Chapter 5: The Account Hidden From Everyone
I stood outside Madison’s door, unable to move.
The hallway light flickered above me.
Inside, I heard Vanessa whispering.
“You need to stop talking.””
“But Dad knows now.””
“He doesn’t know everything.””
My heart started pounding.
I quietly stepped away before they could hear me.
I went straight to my room and closed the door.
There was another account.
Another secret.
I grabbed my phone and stared at the message from the unknown number.
Your father is looking at the wrong account.
At the time, I thought it was just a warning.
Now I wondered if someone had been trying to help me.
The next morning, my father drove me to the bank.
Neither of us said much.
When we arrived, Vanessa was already there.
I was surprised.
“Why is she here?””
Dad looked at me.
“Because she needs to explain herself.””
Inside the bank, we sat across from a manager named Mr. Collins.
My father placed the documents on the desk.
“I need a complete review of my daughter’s trust account.””
Mr. Collins looked through the papers.
Then he looked at me.
“Emily, did you authorize any changes to this account?””
“No.””
He nodded slowly.
“Did you sign this document?””
“No.””
He studied the signature.
Then he looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Cross, we may need to involve our legal department.””
Vanessa immediately spoke.
“That’s unnecessary.””
Everyone looked at her.
She forced a smile.
“There was confusion.””
Mr. Collins looked at her.
“Confusion involving a forged signature is not something we ignore.””
Vanessa’s face tightened.
My father leaned forward.
“Tell us about the second account.””
Vanessa went completely still.
Mr. Collins looked confused.
“Second account?””
Dad watched her carefully.
“You heard me.””
Vanessa stood.
“I’m leaving.””
“No.””
My father’s voice stopped her.
“You’re going to answer.””
She looked at him.
“You don’t own me.””
“No.””
He nodded.
“But I do have a responsibility to my daughter.””
The bank manager returned to his computer.
“Actually, there is another account connected to this trust.””
My stomach dropped.
My father looked at him.
“What kind?””
Mr. Collins hesitated.
“One created under a family management agreement.””
“Who controls it?””
He looked at the screen.
“Vanessa Cross.””
My father slowly turned toward her.
“How much?””
Mr. Collins typed.
Then stopped.
“I’m sorry.””
“What?””
“There’s a withdrawal request pending.””
My father stood.
“Pending for how much?””
The manager looked up.
“Forty thousand dollars.””
My entire body went cold.
“When?””
“Today.””
Vanessa immediately reached for her purse.
“I can explain.””
My father stepped in front of her.
“Explain why you’re trying to take more money today?””
She looked angry now.
Not afraid.
Angry.
“Because I’m tired of being treated like a villain.””
I stared at her.
“You took my mother’s money.””
She looked at me.
“You think everything belongs to you.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“I think the things my mother left for me belong to me.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then my father’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What is it?””
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then his face turned pale.
“What do you mean the house records?””
I looked at him.
“Dad?””
He ended the call slowly.
“What happened?””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“The person who called said they found something in the house.””
“What?””
My father swallowed.
“Something hidden in your mother’s old room.””
My heart stopped.
May you like
Because nobody had entered that room in years.
Except Vanessa.
