Chapter 4: The Truth Vanessa Was Afraid to Tell
Dad didn't respond to Vanessa immediately.
He simply stared at her.
"What do you know about Laura?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Nothing that concerns Emily.""
"Then why bring her up?""
"Because you're making a mistake, Michael.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Tell me what you know.""
Vanessa looked toward Brittany.
"Not in front of the children.""
"Emily stays.""
Vanessa let out an irritated breath.
"Fine. Your precious first wife wasn't as innocent as you think.""
My stomach tightened.
Dad's voice dropped.
"Be careful.""
Vanessa laughed.
"She hid things from you. You know that, don't you?""
Dad looked confused.
"Laura never hid anything from me.""
"Are you sure?""
She turned toward me.
"Ask your daughter what she found in the blue cabinet.""
I felt my heart race.
Dad looked at me.
"Emily?""
"I found the trust documents and Mom's letter.""
Vanessa's expression shifted.
She hadn't expected me to say that so directly.
Dad turned back to her.
"How do you know about the cabinet?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Then Brittany spoke.
"Mom, what are you talking about?""
"Go upstairs, Brittany.""
"No! I want to know why everyone is shouting!""
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Upstairs. Now.""
Brittany pulled away.
"Stop treating me like a baby!""
Dad raised his voice.
"Enough!""
The kitchen fell silent.
He turned to Vanessa.
"You're going to explain what you meant.""
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then she said, "Laura had money you never knew about.""
Dad frowned.
"What money?""
"An investment account.""
Robert had mentioned nothing about that.
Vanessa continued.
"She had an account worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. She kept it separate.""
Dad looked stunned.
"That's impossible.""
"Ask your lawyer.""
I watched Dad carefully.
He seemed genuinely confused.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Maybe she didn't trust you.""
Dad's expression darkened.
"Where is this account?""
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
Something clicked in my mind.
The blue cabinet.
The folders.
The flash drive.
"Why were you looking through Mom's things?"" I asked.
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Stay out of this.""
"Did you know about the account before you married Dad?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're a child.""
"Then why are you so interested in something that belonged to my mother?""
Brittany looked between us.
"Mom, what money?""
Vanessa snapped.
"Stop asking questions!""
Dad stepped between us.
"Vanessa, leave.""
She stared at him.
"What?""
"Take Brittany upstairs. Pack a few things. You're staying somewhere else tonight.""
Her mouth fell open.
"You can't throw me out.""
"I can ask you to leave while we sort this out.""
"This is my house!""
Dad looked directly at her.
"No. It isn't.""
Vanessa's face turned red.
She pointed at me.
"This is because of her. She's been poisoning you against me.""
Dad didn't move.
"She's been sleeping in a freezing garage.""
"She deserved consequences!""
The words came out so loudly that even Brittany flinched.
Dad's expression changed completely.
"Get out.""
Vanessa stood frozen.
Then she turned and stormed upstairs.
Brittany followed, crying.
I stood in the kitchen, trembling.
Dad put his arm around my shoulders.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that.""
"Is Mom's money real?""
"I don't know.""
"Could Vanessa have taken it?""
Dad shook his head.
"I don't know, sweetheart. But we're going to find out.""
That evening, Robert came to the house.
He brought a laptop and several documents.
We sat in the study while he examined the flash drive I'd found.
After a few minutes, he looked up.
"Michael, this is interesting.""
Dad leaned forward.
"What is it?""
"Your wife kept copies of certain investment records.""
He opened a spreadsheet.
There were account numbers, dates, and transaction descriptions.
Robert scrolled through the file.
"Laura established a separate education and family security fund shortly before her diagnosis.""
I leaned closer.
"Was it for me?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
Dad covered his mouth.
"How much?""
Robert checked the records.
"Approximately $480,000 at the time of the last statement.""
I stared at him.
Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
I'd never known.
Dad looked devastated.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Robert shook his head.
"She may have intended to explain it later. There are notes here suggesting she wanted the fund to remain protected until Emily turned eighteen.""
I remembered the letter.
My darling girl.
Robert opened another file.
Then he stopped.
"Michael.""
"What?""
"There's a withdrawal request.""
Dad leaned forward.
"When?""
"About six months ago.""
I looked at the screen.
The requested amount was $75,000.
The recipient name was unfamiliar.
But the contact email belonged to Vanessa.
Dad's face went white.
"She tried to withdraw seventy-five thousand dollars?""
Robert nodded.
"The request was rejected because the trust required additional authorization.""
I looked at Dad.
"Was she trying to steal Mom's money?""
Robert answered carefully.
"We need the complete banking records before making that conclusion.""
Then he opened another document.
His expression changed.
"There's a second request.""
Dad stood.
"What second request?""
Robert turned the screen toward us.
The date was two weeks earlier.
The amount was $120,000.
This time, the recipient wasn't an unfamiliar company.
It was an account under Brittany's name.
Dad stared at the screen.
"Why would she transfer money to Brittany?""
Robert shook his head.
"That's something we'll need to investigate.""
I felt sick.
Brittany had been asking for expensive clothes, a new phone, and a car for months.
Vanessa always said they were gifts from her family.
But what if they weren't?
What if she'd been using money that belonged to my mother?
Robert saved the documents.
"Don't confront her about these transactions until I verify them.""
Dad nodded.
Just then, footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
She was holding a suitcase.
"Michael, we need to talk.""
Dad closed the laptop.
"What now?""
She looked at Robert.
Then at the documents.
Her expression changed.
"Why is he here?""
Robert stood.
"Mrs. Harper, I'm reviewing some financial records.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Without my permission?""
Robert calmly replied.
"The accounts belong to a trust established by Laura Harper.""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
She looked at Dad.
"You're really doing this?""
Dad didn't answer.
Then she turned toward me.
"You little liar.""
Dad immediately stood between us.
"Don't speak to her like that.""
Vanessa's voice rose.
"Do you have any idea what your daughter has done?""
I stared at her.
"What did I do?""
She stepped closer.
"She stole something from my bedroom.""
Dad frowned.
"What?""
Vanessa pointed toward me.
"My diamond necklace is missing.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"I didn't take anything.""
Vanessa smiled coldly.
"Then why was it found in your mother's old jewelry box?""
Nobody moved.
Dad looked at me.
I shook my head.
"I didn't touch it.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"Where is the necklace now?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"In my bag.""
Robert looked toward Dad.
"Michael, I suggest we establish exactly how it got there before anyone makes accusations.""
But Vanessa was already reaching into her suitcase.
She pulled out a small velvet box.
And when she opened it, I recognized the necklace immediately.
It was the one Mom had worn on her last birthday.
The one I'd believed had disappeared months ago.
May you like
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"Now tell me, Emily. Why was your mother's necklace in your room?""
