Chapter 9: The Car In The Driveway
I couldn’t move.
Madison.
The money taken from my mother’s account had bought Madison’s car.
The same Madison who cut my dress.
The same Madison who destroyed my shoes.
The same Madison who said everyone was tired of hearing my father praise me.
My father walked outside.
I followed.
Sitting in the driveway was a brand-new black SUV.
I had seen it before.
I just never asked where it came from.
Madison came downstairs.
She stopped when she saw our faces.
“What?””
My father pointed at the vehicle.
“When did you get this?””
She looked away.
“Last month.””
“With what money?””
She didn’t answer.
Vanessa walked outside behind her.
“Daniel, don’t do this.””
My father turned.
“Don’t do what?””
“Attack my daughter.””
“No.””
His voice was calm.
“I’m asking why my daughter’s money paid for this.””
Madison looked confused.
“My money?””
I looked at her.
“Your SUV was bought with money from my mother’s account.””
Her face changed.
“What?””
Vanessa immediately stepped in.
“Madison had nothing to do with it.””
My father looked at her.
“That’s not what the records say.””
Madison looked at her mother.
“Mom?””
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
“Don’t panic.””
That was when Madison realized.
She hadn’t known.
Not everything.
“You lied to me?””
Vanessa’s expression softened.
“I was protecting you.””
“No.””
Madison pulled away.
“You told me Dad bought it.””
The silence afterward was brutal.
My father looked devastated.
Even though Madison had hurt me, seeing her realize her own mother had used her was painful.
“Why?”” Madison whispered.
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Madison looked at me.
“Emily…”
I expected an excuse.
A lie.
Something.
Instead, she said:
“I really didn’t know.””
I didn’t know whether to believe her.
My father walked back inside.
“Everyone is going to sit down.””
Nobody argued.
For the first time, Vanessa looked like she had lost control.
At the table, my father placed the documents in front of us.
“There is still one question.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“Where is the rest of the money?””
She crossed her arms.
“I don’t know.””
My father stared.
“Then why did someone see you opening a safety deposit box yesterday?””
Her face changed.
A tiny reaction.
But everyone saw it.
“What safety deposit box?””
My father leaned back.
“That’s what I’m asking.””
Vanessa stood.
“You’re spying on me now?””
“No.””
He looked at her.
“I’m finally paying attention.””
Then his phone buzzed.
He opened the message.
A photo appeared.
A bank employee standing beside a locked box.
And beneath it was a note:
“We found what Vanessa was hiding.””
My father looked at me.
Then at Vanessa.
May you like
And Vanessa whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“Daniel… don’t open that box.””
