Chapter 3: The Eighty-Thousand-Dollar Lie
Dad didn't yell.
That was what made the next few minutes so frightening.
He stood beside the aquarium, his socks soaked from the water Tyler had spilled, holding the repair receipt in one hand and his phone in the other.
Melissa kept talking, but her words seemed to bounce off him.
"Daniel, please. You're making a terrible mistake.""
He looked at her.
"Then tell me what happened to the eighty thousand dollars.""
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"I have no idea what Tyler is talking about.""
Tyler let out a broken laugh.
"You told me about it!""
Melissa spun around.
"You ungrateful little liar!""
Dad's voice rose for the first time.
"Do not call him that.""
Tyler shrank back against the couch.
Melissa stared at Dad, apparently stunned that he had defended her son against her.
Then Dad turned to me.
"Emily, did you know your grandmother's money was missing?""
I shook my head.
"No. I thought it was in the college account.""
"It was," he said.
His voice faltered.
"At least, it was supposed to be.""
He walked to the dining table and pulled out a chair. Instead of sitting, he braced both hands against its back.
"When your grandmother died, Ryan offered to help with the paperwork. He said he'd worked with investments before and could make the money grow while you were still in high school.""
I stared at him.
"You let Uncle Ryan manage my inheritance?""
"Your grandmother had a lawyer overseeing the estate. Ryan helped coordinate the account because I trusted him.""
Melissa crossed her arms.
"Which was perfectly reasonable. Ryan is family.""
Dad looked at her sharply.
"Nobody asked you.""
She fell silent.
I stepped closer to the table.
"How much money is in the account now?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
That frightened me more than anything else.
"Dad?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I haven't checked the balance in several months. Ryan told me the investments were doing well.""
"Then call him.""
Melissa moved so quickly that her chair scraped backward.
"Daniel, don't do something you'll regret. It's late. Everyone is upset. You should sleep on this.""
Dad took out his phone.
"Why? Is Ryan asleep?""
She didn't respond.
Dad dialed.
We listened to the ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Daniel? What's up?""
Uncle Ryan sounded relaxed. I could hear a television in the background and the clink of a glass.
Dad put the call on speaker.
"Ryan, I need to ask you about Emily's college account.""
There was a pause.
"What about it?""
"How much money is in it?""
Another pause.
"Why are you asking me this now?""
"Because Tyler says Melissa has been discussing the account with you, and I want to understand why.""
Melissa stepped forward.
"Daniel, stop dragging my name into this!""
Dad raised one finger without looking at her.
"Ryan, answer the question.""
My uncle exhaled.
"I'd have to check the statements. You know these investments fluctuate.""
"Grandma left eighty thousand dollars for Emily. I want the current balance.""
"Daniel, you're being dramatic.""
"Check it.""
The room was silent except for the faint buzz of the phone.
Then Ryan said, "I'll look tomorrow.""
"No. You'll look now.""
"What's going on over there?""
Dad looked at Melissa.
"That's what I'm trying to find out.""
Ryan's tone changed.
"Listen, brother. Whatever Melissa told you, don't jump to conclusions. Financial matters are complicated, and I don't want Emily getting upset over something she doesn't understand.""
My cheeks burned.
Something I didn't understand?
I'd worked all summer to afford a laptop because I wanted to be ready for college. I'd applied for scholarships, stayed up late finishing assignments, and skipped trips with friends to save money.
The thought that someone might have taken the money meant to help me go to college made me feel physically sick.
Dad's voice turned cold.
"Don't talk about my daughter as if she's a child who needs to be kept in the dark.""
Ryan sighed.
"Fine. I'll send you the statement tomorrow.""
"Tonight.""
"Daniel—"
"Tonight, Ryan.""
Dad ended the call.
Melissa stared at him.
"You've just humiliated your own brother over an accusation from a boy who admitted to stealing.""
Dad set the phone down.
"No. Tyler admitted he stole Emily's laptop because you told him to. That's not the same thing as inventing what he heard.""
She shook her head.
"You don't know what you heard.""
"Then explain it.""
"I was worried about Emily's future. That's all.""
"By making her laptop disappear?""
Melissa looked at the floor.
For a few seconds, I thought she might finally tell us the truth.
Instead, she said, "You always choose Emily.""
The accusation hung in the air.
Dad stared at her.
"She's my daughter.""
"And Tyler is mine!""
"Then why did you put him in the middle of this?""
Melissa's face twisted.
"I was trying to protect this family.""
"From what?""
She looked at Tyler.
He was crying silently now, his hands clenched between his knees.
Melissa's expression changed. She walked toward him and reached for his shoulder.
"Sweetheart, tell your father you misunderstood.""
Tyler recoiled.
"Don't touch me.""
She stopped.
He wiped his face with the back of his hand.
"You said you'd get me in trouble if I told anyone.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"What did she threaten you with?""
Tyler shook his head.
"I don't want to say.""
"Tyler, you're safe. Tell me.""
My stepbrother looked at his mother, then at the floor.
"She said if I didn't get rid of the laptop, she'd tell Dad I was the one who took money from his desk.""
Melissa went pale.
Dad slowly straightened.
"What money?""
Tyler began to sob.
"The cash you kept in the envelope in your study. The money for the new roof. Mom said she'd tell you I stole it if I didn't do what she wanted.""
Dad's face went rigid.
I looked at Melissa.
"You blackmailed your own son?""
"That's not what happened!"" she shouted.
But Tyler was already speaking through his tears.
"She said it was the only way to make sure Emily never saw the video. She said Uncle Ryan had already moved the money, and the video was the only thing that could prove it.""
Dad grabbed his phone again.
This time, he didn't call Ryan.
He called someone saved under the name Margaret Collins — Estate Attorney.
"Margaret," he said when she answered.
"I need you to tell me exactly how Emily's inheritance was handled.""
He listened.
His face changed with every passing second.
Then he asked, "What do you mean the account was closed?""
Melissa took a step backward.
Dad gripped the edge of the table.
"When?""
A long silence followed.
Then Dad whispered, "Who authorized that?""
Melissa turned toward the front door.
Dad saw her move.
"Don't even think about leaving.""
She froze.
The attorney was still speaking through the phone.
Dad listened for several more seconds before asking one final question.
"Margaret, are you telling me my daughter never received the money because someone forged my signature?""
His eyes lifted toward Melissa.
May you like
She looked as if every drop of blood had drained from her body.
And from the way Dad stared at her, I knew the next truth would be worse than anything Tyler had confessed.
