Chapter 2: The Second Laptop
Vanessa reached for the receipt.
Too quickly.
That was the first thing I noticed.
She wasn’t angry anymore.
She was nervous.
“Give me that,” she said.
Dad moved the paper away.
“No.””
His eyes stayed on the receipt.
“What does this mean?””
Vanessa forced a laugh.
“It’s probably a mistake.””
“A mistake?””
“Yes. Stores make mistakes all the time.””
Dad looked at the paper again.
“There are two serial numbers listed.””
Nobody spoke.
The air felt heavy.
Madison looked between us.
“Mom?””
Vanessa ignored her.
“Michael, you’re making this into something it’s not.””
Dad looked at her.
“Then explain it.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I had never seen Vanessa speechless before.
She always had an answer.
When she criticized my clothes, she had a reason.
When she complained about my work schedule, she had a reason.
When she told me my dreams were unrealistic, she had a reason.
But now she had nothing.
Dad placed the receipt on the table.
“Where is the second laptop?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don’t know.””
I almost laughed.
“You don’t know?””
She looked at me sharply.
“Stay out of this.””
Dad’s voice became colder.
“No. She doesn’t stay out of this. This is her money.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You’re acting like I’m some criminal.””
Dad stared at her.
“I’m acting like someone needs to explain why my daughter’s savings paid for something she didn’t receive.””
Madison slowly closed the laptop.
“Mom… did you buy another one?””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
Then back at my dad.
“It was complicated.””
“Complicated how?”” Dad asked.
She didn’t answer.
That was when I knew.
There was more.
Dad grabbed his phone.
“I’m calling the bank.””
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Michael, don’t.””
The panic in her voice surprised all of us.
“Why not?””
“Because this is embarrassing.””
“No. What’s embarrassing is that my daughter worked all summer and came home to find her account almost empty.””
Vanessa’s face turned red.
“You’re humiliating me.””
Dad shook his head.
“You did that yourself.””
I had never heard him speak to her like that.
Growing up, my dad was patient.
Too patient sometimes.
After my mom passed away, he tried so hard to keep our home together. When he married Vanessa three years later, I wanted to believe she would become someone I could trust.
At first, she was kind.
She brought me coffee before school.
She asked about my classes.
She told me she wanted us to be a family.
But slowly, things changed.
Little comments became insults.
Small favors became expectations.
And somehow, Madison’s needs always became more important than mine.
I just never imagined she would take my money.
Dad walked into the living room to call the bank.
Vanessa followed him.
I heard her whispering.
“Please don’t do this.””
A few minutes later, Dad came back.
His face looked different.
Not angry.
Something worse.
Disappointed.
“The bank confirmed the withdrawal.””
Vanessa looked down.
“I told you I borrowed it.””
Dad nodded.
“And they also confirmed the account was accessed using your information.””
Silence.
Madison looked uncomfortable.
“Mom…”
Vanessa looked at me.
“You’re enjoying this.””
I was shocked.
“What?””
“You’ve always wanted Dad to choose you.””
My stomach tightened.
“No. I wanted you not to steal from me.””
Dad stepped between us.
“Enough.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She looked away.
Finally, she whispered:
“The second laptop was for someone else.””
My heart stopped.
“Someone else?””
Dad’s expression changed.
“Who?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
She grabbed her purse.
“I need to leave.””
Dad blocked the doorway.
“No. You need to tell us the truth.””
For a long moment, nobody moved.
Then Vanessa slowly looked at Madison.
And Madison’s face went pale.
“Mom… who was the other laptop for?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“It was for…”
Her phone suddenly rang.
The screen lit up on the table.
Dad glanced down.
And whatever he saw made his entire expression change.
Because the caller’s name wasn’t a store.
May you like
It wasn’t a school.
It was a man I had never heard of before.
