Chapter 4: The Account That Wasn’t Mine
I spent the entire night staring at the transaction history.
The words kept appearing in my mind.
“Adjustment for household expenses.””
It sounded official.
Almost reasonable.
That was what scared me the most.
Because whoever did this knew exactly how to make something wrong look normal.
I sat at my desk with my old laptop open, the same one I had spent all summer trying to replace.
The screen froze three times while I was trying to check my assignments.
Normally, I would have laughed at how ridiculous it was.
That morning, I just stared at the cracked corner of the screen.
I had worked hundreds of hours for something better.
And my own family had decided I didn’t deserve it.
Around eight, my dad knocked on my door.
“Emily?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
The door opened anyway.
He stepped inside.
“Can we talk?””
I closed my laptop.
“What is there to talk about?””
He looked uncomfortable.
That was new.
Usually, when Vanessa complained, he already had an answer prepared.
This time, he looked like someone who had finally realized something didn’t add up.
“Your account situation…”
I waited.
“What about it?””
He sat on the edge of my desk chair.
“Vanessa said you misunderstood.””
I almost smiled.
“Of course she did.””
“Emily.””
“No, Dad. Seriously. What did I misunderstand?””
He looked away.
“She said she used the money because the family needed to make some adjustments.””
“The family needed a laptop?””
He sighed.
“Chloe needed one.””
“And I didn’t?””
“That’s not what I said.””
“But that’s what happened.””
The silence between us was heavy.
My dad rubbed his hands together.
“I didn’t realize she moved that much money.””
I stared at him.
“What did you think she moved?””
He didn’t answer.
That answer hurt more than anything.
Because he had signed off on something without even knowing the details.
“You changed the account password too,” I said.
His face changed.
“How did you know that?””
“Because Vanessa told me.””
He frowned.
“I didn’t ask her to do that.””
I leaned forward.
“Then why did you let it happen?””
He had no answer.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty on his face.
But uncertainty wasn’t enough.
I needed someone to admit they were wrong.
That afternoon, I decided I needed proof.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I was tired of everyone acting like I was imagining things.
I went downstairs when Vanessa was making coffee.
She looked at me.
“What now?””
“I want to see the transfer records.””
She laughed.
“The what?””
“The records showing where my money went.””
Her smile faded.
“You don’t need to investigate your own family.””
“I do when my family takes my money.””
She placed her coffee cup down.
“Emily, your attitude is becoming a serious problem.””
“No. The problem is that you think being my stepmother gives you control over everything I own.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re being dramatic.””
“Maybe. But I’m also right.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Vanessa smiled.
It wasn’t a kind smile.
It was the kind of smile someone gives when they think they already won.
“You really think you’re going to prove something?””
“Yes.””
She picked up her coffee.
“Good luck.””
That response bothered me.
She wasn’t worried.
She wasn’t nervous.
She was confident.
Too confident.
Later that evening, I checked my email.
There was a message from the bank.
A notification about account access.
I opened it.
My heart started beating faster.
Someone had logged into my account from a device I didn’t recognize.
I checked the details.
The device name was listed.
It was a laptop.
A brand-new laptop.
The same day Chloe got hers.
I froze.
Because suddenly, I wasn’t just looking at missing money anymore.
I was looking at a trail.
May you like
And whoever created that trail had made one mistake.
They assumed I would never look.
