Chapter 4: The Secret Account
Jason didn’t move.
Neither did I.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the soft buzzing of Diane’s phone vibrating against the table.
The message was still visible.
*Did Sarah find out about the account?*
Four words.
But they changed everything.
Jason slowly reached toward the phone.
Diane grabbed it first.
“No.””
Her voice came out too quickly.
Too desperately.
Jason stared at her.
“Who sent that?””
“Nobody.””
I almost laughed.
“Nobody?””
Diane tightened her grip around the phone.
“You’re twisting things again.””
Jason looked at her.
“Mom, give me the phone.””
For the first time, Diane looked afraid of him.
Not angry.
Afraid.
“No.””
That single word made the room colder.
Jason stepped closer.
“What account?””
Diane looked at me.
Then at him.
Then away.
“I don’t know what you think you saw.””
“I saw the message.””
“You saw a sentence.””
Jason’s voice rose.
“And you refused to let me read the rest.””
Diane stood up.
“You’re really going to believe her over your own mother?””
Jason didn’t answer.
That hurt Diane more than an argument would have.
Because she was used to him defending her.
She was used to him making excuses.
But now he was quiet.
And silence was something she couldn’t control.
I walked toward the counter and picked up the folder I had prepared.
“This is why I packed the bag.””
Jason looked at me.
“What’s inside?””
I opened it.
Bank statements.
Receipts.
Screenshots.
Documents.
“I didn’t only record what she said.””
Diane’s expression changed.
“I checked what she was doing.””
Jason grabbed the first paper.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
“What is this?””
I looked at him.
“Transfers from our joint account.””
His face tightened.
“These are household expenses.””
“No.””
I pointed at the dates.
“Look closer.””
He did.
The room became silent.
“These payments went to another account.””
Jason looked at Diane.
“Mom?””
She crossed her arms.
“I was helping you.””
“Helping us?””
Diane nodded.
“You two are terrible with money. Someone had to be responsible.””
I stepped forward.
“You moved money without telling us.””
“I moved money for family.””
Jason looked confused.
“How much?””
Diane didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
Jason looked back at the documents.
“How much?””
Her face hardened.
“Enough.””
My stomach turned.
Because I had spent months wondering why bills suddenly felt tighter.
Why Lily’s daycare payments were always “complicated.””
Why Jason kept saying we needed to cut back.
Meanwhile, Diane had been quietly taking control.
Jason flipped through the pages faster.
“Sarah…”
I nodded.
“There’s more.””
I pulled out another envelope.
Diane immediately moved toward it.
“No.””
I stepped back.
“No?””
Her face changed.
She realized she had confirmed it.
Jason saw it too.
“What’s in there?””
Diane said nothing.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a copy of a document.
Jason read the title.
Then his face went completely pale.
“Power of attorney?””
Nobody spoke.
Diane finally broke.
“You weren’t supposed to find that.””
Jason looked up slowly.
“You tried to get control over our finances?””
“I was protecting you.””
“You forged my signature?””
Her silence answered him.
Jason took a step backward.
I had never seen him look at his mother that way.
Not angry.
Disappointed.
And somehow, that was worse.
Diane’s eyes filled with tears.
“You’re both making me the villain.””
I looked at her.
“No. We’re finally seeing what you’ve been doing.””
She grabbed her purse.
“I’m leaving.””
But before she reached the door, Jason spoke.
“Where is the money?””
Diane stopped.
“What?””
“The money you moved.””
She didn’t turn around.
“I don’t know what you mean.””
Jason picked up the phone.
“Then I guess I’ll call the bank.””
Diane slowly turned back.
And whispered something that made my heart stop.
“Don’t.””
Jason stared.
“Why?””
May you like
Her voice dropped.
“Because if you open that account, you’ll find out who else knew.””
