Chapter 2: The Video Nobody Expected to See
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The television continued displaying the frozen image of Maya standing in front of Malik.
Then Claire spoke.
"That's not what it looks like.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She pointed at the screen.
"The recording is incomplete. You don't know what happened before that.""
Nia folded her arms.
"Mom, the recording started before Maya came downstairs.""
Claire's eyes narrowed.
"Don't call me that right now.""
Nia looked stunned.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
I stepped between them.
"Claire, stop. We need to watch the entire recording.""
Malik was standing near the staircase.
His hands were still shaking.
He hadn't looked away from the screen once.
"Dad," he said quietly, "please play it.""
I nodded.
Nia pressed the screen.
The footage resumed.
Maya moved closer to Malik.
He took another step backward.
"Give me your phone," Maya said.
"No.""
"Malik, I'm serious.""
"So am I.""
"You're being selfish.""
"Why do you need my phone?""
Maya glanced toward the stairs.
"Because I know you recorded it.""
Malik frowned.
"Recorded what?""
"Don't play dumb.""
"I'm not playing anything.""
"Just give it to me.""
Malik shook his head.
"You're not going through my phone.""
Maya's voice became sharper.
"You owe me.""
"For what?""
"For everything.""
He laughed without humor.
"Are you kidding me?""
Maya pointed a finger at him.
"You live here for free. You get everything handed to you. Dad buys you whatever you want.""
Malik stared at her.
"You're serious right now?""
"Yes.""
"That doesn't mean you can take my phone.""
Then Maya moved closer.
Malik backed away until his legs touched the sofa.
"Stay back," he said.
She stopped.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Maya said something that made my stomach tighten.
"If you don't help me, I'll make sure you regret it.""
Malik shook his head.
"Whatever you're trying to do, leave me out of it.""
Maya's expression changed.
The tears from earlier were nowhere to be seen.
"Fine.""
She took one step backward.
Then another.
And suddenly, her voice changed.
She screamed.
"GET OFF ME!""
Malik jumped.
"What?""
Maya ran toward the staircase.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!""
The footage ended with Malik standing alone in the living room, looking completely confused.
I paused the video.
Silence filled the house.
Claire slowly lowered herself onto the sofa.
Malik stared at the floor.
Nia was crying.
I felt sick.
Not because I had discovered a misunderstanding.
Because I had watched my stepdaughter deliberately create a situation that could have destroyed my son's life.
I looked at Claire.
"Do you still believe he touched her?""
She didn't answer.
"Claire?""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"She wouldn't do something like that.""
I felt something inside me harden.
"You just watched her do it.""
"Maybe there's another explanation.""
"Another explanation for what? Her threatening him?""
Claire stood.
"She's eighteen, Marcus. She's young. She might have said something she didn't mean.""
Malik looked up.
"She accused me of something that could put me in prison!""
Claire flinched.
"Don't exaggerate.""
"Exaggerate?""
His voice broke.
"You told Dad to throw me out. You called me disgusting. You said you always knew something was wrong with me!""
Claire looked away.
"I was protecting my daughter.""
"From what?"" Nia asked.
"From him!""
Nia shook her head.
"Mom, the video shows him backing away from her.""
Claire's eyes flashed.
"Stay out of this.""
"No.""
Nia wiped her cheeks.
"I'm done staying out of it.""
I looked at my daughter.
"Nia, is there something else?""
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"Yes.""
She unlocked her phone and opened another video.
"This one is from three days ago.""
Claire immediately stood.
"Why do you have another recording?""
"Because I installed the camera for a reason.""
She pressed play.
The footage showed our living room on Thursday evening.
Claire was sitting on the sofa, talking on her phone.
Maya walked into the room carrying a small black handbag.
She looked toward the staircase, then toward the hallway.
"Mom, did you talk to him?"" Maya asked.
Claire looked up.
"Not yet.""
"You said you would.""
"I said I'd handle it.""
Maya dropped the handbag onto the sofa.
"He's not going to give it to me.""
Claire sighed.
"Then stop asking him.""
"But he knows!""
"Keep your voice down.""
Nia paused the recording.
I stared at Claire.
"Who were they talking about?""
She didn't answer.
I returned my attention to the screen.
"Continue.""
The recording resumed.
Maya sat beside Claire.
"What if he tells Marcus?""
Claire leaned closer.
"He won't.""
"How do you know?""
"Because if he does, we'll have a much bigger problem.""
Maya looked worried.
"What about the money?""
Claire glanced toward the hallway.
"Just let me handle Marcus.""
The recording ended.
My mouth went dry.
Money?
What money?
I turned toward Claire.
"What is this about?""
She rubbed her hands together.
"Marcus, this is being taken out of context.""
"Then explain the context.""
"It's private.""
"Not anymore.""
Her eyes filled.
"You don't understand what it's like being a mother to a daughter who feels unwanted.""
I stared at her.
"Don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Don't turn this into a discussion about feelings when we're talking about an accusation against my son.""
She looked toward Maya.
"Sweetheart, tell him.""
Maya shook her head.
"Mom...""
"Tell him what we discussed.""
I noticed something then.
Claire wasn't looking at Maya like a mother comforting a frightened child.
She was looking at her like someone waiting for her to repeat a prepared statement.
Malik noticed it too.
He stepped away from the staircase.
"Wait.""
Everyone turned.
"What's the money?""
Claire's face went pale.
"Nothing.""
"Then why did you say it?""
"Malik, please.""
"No. You don't get to accuse me of something like that and then pretend nothing happened.""
He looked at me.
"Dad, remember the college account?""
I nodded.
"What about it?""
"Last month, I got an email saying the balance had changed.""
I frowned.
"What change?""
"Almost twenty thousand dollars was missing.""
My stomach tightened.
I had opened education accounts for both children after Denise died.
The money had been growing for years.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I thought it was a mistake. I checked again, but then I got busy with exams.""
I looked at Claire.
She wouldn't meet my eyes.
"How much money was missing?""
Malik answered.
"Twenty-eight thousand four hundred dollars.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Claire?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, don't.""
"Did you take money from Malik's education account?""
"Let me explain.""
"Did you?""
Maya suddenly stepped between us.
"Stop yelling at my mother!""
I turned.
"Nobody is yelling at you.""
"You're making her look like a criminal!""
Nia laughed bitterly.
"Funny. You didn't seem worried about that when you accused Malik.""
Maya spun toward her.
"Shut up!""
Then she looked at Claire.
"Mom, tell him.""
Claire remained silent.
I took a slow breath.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm contacting the bank.""
Claire's face changed.
And for the first time that afternoon, I saw something much more frightening than anger in her eyes.
Fear.
May you like
But I still didn't know why twenty-eight thousand dollars had disappeared.
And I was beginning to suspect that the accusation against Malik had never been the real problem.
