Chapter 7: The Thing She Tried to Take
I felt a strange numbness spread through my body.
“Something that belongs to me?””
My dad nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
I stared at him, waiting for him to explain.
But he looked like he was searching for the right words.
“What did she take?””
He looked toward the house.
“Your inheritance.””
The world seemed to go quiet.
I blinked.
“My what?””
“When your grandfather passed away, he left something for you.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand.””
My dad sat back down.
“Your grandfather knew he wouldn’t be around to watch you grow up. He wanted to make sure you had something that was yours.””
I remembered my grandfather.
He was the person who taught me how to build things.
The person who encouraged my curiosity.
The person who gave me my first screwdriver set when I was ten.
“He left you money,” my dad continued.
“Not a huge fortune. But enough to help with college, your future, whatever you decided.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“How much?””
My dad hesitated.
“Almost thirty thousand dollars.””
I stared at him.
Thirty thousand.
That money had never been about being rich.
It was about having a safety net.
About knowing I had something my grandfather left behind.
“But why would Karen have access to it?””
“She didn’t.””
My dad’s answer was immediate.
“She wasn’t supposed to.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What did she do?””
My dad looked down.
“She convinced me to let her help organize some family finances.””
I stared at him.
“You gave her access?””
“Not to your account.””
He shook his head.
“That’s the problem.””
He pulled out his phone.
“She created paperwork claiming she was managing certain assets in the household.””
My eyes widened.
“Claiming?””
“Yes.””
I stood up.
“So she lied?””
My dad didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
I walked back and forth across the porch.
Everything suddenly connected.
The computer.
The comments.
Trying to make me feel unwanted.
Trying to convince Devon I didn’t belong.
She wasn’t just being cruel.
She was trying to remove me.
“She wanted me gone.””
My dad looked at me.
“I think so.””
I laughed quietly.
“I thought she just hated my hobbies.””
My dad shook his head.
“No.””
His voice became serious.
“She saw you as someone who would eventually question things.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Because it was true.
I always asked questions.
I always wanted to understand.
And maybe that was what bothered her.
Later that afternoon, my dad asked me to stay home while he handled a few things.
But I couldn’t sit still.
I went downstairs and found Devon in the kitchen.
He looked at me.
“Is it true?””
I knew immediately he had heard.
“You knew?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
He looked sick.
“I swear.””
I believed him.
For once, I believed him.
“Devon.””
He looked up.
“Why didn’t you tell me what Mom was saying?””
His face fell.
“Because I didn’t think it mattered.””
I waited.
He sighed.
“She always complained about you.””
“What did she say?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“That you thought you were better than everyone.””
I almost laughed.
“Me?””
“I know.””
He looked ashamed.
“I know it wasn’t true.””
I leaned against the counter.
“Why did you believe her?””
He was quiet.
Then he answered.
“Because I was jealous.””
That surprised me.
“Of me?””
He nodded.
“You worked hard. Dad respected you. Grandpa trusted you.””
He looked down.
“And I felt like I was just the kid who got things handed to him.””
For the first time, I saw the insecurity behind all his arrogance.
“You could have talked to me.””
“I know.””
He swallowed.
“I messed up.””
Before I could respond, the front door opened.
My dad walked inside.
His expression told me something had happened.
“What’s wrong?””
He placed a folder on the table.
“She knows.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
“Karen.””
Devon immediately stood.
“What does she know?””
“That I found the financial records.””
My dad looked between us.
“And she’s not denying it.””
I frowned.
“Then what is she doing?””
My dad looked at the folder.
“She hired a lawyer.””
The room went silent.
A lawyer.
This wasn’t a misunderstanding.
This was a fight.
May you like
Then my dad said something that made my blood run cold.
“She’s claiming the money was never meant for you.””
