Chapter 3: The Call My Father Wasn't Supposed to Hear
"Sending me away?""
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Victoria turned toward me.
Her expression was perfectly calm.
"Go downstairs.""
"But—"
"Now.""
I stood up.
My father's voice came through the phone.
"Victoria, what are you talking about?""
She walked toward the window.
"Daniel, your daughter has become increasingly difficult. She's disrespectful, dishonest, and emotionally unstable.""
I stared at her.
She was describing me like I was a stranger.
"That's not true!"" I shouted.
Victoria covered the phone.
"One more word, Emily.""
Then she returned to the call.
"I'm trying my best, Daniel. But I can't continue living like this.""
My father sounded confused.
"What's happened?""
"She accused me of stealing your money.""
There was a pause.
"Stealing?""
Victoria sighed dramatically.
"She found some financial papers and started making ridiculous accusations.""
I stepped forward.
"Because you spent the money!""
Victoria turned away from the phone and whispered:
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Then she raised her voice again.
"See? This is what I deal with every day.""
I couldn't take it anymore.
I grabbed the edge of the desk.
"Dad, please listen to me!""
My father became quiet.
"Emily?""
Victoria closed her eyes.
"Daniel, she's upset.""
"Dad, she doesn't give me dinner!""
Silence.
My heart pounded.
"She made me eat dog food. She locks me in the bathroom. She takes the money you send and buys things for herself and Brandon!""
Victoria's face went white.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then my father said:
"Emily, sweetheart, are you telling me the truth?""
I nodded even though he couldn't see me.
"Yes.""
Victoria immediately interrupted.
"Daniel, you cannot seriously believe—"
"Victoria, stop talking.""
I had never heard my father use that voice.
He sounded angry.
Really angry.
"Emily, tell me exactly what happened.""
I took a breath.
"I found your bank statements. There were thousands of dollars spent on clothes and hotels. And she burned the papers when I found them.""
Victoria grabbed the phone.
"That's enough!""
But my father had already heard.
"Victoria, put the phone down.""
She didn't.
"Daniel, you're being manipulated by a child.""
"Put the phone down.""
Her fingers tightened around it.
Then the call disconnected.
Victoria stared at the screen.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she threw my phone onto the bed.
"You stupid little girl.""
I backed away.
"You just destroyed this family.""
I shook my head.
"No. You did.""
Her hand rose.
I flinched.
But she didn't hit me.
Instead, she pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
I walked into the hallway.
She followed me.
"You're going to regret this.""
I went downstairs and sat on the sofa.
Ten minutes later, Brandon appeared.
He was wearing pajamas and holding a bag of chips.
"Mom said Dad might come home early.""
I looked at him.
"Good.""
He laughed.
"You think he'll believe you?""
"He heard me.""
Brandon sat beside me.
"Mom has a plan.""
"What plan?""
He shrugged.
"You're going to a boarding school.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She already called someone.""
My stomach dropped.
"Who?""
He smiled.
"Some place for troubled kids.""
"I'm not troubled.""
"That's what they all say.""
He threw a chip into his mouth.
"Mom said she'll tell Dad you need professional help. And if you refuse, she'll show him all the times you acted crazy.""
I felt sick.
"What times?""
Brandon shrugged again.
"She has videos.""
I looked at him.
"What videos?""
He pulled out his phone.
Then he showed me a clip.
It was a video of me crying in the bathroom.
The bowl was on the floor.
My face was red.
My hands were shaking.
But the video started after Victoria had already forced me to sit there.
All it showed was me crying and refusing to eat.
The recording ended with Victoria's voice saying:
"See? This is what happens when she doesn't get her way.""
I stared at the screen.
"Why would you do that?""
Brandon laughed.
"Because Mom told me to.""
He stood up.
"You're not the only one who knows how to play games, Emily.""
He went upstairs.
I sat in the dark.
For the first time, I understood how dangerous Victoria really was.
She wasn't just cruel.
She was preparing evidence to make everyone believe I was the problem.
I needed proof.
Something she couldn't explain away.
The next morning, Victoria woke me at six.
"Get dressed.""
I sat up.
"Why?""
"We're going somewhere.""
"Where?""
She threw a pair of jeans onto my bed.
"Don't ask questions.""
I dressed quietly.
In the kitchen, Brandon was eating cereal.
He looked at me and smiled.
"Good luck.""
Victoria drove for nearly forty minutes before pulling into a private office building.
The sign outside read:
*RIVERSIDE CHILD AND FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER.*
My stomach tightened.
Inside, a woman with glasses greeted Victoria.
"Mrs. Carter?""
"Yes. Thank you for seeing us.""
The woman looked at me.
"Hello, Emily. I'm Dr. Harris.""
I nodded.
Victoria placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She's been having a difficult time since her father's recent absence.""
Dr. Harris gestured toward two chairs.
"Why don't we sit down?""
Victoria immediately began talking.
She described my mother's death, my supposed behavioral problems, my anger, and my refusal to follow household rules.
She even claimed I had stolen money.
I sat quietly.
Then Dr. Harris turned toward me.
"Emily, would you like to tell me how things have been at home?""
I looked at Victoria.
She smiled.
"Go ahead, sweetheart. You can tell her anything.""
I swallowed.
"Can I talk to Dr. Harris alone?""
Victoria's smile froze.
"Why?""
"I just want to.""
Dr. Harris nodded.
"That's perfectly reasonable.""
Victoria leaned back.
"Fine. I'll wait outside.""
The door closed.
Dr. Harris pulled her chair closer.
"Emily, I want you to know that you can speak honestly here.""
I stared at my hands.
Then I told her about the bathroom.
The dog food.
The missing meals.
The money.
The threats.
I expected her to look shocked.
Instead, she listened carefully and wrote everything down.
When I finished, she asked:
"Has your father seen any of this?""
I shook my head.
"Not until yesterday.""
"And did he believe you?""
"I don't know.""
Dr. Harris looked at me gently.
"Emily, what happened to you is not your fault.""
My eyes filled.
For the first time in months, an adult had said something I desperately needed to hear.
Then she asked one more question.
"Does Victoria know you have access to your father's phone account?""
I frowned.
"No.""
Dr. Harris looked at her notes.
"Because your father called this office early this morning.""
My heart jumped.
"He did?""
She nodded.
"He asked us to postpone any decisions about your placement until he could speak with us in person.""
I felt a little hope.
Then Dr. Harris continued.
"He also mentioned something unusual.""
"What?""
"Your father said he has been trying to contact his former attorney because he believes someone may have been accessing his financial accounts without authorization.""
My stomach dropped.
Before I could ask anything else, the door opened.
Victoria stood there.
"Are we finished?""
Dr. Harris closed her notebook.
"Not quite. I'd like to schedule another appointment.""
Victoria's smile became stiff.
"Of course.""
But as we walked outside, she grabbed my wrist.
Hard.
"You told her.""
I didn't answer.
She leaned toward me.
"You have no idea what you've started.""
When we reached the car, her phone rang.
She answered.
"Hello?""
Then her face changed.
"What do you mean, the account is frozen?""
I stopped walking.
Victoria turned away from me.
"Who authorized that?""
A pause.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Daniel?""
