Chapter 4: The Money Was Never Hers
Victoria drove home without saying a word.
Her hands were tight around the steering wheel.
At every red light, she checked her phone.
I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
I had never seen her look so frightened.
When we reached home, she immediately called someone.
"Brandon! Get downstairs!""
He appeared holding a controller.
"What?""
"Give me your phone.""
"Why?""
"Because I asked you.""
He handed it over.
Victoria checked his messages, then returned it.
"Did you tell anyone about the bank statements?""
Brandon frowned.
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
"Mom, what happened?""
She walked into the kitchen.
"Your stepfather has frozen the account.""
Brandon's mouth fell open.
"What? Then how are we supposed to buy anything?""
Victoria shot him a look.
"Not now.""
I stood near the doorway.
She noticed me.
"Go to your room.""
I didn't move.
"Did Dad freeze the money?""
Victoria stepped toward me.
"You have caused enough trouble.""
"But it's his money.""
She slapped her palm against the counter.
"Everything I have done in this house has been for this family!""
Brandon looked at her.
"Mom, what about my new computer?""
"Be quiet!""
I had never heard her speak to him like that.
For years, Brandon had been protected from every consequence.
Now, for the first time, he was discovering that his mother could be angry with him too.
Victoria grabbed her handbag.
"I'm going out.""
"Where?"" Brandon asked.
"To fix this.""
She slammed the door.
I stood in the kitchen.
Brandon looked at me.
"This is your fault.""
I shook my head.
"No. It's hers.""
He threw his controller onto the sofa.
"You think you're so smart.""
I didn't respond.
He stepped closer.
"Mom says Dad is going to leave her because of you.""
I looked at him.
"Maybe Dad should know the truth.""
Brandon's expression changed.
Then he said something I would never forget.
"You don't understand. Mom said we were going to be rich.""
I frowned.
"What?""
He looked away.
"Nothing.""
"Brandon, what did you mean?""
He walked toward the stairs.
"Forget it.""
But I couldn't.
That evening, I went into the kitchen to look for something to eat.
The refrigerator was almost empty again.
I found a loaf of bread and made myself a sandwich.
As I sat at the table, I noticed a small black notebook inside Victoria's handbag.
It had fallen partly open.
I recognized the handwriting.
Victoria's.
I shouldn't have touched it.
But I remembered the bank statement.
And I remembered what Dr. Harris had said.
I opened the notebook.
The first few pages contained grocery lists and appointment reminders.
Then I saw a list of numbers.
Dates.
Amounts.
Account references.
I turned another page.
There were names.
One was mine.
*Emily Carter — Education Fund.*
Beside it was an amount:
*$42,000.*
My mouth went dry.
I remembered my father telling me years ago that he had started saving for my future.
He had said I would never have to worry about college.
I turned another page.
There were withdrawals from the education fund.
$5,000.
$8,500.
$12,000.
Every withdrawal was authorized under Victoria's name.
At the bottom, someone had written:
*Transfer remaining balance before Daniel returns.*
I heard footsteps.
I quickly closed the notebook.
Victoria walked into the kitchen.
She stopped when she saw the sandwich.
"Who said you could eat that?""
I looked at her.
"I'm hungry.""
She snatched the sandwich away.
"That's for Brandon.""
I stared at her.
"There's enough bread for everyone.""
She threw the sandwich into the trash.
"Don't tell me how to run my house.""
Then she noticed the notebook.
Her face changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"It fell out of your bag.""
She snatched it from the table.
"Did you read it?""
I didn't answer.
She opened it and checked the pages.
Then she looked at me.
"What did you see?""
I swallowed.
"My education fund.""
She went completely still.
I took a step backward.
"You took my college money?""
Victoria closed the notebook.
"That money was part of the household finances.""
"It was mine.""
"It was money your father gave me to manage.""
"Why did you take it?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"Because your father doesn't understand what it costs to maintain a family.""
"Then why did you buy jewelry?""
She raised her hand.
I flinched.
This time, she grabbed my shoulder instead.
"Listen to me carefully. You are going to stop digging into things you don't understand.""
I tried to pull away.
She tightened her grip.
"Do you want your father to lose everything?""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Do you want him to lose his job? His house? His reputation?""
I shook my head.
"Then stop.""
She released me.
I stood there rubbing my shoulder.
Victoria walked toward the stairs.
Before she left, she turned around.
"And Emily?""
I looked up.
"Tomorrow, you're going to apologize to Brandon for accusing me of stealing.""
I said nothing.
She smiled.
"Otherwise, you won't like what happens next.""
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Around eleven, I heard voices downstairs.
Victoria was talking on the phone.
I got out of bed and quietly approached the staircase.
"Yes, I know the account is frozen," she whispered.
A man's voice answered, but I couldn't hear the words.
Victoria paced across the living room.
"No, Daniel doesn't know about the second account.""
I stopped breathing.
Second account?
She lowered her voice.
"I told you the money would be transferred before he returned.""
The man said something.
Victoria sighed.
"Then we need another way. I cannot lose everything because of that child.""
My fingers tightened around the railing.
Then she said something that made my heart race.
"The papers are ready. Once he signs them, I can move the rest.""
"What papers?"" I whispered.
Victoria turned her head.
I ducked behind the wall.
She continued speaking.
"Daniel trusts me. He'll sign whatever I put in front of him.""
A few seconds later, the call ended.
I crept back upstairs.
I needed to tell Dad.
But I didn't know how.
Victoria had my phone.
My old tablet was broken.
And the house phone had been disconnected months earlier.
Then I remembered something.
My mother had given me a small emergency phone before she died.
It was an old prepaid phone she kept in her desk drawer.
Dad had never thrown it away.
I had hidden it inside a shoebox under my bed.
I searched until I found it.
The battery was nearly dead.
I plugged it into the charger and waited.
Five minutes later, the screen lit up.
There was one saved number.
Dad.
I pressed call.
It rang twice.
"Emily?""
I nearly cried.
"Dad.""
"Sweetheart? What's wrong?""
"Please don't tell Victoria I called.""
His voice changed.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Are you safe?""
I looked toward my bedroom door.
"I think she's stealing my college money too.""
There was a long silence.
Then Dad asked:
"Did you find something?""
I told him about the notebook, the second account, and the papers she wanted him to sign.
My father didn't interrupt once.
When I finished, he took a slow breath.
"Emily, listen to me. I'm coming home.""
"Really?""
"Yes. But I need you to do something for me.""
"What?""
"Don't confront Victoria again. Don't touch any more documents. And whatever happens tomorrow, don't sign anything.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would I have to sign anything?""
Dad went quiet.
Then he said:
"Because I just received an email from Victoria.""
"What did it say?""
"She claims you're emotionally unstable and that you need to be placed in a residential facility.""
My eyes filled.
"Dad, I'm not crazy.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
His voice cracked.
"I know.""
Then he said something else.
"Emily, there's something about your mother's estate that I never told Victoria.""
I sat up.
"What?""
Before he could answer, my bedroom door handle began to turn.
Dad whispered:
"Don't hang up.""
The door opened.
Victoria stood there.
May you like
Her eyes were fixed on the phone in my hand.
"Who are you talking to, Emily?""
