Chapter 2: The Secret Transfer
The kitchen felt smaller after my father said those words.
Nobody moved.
The laptop was still sitting on the table.
The same laptop Mia had been excited about ten minutes earlier.
Now it looked like evidence.
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“You’re misunderstanding.””
My father didn’t look away from his phone.
“Am I?””
She stepped closer.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
“No.””
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“You listen to me.””
Mia slowly backed away from the table.
“What’s happening?””
Vanessa ignored her.
“This family has expenses.””
Daniel stared at her.
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
She crossed her arms.
“I used the money because I knew what was best.””
“For who?””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
My father turned his phone toward her.
“The $2,340 came from Emily’s account.””
His finger moved across the screen.
“But this transfer came from the joint savings account.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I didn’t want to say anything before I checked.””
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“Don’t involve Emily in adult issues.””
I stepped forward.
“You already involved me when you took my money.””
For once, Vanessa had no immediate response.
Daniel kept scrolling.
“I remember this account.””
His voice lowered.
“This was where we were saving for emergencies.””
Vanessa looked away.
“It was just a temporary transfer.””
“A temporary transfer of fifteen thousand dollars?””
Mia gasped.
“Fifteen thousand?””
Vanessa snapped.
“Mia, go upstairs.””
“No.””
Mia looked scared.
“I want to know what’s happening.””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
She wasn’t used to being questioned.
Especially not by her own daughter.
Daniel placed his phone on the counter.
“Where is the fifteen thousand?””
Vanessa stayed silent.
That silence answered enough.
My father took a step back.
“I trusted you.””
She laughed quietly.
“Trusted me?””
“Yes.””
“You mean you trusted me to manage this house.””
“No.””
His voice hardened.
“I trusted you with my family.””
The room went quiet.
I watched Vanessa’s face.
For the first time since she married my dad, she looked uncertain.
But then she looked at me.
And I saw something else.
Anger.
“You caused this.””
I froze.
“What?””
Vanessa pointed at me.
“If you hadn’t made a scene, Daniel wouldn’t be questioning everything.””
My father immediately stepped between us.
“Don’t blame her.””
“I’m telling the truth.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You’re avoiding the truth.””
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
“I can’t believe you’re treating me like a criminal.””
Daniel looked at the laptop.
“Did you use Emily’s money to buy that?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Mia slowly touched the laptop.
“Mom…”
Her voice was small.
“You said you saved for this.””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
“I did save.””
“No, you didn’t.””
Mia’s eyes filled with tears.
“You took Emily’s money?””
Vanessa’s face softened.
“Mia, sweetheart—”
“No.””
Mia stepped away.
“I thought you worked extra hours.””
I felt something strange.
For the first time, Mia wasn’t acting like my enemy.
She looked just as betrayed as I felt.
Daniel picked up his phone again.
“I’m calling the bank.””
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Daniel, don’t.””
That was the first time she sounded afraid.
“Why?””
He looked at her.
“What are you hiding?””
She didn’t answer.
The call connected.
“Hi, I need to report unauthorized transfers from my account.””
Vanessa’s breathing changed.
I noticed it.
So did my father.
A few minutes later, he ended the call.
His face had gone completely serious.
“What did they say?”” I asked.
He looked at Vanessa.
“They said the transfer wasn’t the only one.””
My heart sank.
Daniel slowly turned the phone around.
“There were three more withdrawals.””
Vanessa’s face lost all color.
And then my father said something that made her step back.
“One of them was made while you were pretending to be out shopping with Mia.””
May you like
Mia covered her mouth.
“Mom… what did you do?””
