Chapter 3: The Name on the Screen
The name on Vanessa’s phone stayed glowing on the kitchen table.
Nobody touched it.
Nobody even breathed.
Dad looked at the screen again.
“Who is Daniel?””
Vanessa quickly grabbed the phone.
“Nobody.””
That answer came too fast.
Dad’s eyes narrowed.
“Nobody doesn’t usually call someone fifteen times in one afternoon.””
My chest tightened.
Fifteen times.
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked scared.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Scared.
Madison noticed too.
“Mom?””
Vanessa turned toward her.
“Go upstairs.””
“No.””
The word surprised everyone.
Madison stood up slowly.
“I want to know what’s happening.””
Vanessa’s face softened.
“Sweetheart, this is between adults.””
Madison shook her head.
“No. My laptop came from her money.””
She pointed at me.
“And you’re acting like I’m supposed to ignore that.””
For the first time all day, I saw guilt on Madison’s face.
I didn’t know what to do with that.
Because part of me was angry at her.
But another part knew she didn’t make the decision.
Vanessa did.
Dad picked up the receipt again.
“The second laptop. Daniel. The missing money.””
He looked directly at his wife.
“This isn’t just about a computer, is it?””
Vanessa sat down.
The confidence was gone.
“I was trying to help someone.””
Dad gave a humorless laugh.
“With our daughter’s money?””
“I was going to replace it.””
“When?””
She didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
I felt something inside me break.
Because I realized she never planned on asking.
She never planned on telling me.
She just assumed she could take what I earned.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Who is Daniel?””
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“He’s my brother.””
I blinked.
Her brother?
I had met Vanessa’s family before.
Or at least, I thought I had.
“Your brother lives in another state,” Dad said.
“He moved back.””
“And why does he need a laptop?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“He’s starting over.””
Dad looked confused.
“Starting over?””
She looked up.
“He lost his job.””
I waited for Dad to soften.
He didn’t.
“Then you should have asked me.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with frustration.
“You would have said no.””
“Maybe.””
“Exactly.””
Dad shook his head.
“Because you were using money that wasn’t yours.””
Vanessa stood.
“You don’t understand what it’s like to have someone depend on you.””
The words hit me.
Because she said them while looking at me.
Like I was the selfish one.
Dad noticed too.
“You’re blaming her?””
“I’m saying she has opportunities. She’s young. She can earn it again.””
I felt my face get hot.
Dad’s voice became quiet.
“She shouldn’t have to earn back money someone stole.””
The word hung there.
Stole.
Vanessa looked away.
Nobody defended her.
Not even Madison.
A few minutes later, Vanessa went upstairs.
Dad sat beside me at the kitchen table.
He looked older than he had that morning.
“I’m sorry.””
I stared at my hands.
“I checked that account every night.””
“I know.””
“I was so close.””
Dad nodded.
“We’ll fix this.””
I looked at him.
“How?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Because there’s something you don’t know.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Dad reached into his work bag and pulled out a folder.
My name was written on the front.
I recognized it.
“Dad?””
He opened it.
Inside were bank statements.
Not from my account.
From somewhere else.
“I found something strange three months ago.””
My heart started racing.
“What did you find?””
Dad looked at the papers.
Then at me.
“Your savings weren’t the only money Vanessa was taking.””
He slid the folder across the table.
And on the first page was a transaction that made my blood run cold.
Because it wasn’t from my account.
It was from Dad’s.
May you like
And the person who approved it wasn’t Vanessa.
It was someone else.
