Chapter 4: The Daughter They Were Protecting
Madison stood frozen in the doorway.
Her phone was still pressed against her ear.
“Mom,” she whispered, “what is she doing here?””
Vanessa stepped between us.
“Nothing. Give me your phone.””
Madison ended the call.
I held up the folder.
“What's the transfer?””
“It's none of your business,” Vanessa replied.
“It's my business if you're moving money connected to Dad's estate.””
Madison looked at her mother.
“Did you tell her?””
“Shut up.””
That was when I understood something important.
Madison wasn't simply angry that I'd found the documents.
She was frightened.
I put the folder on Dad's desk.
“I'm not leaving until someone explains what's going on.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You have no idea what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
She laughed bitter transfer?””
“It's none of your business,” Vanessa replied.
“It's my business if you're moving money connected to Dad's estate.””
Madison looked at her mother.
“Did you tell her?””
“Shut up.””
That was when I understood something important.
Madison wasn't simply angry that I'd found the documents.
She was frightened.
I put the folder on Dad's desk.
“I'm not leaving until someone explains what's going on.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You have no idea what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Your father spent the last two years making our lives miserable. He questioned every purchase, every transfer, every decision. He treated Madison like a criminal.””
“Was she stealing from him?””
Madison flinched.
“Don't talk to me like that.””
“Did you take his money?””
“I borrowed it.””
“How much?””
She looked away.
“How much, Madison?””
“Enough.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“That's between a mother and her daughter.””
ly.
“Your father spent the last two years making our lives miserable. He questioned every purchase, every transfer, every decision. He treated Madison like a criminal.””
“Was she stealing from him?””
Madison flinched.
“Don't talk to me like that.””
“Did you take his money?””
“I borrowed it.””
“How much?””
She looked away.
“How much, Madison?””
“Enough.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“That's between a mother and her daughter.””
“No. It was Dad's money.””
“He wanted to help her.””
“Then why did you hide the transfers?””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Because Richard was unreasonable.””
I stared at her.
“You forged expense records.””
“We were managing the household.””
“You listed Madison's apartment payments as home repairs.””
Madison snapped.
“She needed somewhere to live!””
“And Dad paid for it?””
“He offered!””
“Then why did“No. It was Dad's money.””
“He wanted to help her.””
“Then why did you hide the transfers?””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Because Richard was unreasonable.””
I stared at her.
“You forged expense records.””
“We were managing the household.””
“You listed Madison's apartment payments as home repairs.””
Madison snapped.
“She needed somewhere to live!””
“And Dad paid for it?””
“He offered!””
“Then why did you lie about it?””
Madison's face reddened.
“Because you always had to be the perfect daughter. The responsible one. The one who got everything.””
I shook my head.
“I never asked him to give me anything.””
“That's easy for you to say. You got the car. You got your college tuition. You got the house!””
“Dad paid your tuition too.””
“Not the way he paid yours!””
Her voice cracked.
you lie about it?””
Madison's face reddened.
“Because you always had to be the perfect daughter. The responsible one. The one who got everything.””
I shook my head.
“I never asked him to give me anything.””
“That's easy for you to say. You got the car. You got your college tuition. You got the house!””
“Dad paid your tuition too.””
“Not the way he paid yours!””
Her voice cracked.
For the first time, I saw the resentment underneath all the insults.
Madison had spent years measuring her life against mine.
But that didn't explain the money.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What happened to the Savannah property?””
She didn't answer.
Madison did.
“It's complicated.””
“Then make it simple.””
Madison rubbed her forehead.
“Mom wanted to use the property as collateral for a business loan.””
“Whose business?””
“Ours.””
“Yours and Vanessa's?””
She noddedFor the first time, I saw the resentment underneath all the insults.
Madison had spent years measuring her life against mine.
But that didn't explain the money.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What happened to the Savannah property?””
She didn't answer.
Madison did.
“It's complicated.””
“Then make it simple.””
Madison rubbed her forehead.
“Mom wanted to use the property as collateral for a business loan.””
“Whose business?””
“Ours.””
“Yours and Vanessa's?””
She nodded.
“What business?””
Vanessa interrupted.
“That's enough.””
I ignored her.
“Was the company Walker Heritage Holdings?””
Madison looked down.
That was an answer.
I opened the folder again.
The bank statements showed a series of transfers to the company.
Some had occurred while Dad was in the hospital.
Others were dated during the months before his diagnosis.
I pointed to one entry.
“What's this?””
Vanessa glanced at it.
“An investment.””
“Two.
“What business?””
Vanessa interrupted.
“That's enough.””
I ignored her.
“Was the company Walker Heritage Holdings?””
Madison looked down.
That was an answer.
I opened the folder again.
The bank statements showed a series of transfers to the company.
Some had occurred while Dad was in the hospital.
Others were dated during the months before his diagnosis.
I pointed to one entry.
“What's this?””
Vanessa glanced at it.
“An investment.””
“Two hundred eighty-five thousand dollars?””
“Your father approved it.””
“Then why did Diane say he was investigating it?””
Vanessa's face changed.
“Diane has no idea what she's talking about.””
“She's been Dad's bookkeeper for eleven years.””
“And she was paid to do what Richard told her.””
I took out my phone.
“I think I'll let Mr. Harrison decide what matters.””
Vanessa lunged toward hundred eighty-five thousand dollars?””
“Your father approved it.””
“Then why did Diane say he was investigating it?””
Vanessa's face changed.
“Diane has no idea what she's talking about.””
“She's been Dad's bookkeeper for eleven years.””
“And she was paid to do what Richard told her.””
I took out my phone.
“I think I'll let Mr. Harrison decide what matters.””
Vanessa lunged toward the folder.
I pulled it away.
“Don't touch that!””
She stopped.
For a moment, we stared at each other.
Then Madison started crying.
“Mom, just tell her.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Madison.””
“She already knows.””
“Shut your mouth!””
“I'm the folder.
I pulled it away.
“Don't touch that!””
She stopped.
For a moment, we stared at each other.
Then Madison started crying.
“Mom, just tell her.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Madison.””
“She already knows.””
“Shut your mouth!””
“I'm tired of lying!””
Madison sank into the leather chair.
Her shoulders shook.
I looked at her.
“Tell me.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“The company wasn't really a business. Mom said we could use it to buy investment properties. She said we'd pay everything back once the first property sold.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Where did the money go?””
Madison looked at Vanessa.
Her mother didn't move.
Then she whispered, “Some of it went to pay off my debts.””
I felt sick.
“How much?””
“Maybe seventy thousand.””
“And the rest?””
“Mom tired of lying!””
Madison sank into the leather chair.
Her shoulders shook.
I looked at her.
“Tell me.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“The company wasn't really a business. Mom said we could use it to buy investment properties. She said we'd pay everything back once the first property sold.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Where did the money go?””
Madison looked at Vanessa.
Her mother didn't move.
Then she whispered, “Some of it went to pay off my debts.””
I felt sick.
“How much?””
“Maybe seventy thousand.””
“And the rest?””
“Mom used it.””
Vanessa slapped her hand against the desk.
“Enough!””
Madison jumped.
“You told me Dad knew!””
“I said he would understand eventually.””
“You said the paperwork was handled!””
“Because it was!””
I stepped toward the door.
“I'm calling the attorney.””
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
“You're not destroying this family.””
I pulled away.
“You destroyed it when you threw me out of my used it.””
Vanessa slapped her hand against the desk.
“Enough!””
Madison jumped.
“You told me Dad knew!””
“I said he would understand eventually.””
“You said the paperwork was handled!””
“Because it was!””
I stepped toward the door.
“I'm calling the attorney.””
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
“You're not destroying this family.””
I pulled away.
“You destroyed it when you threw me out of my father's house.””
“Richard was dying! I was trying to keep everything together!””
“By stealing from him?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She sat down.
“I loved your father.””
The room went quiet.
“I really did, Emily. He gave me a life I never had before. He gave Madison opportunities. He gave us security.””
I watched her carefully.
“Then why did you do it?””
Vanessa stared at the photographs father's house.””
“Richard was dying! I was trying to keep everything together!””
“By stealing from him?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She sat down.
“I loved your father.””
The room went quiet.
“I really did, Emily. He gave me a life I never had before. He gave Madison opportunities. He gave us security.””
I watched her carefully.
“Then why did you do it?””
Vanessa stared at the photographs on the desk.
“Because I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing everything.””
I thought of the house.
The furniture.
The cars.
The vacations.
“Dad wasn't going to leave you with nothing.””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand. Richard had become different. He was suspicious.
He kept talking about protecting you. He started meeting with lawyers without telling me.””
“Because you were taking his money.””
“I didn't know what else to do!””
Madison began crying harder.
I felt no sympathy.
Not yet on the desk.
“Because I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing everything.””
I thought of the house.
The furniture.
The cars.
The vacations.
“Dad wasn't going to leave you with nothing.””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand. Richard had become different. He was suspicious.
He kept talking about protecting you. He started meeting with lawyers without telling me.””
“Because you were taking his money.””
“I didn't know what else to do!””
Madison began crying harder.
I felt no sympathy.
Not yet.
“Did you know Dad had transferred the house?””
Vanessa looked up.
“I found out three months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“Three months?””
“He told me the paperwork was complicated. I thought he was bluffing.””
“Why didn't you tell Madison?””
“Because she didn't need to know.””
Madison stared at her.
“You told me the house was going to be ours.””
Vanessa looked away.
I opened the study door.
“I'm leaving with these.
“Did you know Dad had transferred the house?””
Vanessa looked up.
“I found out three months ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“Three months?””
“He told me the paperwork was complicated. I thought he was bluffing.””
“Why didn't you tell Madison?””
“Because she didn't need to know.””
Madison stared at her.
“You told me the house was going to be ours.””
Vanessa looked away.
I opened the study door.
“I'm leaving with these documents.””
“You can't,” Vanessa said.
“I can.””
“You're not taking my husband's private papers.””
“They're part of his estate records.””
She stood.
“Emily, listen to me. We can work this out.””
I paused.
“What exactly do you want?””
Vanessa looked at the folder.
Then at me.
“I want you to sign an agreement confirming that I can remain in the house permanently. In return, I'll make sure documents.””
“You can't,” Vanessa said.
“I can.””
“You're not taking my husband's private papers.””
“They're part of his estate records.””
She stood.
“Emily, listen to me. We can work this out.””
I paused.
“What exactly do you want?””
Vanessa looked at the folder.
Then at me.
“I want you to sign an agreement confirming that I can remain in the house permanently. In return, I'll make sure you receive your fair share of the other assets.””
I almost laughed.
“You just told me you moved money out of Dad's accounts.””
“That money was for our future.””
“And what about mine?””
“You're young. You have your whole life ahead of you.””
I looked at the woman who had thrown my suitcase down the steps while I was still wearing my funeral dress.
“No,” I said.
“You don't get to decide that anymore you receive your fair share of the other assets.””
I almost laughed.
“You just told me you moved money out of Dad's accounts.””
“That money was for our future.””
“And what about mine?””
“You're young. You have your whole life ahead of you.””
I looked at the woman who had thrown my suitcase down the steps while I was still wearing my funeral dress.
“No,” I said.
“You don't get to decide that anymore.””
I walked out.
Madison followed me into the hallway.
“Emily, wait.””
I turned.
She looked smaller somehow.
“Please don't tell the police.””
I stared at her.
“Did you know where the money was going?””
She nodded.
“Some of it.””
“Did you help your mother hide it?””
She hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
“Madison, I need the truth.””
She lowered her voice.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“Dad found out about the company six months ago. He confronted Mom..””
I walked out.
Madison followed me into the hallway.
“Emily, wait.””
I turned.
She looked smaller somehow.
“Please don't tell the police.””
I stared at her.
“Did you know where the money was going?””
She nodded.
“Some of it.””
“Did you help your mother hide it?””
She hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
“Madison, I need the truth.””
She lowered her voice.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“Dad found out about the company six months ago. He confronted Mom. She told him she'd fix it.””
“And did she?””
“No.””
Madison looked toward the staircase.
“She moved the money again.””
“Where?””
“I don't know the exact account.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because I helped her.””
My stomach dropped.
Madison grabbed my arm.
“Please. I didn't know how bad it was going to get.””
I looked at her hand until she let go.
“What did you help her do?””
She swallowed.
She told him she'd fix it.””
“And did she?””
“No.””
Madison looked toward the staircase.
“She moved the money again.””
“Where?””
“I don't know the exact account.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because I helped her.””
My stomach dropped.
Madison grabbed my arm.
“Please. I didn't know how bad it was going to get.””
I looked at her hand until she let go.
“What did you help her do?””
She swallowed.
“Transfer the remaining money out of the company.””
“Into what account?””
“An account overseas.””
I stared at her.
“How much?””
Madison began crying again.
“Almost four hundred thousand dollars.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Mr. Harrison.
I answered.
“Emily, where are you?””
“Dad's study.””
“Listen carefully. Diane just sent me something important. We need to speak immediately.””
“What is it?””
His voice dropped.
“Your father's bank has“Transfer the remaining money out of the company.””
“Into what account?””
“An account overseas.””
I stared at her.
“How much?””
Madison began crying again.
“Almost four hundred thousand dollars.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Mr. Harrison.
I answered.
“Emily, where are you?””
“Dad's study.””
“Listen carefully. Diane just sent me something important. We need to speak immediately.””
“What is it?””
His voice dropped.
“Your father's bank has flagged an attempted withdrawal from an account that should have been frozen.””
I looked at Madison.
Then at Vanessa, who was standing at the top of the stairs.
“Who tried to withdraw it?””
May you like
Mr. Harrison paused.
“Your stepmother.””
