Chapter 4: The Money He Never Had
My father’s face changed the moment Olivia said the word “inheritance.””
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Fear.
Real fear.
For years, I had watched Richard Carter control every room he entered. He was the loudest voice at every dinner table. The person who interrupted others. The person who acted like his opinion was the final answer.
But standing in my living room, surrounded by the people he had convinced to follow him, he suddenly looked like someone who had been caught.
Olivia stared at him.
“Dad?””
He looked away.
That was when I knew there was more.
David crossed his arms.
“What is she talking about?””
My father immediately became defensive.
“This is not the time.””
Olivia’s eyes narrowed.
“No. I think this is exactly the time.””
My mother looked between them.
“Richard, what happened?””
He sighed dramatically.
“You’re all making this bigger than it is.””
I almost laughed.
That was his favorite phrase.
Whenever he was wrong, he never apologized.
He minimized.
Michael quietly watched him.
“Mr. Carter, if there are financial matters connected to this property, they should be discussed clearly.””
My father looked at him.
“You’re just here to make trouble.””
Michael didn’t react.
“I’m here because my client requested legal assistance.””
My father looked back at me.
“Your client?””
The way he said it made it sound like I was a stranger.
Maybe that was how he had always seen me.
Useful when I obeyed.
Difficult when I didn’t.
Olivia stepped closer.
“Dad, answer the question.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It was temporary.””
“What was temporary?””
“The renovations.””
Silence.
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What renovations?””
Nobody answered.
Then I looked around.
The new furniture.
The upgraded kitchen equipment.
The expensive decorations.
Things I had never approved.
Things I had never requested.
My father had spent money on my home.
Without asking.
Michael looked at me.
“Did you authorize any renovations?””
“No.””
His expression hardened.
Then he turned back to my father.
“Mr. Carter, you understand that making financial decisions involving another person’s property without authorization can create serious issues.””
My father scoffed.
“Serious issues? I improved the house.””
I stared at him.
“You improved my house?””
He looked offended.
“Yes.””
I walked toward the kitchen island.
The one where James and I used to drink coffee every morning.
“You replaced things I chose.””
My father shrugged.
“They were outdated.””
That sentence hurt more than I expected.
Because it wasn’t just about furniture.
It was about everything.
My memories.
My choices.
My life.
He had walked into the place that carried my grief and decided it needed to become something else.
Olivia looked uncomfortable.
“Dad… how much money did you use?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
He finally said:
“It wasn’t that much.””
David laughed bitterly.
“That means it was a lot.””
My father glared at him.
“Watch your tone.””
Michael opened his folder.
“I need to ask directly. Did you use funds that belonged to Olivia?””
My father froze.
Olivia looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
I looked at her.
She looked genuinely shocked.
She didn’t know.
Michael spoke carefully.
“Your father mentioned several years ago that he was managing certain family financial matters.””
Olivia stared at him.
“Managing?””
My father stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
But the damage was done.
Because for the first time, Olivia wasn’t looking at me.
She was looking at him.
“Dad… what did you do?””
He became angry.
“I did what was best for this family.””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“You did what you wanted.””
The room went silent.
My father looked at his favorite daughter like he couldn’t believe she had questioned him.
Then he turned toward me.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?””
I frowned.
“What?””
“To destroy this family.””
I felt something inside me break.
Even now.
Even after everything.
He still blamed me.
“You came into my house,” I said quietly.
“You removed my husband’s picture. You told me to leave.””
His jaw tightened.
“You’re making this emotional.””
“No.””
I looked directly at him.
“I’m finally seeing things clearly.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Michael’s phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Emma.””
I turned.
“What?””
He hesitated.
Then he handed me the phone.
“There’s something you need to see.””
I looked down.
It wasn’t a message.
It was a property record request.
And attached to it was a name.
A name I had never expected.
My father’s name.
May you like
Along with a second document.
A document showing he had tried to claim ownership of my villa.
