears. What happened?”

“Nothing. Just a row.”

“About?”

“Dad, not now.” Edward rubbed his temples. “Im knackered.”

His father didnt reply, just poured another glass and pushed it across.

Edward took it gratefully. The burn steadied him.

“You know,” his father said suddenly, “when I met your mother, my parents were against it.”

“Really? Never knew that.”

“People dont like admitting mistakes.” His father smirked. “They thought she was too plain for a Harrington. That a nurse from Yorkshire wasnt right for a rising star from good stock.”

“Whatd you do?”

“Ignored them. Best decision I ever made.”

Silence. Edward knew this wasnt casual reminiscing.

“You fought about the wedding?” his father asked bluntly.

Edward sighed. “She keeps pushing. Whens the date, why am I stalling? And her island obsessionlike she just wants the show!”

“Are you sure thats it?”

“No.” Edward leaned back. “But sometimes I dont know. You always get weird when I talk about marrying her. Like youre hiding something.”

His father held his gaze a long moment, then stood abruptly. “Wait here.”

Edward sipped his drink, puzzled. His father was usually unflappablenow he seemed unsettled?

***

Minutes later, Sir Richard returned and handed him a small black flash drive.

“Heres the truth about your fiancée.”

Edward stared at it. “