Chapter 5: The Name Behind the Loans
I couldn’t speak.
The kitchen was silent except for the ticking clock above the refrigerator.
Someone had been planning this.
Not accidentally.
Not because of one bad decision.
Planning.
I looked at Daniel.
“Who?””
He rubbed his face.
“I don’t know.””
I stared at him.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
He looked away.
That was enough.
“You do know.””
Vanessa stepped in.
“Emily, stop attacking him.””
I turned toward her.
“You’re protecting him again.””
“I’m protecting this family.””
“No.””
I pointed between them.
“You’re protecting yourselves.””
Daniel walked toward the table and picked up the old document.
His hands were shaking.
“I never wanted this to happen.””
I looked at him.
“But it did.””
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
The honesty almost hurt more.
“Why?””
He looked at the floor.
“Because I was desperate.””
I waited.
Finally, he continued.
“Three years ago, my business started failing.””
I frowned.
“What business?””
“You remember my consulting company?””
I did.
The company he always claimed was doing well.
The company that suddenly required more meetings.
More travel.
More money.
“I thought you were successful.””
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
“I wanted everyone to think that.””
Vanessa sat down.
For once, she looked uncomfortable.
“I tried to help him.””
I looked at her.
“By stealing from me?””
She looked away.
“No.””
“Then what?””
Nobody answered.
I grabbed the document.
“Tell me the truth.””
Daniel looked at me.
“The first identity check wasn’t for a loan.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then what was it for?””
He hesitated.
“It was for approval.””
“For what?””
His silence was unbearable.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“A business account.””
I froze.
“You opened a business account using my identity?””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No. Not exactly.””
I laughed.
“Not exactly?””
He stepped closer.
“I never opened anything myself.””
I stared at him.
“Then who did?””
He looked at Vanessa.
My heart sank.
“Vanessa.””
She looked angry.
“Don’t put this all on me.””
Daniel’s voice broke.
“You told me it was temporary.””
“It was.””
“You said nobody would notice.””
I felt sick.
They were arguing like I wasn’t standing there.
Like my life wasn’t being destroyed in front of them.
I raised my voice.
“Stop.””
They both looked at me.
“I need the truth.””
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she smiled.
Not kindly.
“You really think your father is innocent?””
Daniel went quiet.
That scared me.
“What are you saying?””
Vanessa walked to the cabinet.
She pulled out another folder.
This time, she didn’t hide it.
She placed it on the table.
“You want answers?””
She opened it.
“Look.””
Inside were bank records.
Account statements.
Emails.
And one name appeared again and again.
Not mine.
Not Daniel’s.
Someone else’s.
I looked closer.
My blood turned cold.
Because the account holder wasn’t Vanessa.
It wasn’t my father.
It was someone I knew.
Someone who had been around my family for years.
I looked up.
“Who is this?””
Daniel’s face changed.
He whispered:
“Emily…”
“No.””
I pointed at the paper.
“Tell me.””
He closed his eyes.
Then he said the name.
“Mark Collins.””
I froze.
Mark.
My father’s closest business partner.
The man who used to bring me birthday gifts when I was younger.
The man who always told me I was like a daughter to him.
I looked at Daniel.
“He did this?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That was all the answer I needed.
Then my phone buzzed.
Another message.
I opened it.
A picture appeared.
It showed my bedroom.
My desk.
My camera savings notebook.
Someone had taken a photo inside my room.
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Underneath the image was one sentence:
*“You should have stopped digging.””*
