Chapter 7: The Truth in the Living Room
When I arrived home, my father's car was parked crookedly across the driveway.
That was the first sign something was wrong.
Dad was careful about everything. He lined up his shoes beside the door, labeled folders in his office, and never left a glass on the coffee table overnight.
He didn't parkly across the driveway.
That was the first sign something was wrong.
Dad was careful about everything. He lined up his shoes beside the door, labeled folders in his office, and never left a glass on the coffee table overnight.
He didn't park crookedly.
I carried the garment bag inside.
The house was unnaturally quiet.
Then I heard Victoria's voice from the living room.
"You cannot seriously expect me to accept this.""
Dad answered, "I expect you to stop hiding behind half-truths.""
I rounded the corner.
Victoria stood beside the sofa with several documents spread across the coffee table. Samantha sat nearby, scrolling through her phone, but she crookedly.
I carried the garment bag inside.
The house was unnaturally quiet.
Then I heard Victoria's voice from the living room.
"You cannot seriously expect me to accept this.""
Dad answered, "I expect you to stop hiding behind half-truths.""
I rounded the corner.
Victoria stood beside the sofa with several documents spread across the coffee table. Samantha sat nearby, scrolling through her phone, but she looked up the moment I entered.
Her eyes went straight to my bag.
"You brought them.""
I stopped.
"Brought what?""
"The letters. The trust papers. Whatever you've been digging up.""
Dad looked up the moment I entered.
Her eyes went straight to my bag.
"You brought them.""
I stopped.
"Brought what?""
"The letters. The trust papers. Whatever you've been digging up.""
Dad turned toward me.
"Emily, come here.""
I walked to his side.
Victoria gathered the documents into a neat stack.
"I think we should all sit down," she said.
" turned toward me.
"Emily, come here.""
I walked to his side.
Victoria gathered the documents into a neat stack.
"I think we should all sit down," she said.
"There are serious misunderstandings that need to be resolved.""
"Then start explaining," I replied.
Her lips tightened.
"I understand that you're upset about the dress.""
"No. You understand that Dad knows what happened to the dress.""
Samantha stood.
"Can we stopThere are serious misunderstandings that need to be resolved.""
"Then start explaining," I replied.
Her lips tightened.
"I understand that you're upset about the dress.""
"No. You understand that Dad knows what happened to the dress.""
Samantha stood.
"Can we stop talking about that? It's over.""
I looked at her.
"You don't get to decide when it's over.""
She opened her mouth, but Dad raised his hand.
"Sit down, Samantha.""
For once, she obeyed.
Victoria folded her arms.
"Daniel, I want you to understand that I never intended to hurt Emily. But Elena made talking about that? It's over.""
I looked at her.
"You don't get to decide when it's over.""
She opened her mouth, but Dad raised his hand.
"Sit down, Samantha.""
For once, she obeyed.
Victoria folded her arms.
"Daniel, I want you to understand that I never intended to hurt Emily. But Elena made financial arrangements that have created an unhealthy imbalance in this family.""
Dad stared at her.
"An imbalance?""
"Emily has always been treated differently.""
"Because her mother died?""
"Because Elena made sure she would financial arrangements that have created an unhealthy imbalance in this family.""
Dad stared at her.
"An imbalance?""
"Emily has always been treated differently.""
"Because her mother died?""
"Because Elena made sure she would have money and opportunities that Samantha doesn't have.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Mom worked for that money.""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Your mother had a business. Businesses involve risks, partnerships, and obligations. You have no idea what happened during those years.""
"Then tell me have money and opportunities that Samantha doesn't have.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Mom worked for that money.""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Your mother had a business. Businesses involve risks, partnerships, and obligations. You have no idea what happened during those years.""
"Then tell me.""
She hesitated.
Dad stepped forward.
"Victoria, answer her.""
Victoria looked at the papers on the table.
"Elena and I worked together briefly. She believed I had mishandled some company funds. I disagreed with her interpretation of the accounts. We parted ways.""
"Did you take money?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did you tell Dad.""
She hesitated.
Dad stepped forward.
"Victoria, answer her.""
Victoria looked at the papers on the table.
"Elena and I worked together briefly. She believed I had mishandled some company funds. I disagreed with her interpretation of the accounts. We parted ways.""
"Did you take money?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did you tell Dad about the accusation before you married him?""
Her expression hardened.
"Your mother and I had an unpleasant professional disagreement. It was irrelevant to my relationship with Daniel.""
Dad stared at her.
"Did you tell me about the accusation before you married him?""
Her expression hardened.
"Your mother and I had an unpleasant professional disagreement. It was irrelevant to my relationship with Daniel.""
Dad stared at her.
"Did you tell me?""
Victoria didn't answer.
He picked up one of the documents.
"Because I don't remember you mentioning that you worked with Elena. Not once.""
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"Apparently, it mattered enough for you to keep records about her estate.""
Victoria reached for the document.
"Those papers were?""
Victoria didn't answer.
He picked up one of the documents.
"Because I don't remember you mentioning that you worked with Elena. Not once.""
"I didn't think it mattered.""
"Apparently, it mattered enough for you to keep records about her estate.""
Victoria reached for the document.
"Those papers were in your office. I was trying to organize them.""
Dad pulled them away.
"You were looking for something.""
She laughed without humor.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
I opened my bag and removed the letter my mother in your office. I was trying to organize them.""
Dad pulled them away.
"You were looking for something.""
She laughed without humor.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
I opened my bag and removed the letter my mother had written.
"I found this in her portfolio. She said I shouldn't have to choose between my inheritance and my family.""
Victoria's face went white.
Samantha stopped scrolling.
For a moment, the only had written.
"I found this in her portfolio. She said I shouldn't have to choose between my inheritance and my family.""
Victoria's face went white.
Samantha stopped scrolling.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock above the fireplace.
Then Victoria said, "Give me that letter.""
"No.""
"It's private.""
"It was written to me.""
"Emily, you don't understand what you're holding.""
"Then explain it.""
Victoria reached for the envelope.
Dad stepped between us.
"Don't touch her.""
She froze.
The expression on sound in the room was the ticking of the clock above the fireplace.
Then Victoria said, "Give me that letter.""
"No.""
"It's private.""
"It was written to me.""
"Emily, you don't understand what you're holding.""
"Then explain it.""
Victoria reached for the envelope.
Dad stepped between us.
"Don't touch her.""
She froze.
The expression on her face changed. The anger remained, but something more desperate appeared beneath it.
"Daniel, please. You have to understand. I was trying to protect Samantha.""
"From what?""
"From being left with nothing.""
Dad stared at her.
"Nothing? Samantha has a home, an education, a car, and every opportunity we've been able to give her. What exactly do her face changed. The anger remained, but something more desperate appeared beneath it.
"Daniel, please. You have to understand. I was trying to protect Samantha.""
"From what?""
"From being left with nothing.""
Dad stared at her.
"Nothing? Samantha has a home, an education, a car, and every opportunity we've been able to give her. What exactly do you think she is entitled to?""
Victoria's voice cracked.
"The same security Emily has.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did Samantha destroy my dress?""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Because she feels threatened by you.""
"That isn't an excuse.""
"No, but it's you think she is entitled to?""
Victoria's voice cracked.
"The same security Emily has.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did Samantha destroy my dress?""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Because she feels threatened by you.""
"That isn't an excuse.""
"No, but it's the truth.""
Samantha stood abruptly.
"Stop talking about me like I'm a child!""
Dad faced her.
"Then stop behaving like one.""
She flushed.
"I made one mistake!""
"One mistake?"" I repeated.
"What the truth.""
Samantha stood abruptly.
"Stop talking about me like I'm a child!""
Dad faced her.
"Then stop behaving like one.""
She flushed.
"I made one mistake!""
"One mistake?"" I repeated.
"What about the necklace?""
Samantha looked away.
"What about it?""
"You took my mother's necklace and lied about it.""
"I was going to give it back!""
"When?""
She didn't answer.
Dad placed the velvet pouch on the table.
"You're returning everything that about the necklace?""
Samantha looked away.
"What about it?""
"You took my mother's necklace and lied about it.""
"I was going to give it back!""
"When?""
She didn't answer.
Dad placed the velvet pouch on the table.
"You're returning everything that belongs to Emily. Today.""
Samantha's eyes filled with tears.
"You're humiliating me.""
"No," Dad said.
"I'm giving you an opportunity to make things right.""
Victoria shook her head.
"You can't keep treating her like this.""
"Like what?""
"Like she's some criminal!""
Dad looked at the ruined dress in its garment bag.
"She belongs to Emily. Today.""
Samantha's eyes filled with tears.
"You're humiliating me.""
"No," Dad said.
"I'm giving you an opportunity to make things right.""
Victoria shook her head.
"You can't keep treating her like this.""
"Like what?""
"Like she's some criminal!""
Dad looked at the ruined dress in its garment bag.
"She deliberately destroyed something irreplaceable. She took property that wasn't hers. She lied about it. If you have a better description, I'd love to hear it.""
Victoria turned away.
I took a breath.
"There is something else.""
I pulled out the flash drive.
"Rachel Bennett gave me this. She said Mom left it behind before deliberately destroyed something irreplaceable. She took property that wasn't hers.
She lied about it. If you have a better description, I'd love to hear it.""
Victoria turned away.
I took a breath.
"There is something else.""
I pulled out the flash drive.
"Rachel Bennett gave me this. She said Mom left it behind before she died.""
Victoria's reaction was immediate.
She grabbed the back of the sofa.
"Where did you get that?""
The question escaped before she could stop herself.
Dad noticed.
"So you recognize it?""
Victoria shook her head too quickly.
"No she died.""
Victoria's reaction was immediate.
She grabbed the back of the sofa.
"Where did you get that?""
The question escaped before she could stop herself.
Dad noticed.
"So you recognize it?""
Victoria shook her head too quickly.
"No. I just don't understand why Rachel would give Emily private business files.""
I held the drive tightly.
"It's an audio recording.""
Victoria's face lost what little color remained.
Samantha stared at her mother.
"Mom?""
Victoria ignored her.
"Emily, whatever is on that drive, it was recorded years ago. It has. I just don't understand why Rachel would give Emily private business files.""
I held the drive tightly.
"It's an audio recording.""
Victoria's face lost what little color remained.
Samantha stared at her mother.
"Mom?""
Victoria ignored her.
"Emily, whatever is on that drive, it was recorded years ago. It has nothing to do with your graduation or your inheritance.""
"Then you won't mind if we listen.""
Dad took his laptop from the office.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Daniel, don't.""
He stopped.
nothing to do with your graduation or your inheritance.""
"Then you won't mind if we listen.""
Dad took his laptop from the office.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Daniel, don't.""
He stopped.
"Why?""
She looked at him, and for the first time, I saw her fear without the disguise of anger.
"Because Elena wasn't always the person you think she was.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"She was my wife.""
"And I was there when she made decisions you never knew about!""
The words hung in the room.
Dad slowly lowered the laptop.
"Why?""
She looked at him, and for the first time, I saw her fear without the disguise of anger.
"Because Elena wasn't always the person you think she was.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"She was my wife.""
"And I was there when she made decisions you never knew about!""
The words hung in the room.
Dad slowly lowered the laptop.
"What decisions?""
Victoria's eyes darted toward Samantha.
Then toward me.
Finally, she looked at the flash drive.
"I was trying to keep this family together.""
Dad spoke quietly.
"Then tell us"What decisions?""
Victoria's eyes darted toward Samantha.
Then toward me.
Finally, she looked at the flash drive.
"I was trying to keep this family together.""
Dad spoke quietly.
"Then tell us the truth.""
Victoria opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, Samantha reached across the table and snatched the drive from my hand.
"Nobody is listening to anything!""
She threw it toward the fireplace.
I lunged.
The drive struck the the truth.""
Victoria opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, Samantha reached across the table and snatched the drive from my hand.
"Nobody is listening to anything!""
She threw it toward the fireplace.
I lunged.
The drive struck the edge of the hearth and bounced onto the rug.
Dad caught Samantha by the wrist before she could reach it again.
"Enough!""
She struggled against his grip.
"Let go of me!""
He released her.
Samantha stumbled backward, breathing hard.
I picked up the drive.
It was intact.
Dad looked at Victoria.
"Sit down.""
This edge of the hearth and bounced onto the rug.
Dad caught Samantha by the wrist before she could reach it again.
"Enough!""
She struggled against his grip.
"Let go of me!""
He released her.
Samantha stumbled backward, breathing hard.
I picked up the drive.
It was intact.
Dad looked at Victoria.
"Sit down.""
This time, she did.
He opened his laptop, inserted the drive, and found a single audio file.
The recording began with a rustle of paper.
Then my mother's voice filled the living room.
"Victoria, I know what you did with the money.""
May you like
Victoria covered her mouth.
And my father went completely still.
