My Cousin Ruined Every Relationship at Family Weddings—So I Brought a New Date She Couldn’t Charm… Her Own Probation Officer – Part 2

And I thought, “What if I brought someone she couldn’t touch? What if I brought her probation officer?” The idea was insane, completely insane. But once it got into my head, I couldn’t let it go. I spent two days trying to talk myself out of it. It was petty. It was ridiculous. It was potentially illegal. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it.

I needed to meet her probation officer first. I found his name through more internet digging. Officer Marcus Brennan. He worked for the county probation department. I found a photo of him from a community outreach event. He was probably in his mid-30s. Dark hair, serious expression, the kind of face that meant business.

Now I just needed to actually meet him. I’m not proud of what I did next. I called the probation office pretending to be someone interested in volunteer opportunities. I found out when Officer Brennan would be at the county building for public office hours. I showed up. The county building smelled like old paper and desperation.

I waited in the lobby for 40 minutes before I saw him. He was walking down the hallway with a stack of folders looking tired. Officer Brennan, I called out. He turned. Yes. I walked up to him, my heart pounding. Hi, my name is Megan. I know this is going to sound strange, but I need to talk to you about one of your probationers, Amber Westbrook.

His expression immediately became guarded. I can’t discuss active cases with. She’s my cousin, I interrupted. And I’m not asking you to tell me about her case. I’m asking you to do something that might sound completely insane. He stared at me. I’m listening. I took a breath. There’s a family wedding in 3 months.

Amber will be there, and I need you to come with me as my date. The silence that followed was excruciating. I’m sorry, what? I know how this sounds, I said quickly. But hear me out. Amber has been sabotaging my relationships for years. Every time I bring a boyfriend to a family wedding, she goes after him. She’s done it three times.

Three different guys. Everyone thinks I’m making it up or picking bad boyfriends, but it’s her. She does it deliberately. Officer Brennan’s expression didn’t change. And you think bringing her probation officer to a wedding as your date will somehow what? Stop her? I think it’ll make her uncomfortable enough that she won’t try anything.

And honestly, after what she’s put me through, I think she deserves to be uncomfortable. He shifted the folders in his arms. Megan, Megan, what you’re describing is using my professional position to intimidate someone. That’s not appropriate. She’s not a good person, I said. And I’m not asking you to threaten her or even mention her probation.

I’m just asking you to attend a wedding as my guest. If she happens to be uncomfortable because you’re there, that’s on her. Why would I agree to this? It was a fair question. I’d thought about this part because I’ll make a donation to the probation department’s youth outreach program. $500. His eyebrows raised slightly. You’re trying to bribe me.

I’m offering to support a good cause in exchange for a few hours of your time. You don’t have to do anything inappropriate. Just show up, have some cake, maybe dance with me once or twice. That’s it. He studied me for a long moment. This is the most unusual request I’ve ever received. Is that a no? I didn’t say that.

My heart jumped. “So, you’ll think about it?” “I’ll think about it,” he said carefully, but I’m not making any promises. He gave me his email address, told me to send him the details about the wedding, said he’d let me know in a week. I left the county building feeling like I’d just done something either brilliant or catastrophically stupid.

5 days later, I got an email against my better judgment. I’ll attend the wedding with you. Ground rules, we maintain appropriate boundaries. I won’t discuss Miss Westbrook’s probation case, and if she asks why I’m there, we tell the truth that you invited me as your date. I won’t lie or mislead anyone about my presence.

If you agree to these terms, send me the wedding details. I read the email three times. Then I transferred $500 to the youth outreach program and sent Officer Brennan the wedding information. This was really happening. The next two and a half months were surreal. I exchanged a few more emails with Officer Brennan. Marcus, he told me to call him when we weren’t in official settings. He asked about dress code.

I sent him the invitation details. We agreed to meet for coffee a week before the wedding to make sure we could at least have a conversation without it being completely awkward. Meanwhile, I RSVPd to Rachel’s wedding with a plus one. My mother called me immediately. You’re bringing someone, she asked, surprised.

Who? A friend? I said vaguely. His name is Marcus. A friend or a boyfriend? We’ll see. I could hear the smile in her voice. I’m glad you’re not letting what happened with David stop you from putting yourself out there. I felt a pang of guilt, but then I thought about Amber, and the guilt faded. I didn’t tell anyone else in the family.

Not my dad, not my sister Emma, not even Kayla. I was afraid if I said it out loud, I’d chickenen out. The coffee meeting with Marcus was less awkward than I expected. He showed up in jeans and a button-down shirt, looking less intimidating than he had in the county building. We talked about normal things. I told him about my job as a graphic designer.

He told me about becoming a probation officer after his brother got arrested as a teenager. Changed his life, Marcus said, stirring sugar into his coffee. The officer who supervised his probation actually cared about him. Helped him get into a trade school. My brother’s a welder now, doing really well. That’s why I do this job.

I felt another pang of guilt. Here was this genuinely good person, and I was using him for revenge against my cousin. You’re having second thoughts, Marcus observed. How can you tell? You’ve been staring at your coffee for 3 minutes without drinking it. I looked up at him. Is what I’m doing terrible? He considered this.

Do you want my honest answer? Yes. I think your cousin probably deserves to feel uncomfortable at this wedding, but I also think you need to be prepared for this not to go the way you’re imagining. Revenge rarely feels as good as we think it will. You sound like my therapist. I spend a lot of time around therapists. He smiled slightly, but I already agreed to go with you, so we might as well see it through. Just promise me one thing.

What? If things get out of hand, we leave. I’m not interested in being part of a huge family drama. Deal. We shook hands. His grip was firm and warm. The week before the wedding, I went dress shopping with my sister Emma. She’s 3 years younger than me, still in college, and completely oblivious to the whole Amber situation because she’d been studying abroad when most of it happened.

“So, who’s this Marcus guy?” she asked as I tried on a deep blue dress. “Just someone I’ve been seeing.” “Mom says, “He’s [clears throat] a friend. We’re figuring it out.” Emma grinned. “Is he hot?” I thought about Marcus’ serious eyes and the way he’d smiled over coffee. “He’s interesting. That’s not an answer.” “Fine. Yes, he’s attractive.

” And Amber’s going to be at this wedding. I went still. So, so I might not have been around for the David thing or the Chris thing, but I was around when Tyler happened. I remember how Amber looked at you afterward, like she’d won something. Emma’s voice went quiet. I’ve always thought she did it on purpose, you know.

I just could never prove it. I turned to look at my sister. You believe me? Of course, I believe you. Amber’s always been weird about you. Competitive in this gross way, like she needs to prove she’s better than you at everything, including stealing your boyfriends. I felt tears prick my eyes. Why didn’t you ever say anything? Because I was 17 and nobody listens to 17-year-olds.

And by the time I could have said something, you’d stopped bringing guys around. Emma squeezed my shoulder. But if this Marcus guy is important to you, maybe you should warn him about Amber. I already did, I said, which wasn’t technically a lie. I bought the blue dress. It was more expensive than I could afford, but I wanted to look good.

Wanted Amber to see me walk in with someone and feel something. Jealous maybe, or worried. The night before the wedding, I couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining different scenarios. Amber pulling Marcus aside and asking what he was doing there. Amber trying to kiss him and Marcus revealing who he was in front of everyone. my whole family finding out what I’d done.

At 2:00 in the morning, I almost texted Marcus to call the whole thing off, but I didn’t. The wedding was at a hotel in the city, one of those fancy places with crystal chandeliers and marble floors. I met Marcus in the lobby. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit that fit him perfectly. And when he saw me in my blue dress, something shifted in his expression. You look nice, he said.

You too. We stood there awkwardly for a moment. “Ready?” he asked. “No, but let’s do it anyway.” The ceremony was in a ballroom on the second floor. We walked in together, and I immediately felt eyes on us. My mother spotted me first, her face lighting up when she saw I had someone with me. She waved. Then I saw Amber.

She was sitting three rows ahead with her current boyfriend, some guy I’d never met. She was wearing a pink dress that probably cost more than my rent. Her blonde hair perfectly curled. She turned when she heard the murmur of people noticing us, and her eyes landed on Marcus. For just a second, her perfect composure cracked. Her eyes went wide, her mouth opened slightly.

Then she recovered, smiled brightly, and turned back to face the front. My heart was racing. Marcus leaned down and whispered, “She saw me. I noticed. We took our seats near the back. The ceremony started. Rachel looked beautiful in her wedding dress, crying as she read her vows. Her fianceé looked at her like she hung the moon. It was sweet and genuine and everything a wedding should be.

I tried to focus on that instead of on Amber’s back three rows ahead. After the ceremony, we moved to the reception hall. Cocktail hour. People mingling. My [clears throat] mother descended on us immediately. Megan and this must be Marcus. She hugged me then extended her hand to Marcus. I’m Linda. Megan’s mother. It’s so wonderful to meet you. You two Mrs.

Westbrook. Oh, please call me Linda. How did you two meet? I’d prepared for this question. through work, I said smoothly. Marcus was consulting on a project. Marcus nodded. Also, not technically a lie. Everything we were saying was true from a certain angle. My mother beamed. Well, I’m so glad Megan finally brought someone to one of these things.

After everything with David, she caught herself, but that’s all in the past now. More family members came over. My dad, who shook Marcus’ hand and asked what he did for a living. Marcus said he worked for the county, which was true. My aunt Patricia, who looked Marcus up and down approvingly.

My cousin Jenna, whose wedding had been the Tyler disaster, who pulled me aside. He seems nice, she whispered. Way better than Tyler. Thanks. Just be careful, okay, with Amber here. So, I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the pattern. That was something. We made it through cocktail hour without incident. Marcus was surprisingly good at small talk, charming without being overbearing.

He asked my relatives questions about themselves, laughed at my uncle’s terrible jokes, complimented my grandmother’s brooch. You’re good at this, I murmured as we walked toward our reception table. At what? Pretending to be my date? He gave me an odd look. Who says I’m pretending? Before I could process that, Amber appeared.

She materialized next to us like a shark, sensing blood in the water, her boyfriend trailing behind her. Up close, I could see the tension in her smile. Megan, she said brightly. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone. It’s recent, I said. Amber’s eyes moved to Marcus. I’m Amber. Megan’s cousin. Marcus, he said. He didn’t offer his hand.

What do you do, Marcus? I work for the county. Doing what? There was an edge to her voice. She knew something was off. She just couldn’t figure out what. Social services, Marcus said smoothly. Helping people get their lives back on track. Amber’s smile tightened. That’s nice. Her boyfriend, a tall guy with an expensive watch, cleared his throat.

I’m Brandon. We all exchanged awkward pleasantries. The whole time, Amber kept staring at Marcus like she was trying to place him. I could see the wheels turning in her head. Then the wedding coordinator called everyone to their tables. Amber and Brandon walked away, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

She definitely recognizes me, Marcus said quietly. But she can’t say anything without explaining why she knows you. This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Megan. I know. Our table was in the middle of the room. We ended up sitting with some of Rachel’s college friends and a couple of distant cousins I barely knew.

The dinner was salmon or chicken, and the speeches were touching. Rachel’s mate of honor cried through her entire toast. I kept glancing at Amber’s table. She was barely touching her food, and she kept whispering to Brandon, who looked confused. After dinner, the dancing started. Marcus surprised me by actually being a decent dancer.

We swayed to some slow song I didn’t recognize, and for a moment, I forgot why we were really there. Forgot about Amber and revenge and probation officers. Thank you for doing this, I said. You already thanked me multiple times. I know, but Megan, he looked down at me. I’m here because I wanted to come.

The donation was nice, but honestly, I would have come anyway. Why? He was quiet for a moment. Because what your cousin did to you is cruel and because you seemed like you needed someone in your corner for once. I felt something warm bloom in my chest, something dangerous. Then I saw Amber walking toward us. Incoming, I murmured. Marcus didn’t turn around. Let her come.

Amber tapped my shoulder. Mind if I cut in? It wasn’t really a question. Before I could answer, she’d positioned herself between me and Marcus. You don’t mind, right, Megan? Amber’s smile was sharp. I just want to get to know your new boyfriend a little better. Marcus looked at me.

I nodded slightly, then stepped back. I watched them dance, watched Amber lean in close, say something I couldn’t hear. watched Marcus’ expression remain neutral. My sister Emma appeared beside me. What’s she doing? Being Amber. Want me to go interrupt? Not yet. After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only 2 minutes, Marcus excused himself and walked back to me.

Amber stood in the middle of the dance floor looking frustrated. What did she say? I asked. She asked if we’d met before. I told her I had one of those faces. She asked where I worked exactly. I told her the county building on Fifth Street. He paused. Then she asked if I wanted to get some air later. My stomach dropped. She propositioned you subtly.

But yes, what did you say? I told her I was exactly where I wanted to be. Emma snorted. I like this guy. The rest of the reception passed in a blur. Amber kept watching us from across the room. Her boyfriend Brandon looked increasingly annoyed at being ignored. My mother kept giving me thumbs up from her table, clearly delighted.

I’d finally brought someone to a wedding. Around 10:00, I went to the bathroom. When I came out, Amber was waiting in the hallway. We need to talk, she said. My heart started pounding. About what? About Marcus. I know who he is, Megan. He’s my date. He’s my probation officer. There it was out in the open.

I could have denied it. could have pretended I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I was tired of pretending. Yes, I said simply. He is. Amber’s face went white, then red. Are you insane? Do you know what you’ve done? Bringing him here? You mean bringing my date to a family wedding? I don’t see the problem.

He could violate my probation for this. For what? You haven’t done anything wrong. You’ve been on your best behavior all night. I stepped closer to her. Unless you’re planning to do something wrong, like maybe trying to kiss my date. Amber’s mouth opened and closed. You This is enttrapment. It’s not enttrapment.

It’s just me bringing someone to a wedding. Someone who happens to know about your criminal record. I let that sink in. The record you’ve been hiding from everyone. You can’t tell them. I don’t need to tell them. You’re terrified they’ll find out on their own. I smiled. It felt cruel and good at the same time. How does it feel, Amber? Being the one who’s uncomfortable for once.

I could tell everyone what you did. That you brought my probation officer here to humiliate me. Go ahead. Explain to our entire family why you have a probation officer. Explain the credit card fraud. Explain why you’ve been lying to everyone for 6 months. She stared at me. And for the first time in my life, I saw real fear in Amber’s eyes.

Why are you doing this? She whispered. because of Tyler and Chris and David and every other time you decided to destroy something I cared about just because you could. My voice was shaking now. You made me think I was crazy. You made me doubt myself. You took three relationships from me and smiled while you did it. They wanted to kiss me. No, they didn’t.

I’ve had years to think about this, Amber. To replay every single incident. And you know what I realized? You waited until they were drunk. You isolated them. You manipulated them. And then you blamed them afterward. Tears were running down her face now, streaking her makeup. I didn’t mean Yes, you did. You meant every bit of it.

We stood there in the hallway. years of resentment and hurt between us. “Are you going to tell everyone?” Amber asked finally. “About my record? I thought about it. Really thought about it.” “No,” I said. “That’s not why I brought Marcus here. I brought him so you’d feel what I felt. So you’d spend one night knowing someone could ruin your reputation with one sentence.

So you’d be too afraid to try your usual routine. So this was just revenge. This was justice.” I walked past her back toward the reception. Behind me, I heard her crying quietly. Marcus was waiting for me by our table. Everything okay? Yeah, I think it finally is. The rest of the night was actually fun.

I danced with Marcus, with my sister, with my dad. I drank champagne and ate wedding cake and laughed at my uncle’s terrible dance moves. And every time I looked at Amber, she was sitting at her table, not talking to anyone, looking small. Around midnight, Marcus and I left. We walked out to the parking lot together and I realized the night was ending.

Thank you, I said. Really? For everything? You keep thanking me because I mean it. He smiled. Want to know a secret? What? I had fun tonight, even with all the weirdness with your cousin. I had fun. Me, too. So, he hesitated. Would you want to do this again sometime without the ulterior motives and revenge plots? Just dinner or something? I stared at him.

Are you asking me on a date? I believe I already went on a date with you tonight. I’m asking for a second one. Isn’t that ethically complicated since I’m connected to one of your probationers? Amber Westbrook’s probation ends in 4 months. I can wait 4 months. My heart did something complicated in my chest. You want to wait 4 months to take me to dinner? I want to do this right.