Chapter 2: The Money My Daughter Never Touched
"Tell him, Nia.""
Vanessa stood beside the dining table, one hand resting on the back of her chair.
She looked almost pleased.
My daughter stared at the floor.
I crouched beside her.
"Sweetheart, you don't have to answer anything you're not comfortable answering.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Of course. Protect her. That's what you always do.""
I looked up.
"What money are you talking about?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"The money Rachel left behind.""
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything except the refrigerator humming in the kitchen.
Rachel had left behind a life insurance policy, savings, and a small investment account.
Most of it had been placed in a trust for the children.
I had handled the paperwork after her death.
Or at least, I thought I had.
"What about Rachel's money?"" I asked.
Vanessa walked toward the kitchen counter and picked up her phone.
"Your daughter has been taking money from the account.""
Malik immediately shook his head.
"That's not true.""
Vanessa pointed at him.
"Stay out of this.""
I held up my hand.
"Let her speak.""
Vanessa opened an email and turned the phone toward me.
It showed several withdrawals from an account associated with the children's family trust.
The amounts were not enormous individually.
But together, they were substantial.
Nearly forty thousand dollars had disappeared over several months.
My stomach tightened.
"Where did this money go?""
"Ask your daughter.""
I looked at Nia.
She was crying now.
"Daddy, I didn't take anything.""
"I believe you.""
Vanessa gave a sharp laugh.
"You believe her without even looking at the evidence?""
"I believe that a ten-year-old child doesn't have the ability to withdraw forty thousand dollars from a trust account without someone helping her.""
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
But I saw it.
"Maybe someone gave her access," she replied.
"Who?""
She didn't answer.
I took out my phone and photographed the email.
"Send me the original transaction statements.""
"I already sent them to your accountant.""
"Then I'll ask him.""
Vanessa snatched her phone away.
"You're making this into something it isn't.""
I stood.
"No. You're making accusations against a child. I'm trying to understand why.""
She turned toward Nia.
"Tell him what you bought.""
Nia shook her head.
"I didn't buy anything.""
"That tablet in your bedroom. Where did you get it?""
I remembered the tablet.
I'd purchased it for her six months earlier so she could use educational apps and draw pictures.
"That's from me," I said.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"And those new clothes?""
"Also from me.""
"What about the money you gave her for the school trip?""
I stared at her.
"What money?""
Vanessa paused.
There it was again.
A little hesitation.
A tiny crack in the story.
I took a breath.
"Explain.""
She looked away.
"I handled the school expenses. I gave her money when she needed it.""
Nia finally spoke.
"Mom didn't give me any money.""
Vanessa's head snapped around.
"What did you say?""
Nia shrank into her chair.
"I said you didn't give me money.""
"Don't lie!""
I moved between them.
"That's enough.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
Then she pointed at me.
"This is what happens when you let children manipulate you. Rachel spoiled them, and now you do the same.""
The mention of Rachel made my jaw tighten.
"Don't bring my first wife into this.""
"Why not? She created this entire mess.""
I stared at her.
"Rachel died.""
"And you never moved on.""
The room went silent.
For a moment, Vanessa seemed to realize she'd gone too far.
But she continued.
"You've spent years trying to replace the family you lost. You buy them everything. You give them whatever they want. And I'm supposed to be grateful for being treated like a babysitter.""
I looked at her diamond bracelet.
At the expensive seafood.
At the designer handbag resting on the empty chair.
Then I looked at my daughter.
A little girl who had been afraid to reach for a crab leg.
"Nobody asked you to be a babysitter," I said.
"You chose to marry me.""
Vanessa's lips pressed together.
I turned toward Malik.
"Let's go upstairs.""
He helped Nia out of her chair.
But before they reached the staircase, Vanessa spoke again.
"Daniel, if you walk out with those children, don't expect me to keep protecting you.""
I stopped.
"Protecting me from what?""
She smiled.
"From the truth about your daughter's mother.""
I didn't respond.
I simply led the children upstairs.
In Nia's bedroom, I found something that made my chest ache.
Her closet was almost empty.
She had two school uniforms, three everyday outfits, and a pair of sneakers with a hole near the toe.
I looked at Malik.
"Is this everything she has?""
He nodded.
"Mom says girls don't need too many clothes.""
I opened the dresser.
Inside, I found a small plastic bag containing crackers, two granola bars, and a bruised apple.
I stared at it.
"Nia, what's this?""
She quickly reached for the bag.
"Nothing.""
I gently moved it away.
"Why are you keeping food in your drawer?""
Her eyes filled.
"In case.""
"In case of what, baby?""
She looked at the bedroom door.
"In case I'm hungry later.""
I sat on the edge of her bed.
"Why would you be hungry later?""
She began twisting the sleeves of her shirt.
"Sometimes dinner is gone before I come downstairs.""
I closed my eyes.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I pulled her into my arms.
"You should never have to hide food in your bedroom.""
Nia pressed her face against my chest.
"Please don't tell Mom I said that.""
I held her tighter.
"You haven't done anything wrong.""
Malik sat on the other side of her bed.
"She keeps the snacks because Mom locks the pantry.""
I looked at him.
"How long has this been happening?""
"Since last winter.""
My hands curled into fists.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried.""
"When?""
"That night we went to the restaurant.""
I remembered.
Malik had called me while I was at a business dinner.
He'd said he wanted to talk.
Vanessa had taken the phone and told me he was upset about losing his gaming privileges.
I'd believed her.
"Did she punish you for trying to tell me?""
He nodded.
"She took my phone for three weeks.""
Nia reached for her brother's hand.
"She said if Malik kept making trouble, he'd go live with his grandmother.""
I swallowed.
I hadn't realized how much my children had been carrying.
I took out my phone and called my attorney, Michael Grant.
He answered on the second ring.
"Daniel? Everything okay?""
"No. I need you at my house tomorrow morning. And I need you to contact the family court attorney you recommended.""
"What happened?""
I looked at the two children sitting beside me.
"Vanessa has been restricting Nia's food, intimidating both children, and possibly accessing their trust funds.""
There was a pause.
"Are they safe right now?""
"They're with me.""
"Keep them with you. Document everything. Don't get into another confrontation tonight.""
I glanced toward the hallway.
"I need the bank records, Michael.""
"I'll start on that first thing.""
After hanging up, I helped the children pack.
We were halfway through Nia's suitcase when someone knocked.
Three firm knocks.
Vanessa stood outside.
"Daniel, I want to talk to you alone.""
I stepped into the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind me.
"What?""
She held up a document.
"I found something you need to read.""
I glanced down.
It was an old bank authorization form.
My signature was at the bottom.
I recognized it immediately.
"What is this?""
"Rachel's trust account.""
I scanned the page.
Vanessa had been listed as an authorized administrator.
I frowned.
"Why were you added to this account?""
"Because you asked me to help manage the children's finances.""
"I never did.""
She gave me a cold smile.
"Then explain your signature.""
I looked again.
The signature resembled mine.
But the date made no sense.
It was dated eleven months after Rachel died.
And I'd been overseas that entire week.
I lifted my eyes.
"Who prepared this?""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Your accountant.""
I stared at her.
Then I noticed something else.
The authorization gave her permission to make withdrawals for the children's educational and medical expenses.
But there was no limit.
I looked at my wife.
"How much have you taken?""
Her expression hardened.
"Careful, Daniel.""
"How much?""
She stepped closer.
"Maybe you should ask why Rachel left so much money to Nia.""
I didn't move.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Your daughter wasn't the only person Rachel was worried about.""
Then she turned and walked away.
I returned to the bedroom.
Malik was sitting on the floor beside Nia's suitcase.
He looked up when I entered.
"Dad?""
"Yes?""
"Did Mom tell you about the red notebook?""
I frowned.
"What red notebook?""
Malik glanced at the door.
"The one she keeps in her office. It has all the money she's taken.""
My heart began pounding again.
"How do you know?""
"Because I saw her writing in it.""
He swallowed.
"And Dad, there's something else.""
I crouched in front of him.
"What?""
Malik's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Mom didn't just take the money.""
May you like
He looked toward Nia.
"She told someone she was going to make sure Nia never got it.""
