Chapter 7: The Secret Behind My Sister's Golden Life
My father's words followed me all the way home.
"Your mother has been hiding something from both of us.""
We sat in his truck outside the eye clinic. The engine was off, and the late afternoon sun reflected against the windshield.
I held my surgery confirmation in my lap.
"What kind of debts?""
My father, Robert, rubbed his forehead.
"Credit cards. Personal loans. Payments she made for Tessa.""
"How much?""
He looked at me.
"Almost forty thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Forty thousand?""
He nodded.
"Your sister has been spending more than she earns. Designer clothes, beauty treatments, vacations with friends, expensive restaurants. Your mother kept paying the bills because she didn't want Tessa to feel embarrassed.""
I couldn't understand it.
Tessa had never worked a full-time job. She had dropped out of community college after one semester and spent most of her time posting photographs online.
Meanwhile, I had been working part-time at a grocery store, baking at night, and saving every dollar for my surgery.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I didn't know how much it had become until last month.""
"Then why didn't you stop Mom?""
My father looked down.
"Because I made the mistake of thinking your mother would eventually handle it.""
I let out a bitter laugh.
"She handles everything by making me pay for it.""
He didn't argue.
Instead, he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a folded envelope.
"I found these in the study.""
I opened it.
Inside were several credit card statements and loan notices.
Some were addressed to Gloria.
Others were addressed to Tessa.
But one document caught my attention.
It was a bank transfer confirmation.
The amount was $6,500.
The recipient was Tessa.
The date was three days before the competition.
I looked up.
"What's this?""
My father leaned closer.
"I don't know. But your mother withdrew that money from the account we used for household expenses.""
I read the details again.
"She gave Tessa sixty-five hundred dollars?""
"Apparently.""
"For what?""
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
I remembered Gloria's words at the kitchen table.
Tessa deserves this opportunity more than you do.
Suddenly, the sentence sounded different.
My mother hadn't merely wanted Tessa to win.
She had needed her to win.
Perhaps she had already promised someone that Tessa would bring home the prize money.
My father started the engine.
"Let's go home. I want to see the account records.""
I looked at him.
"Are you going to confront her?""
"Yes.""
For once, he sounded certain.
When we arrived, Gloria was sitting in the living room with Tessa.
A shopping bag rested beside the sofa.
Tessa was scrolling through her phone.
Gloria looked up.
"Where have you been?""
My father placed the envelope on the coffee table.
"We need to talk.""
Gloria's expression changed.
"About what?""
"These withdrawals.""
She glanced at the papers.
Then she looked at me.
"Why are you bringing her into our financial matters?""
My father remained standing.
"Because some of the money went directly to Tessa.""
Tessa sat upright.
"What's happening?""
Gloria quickly gathered the papers.
"Nothing. Your father is overreacting.""
He took the envelope back.
"Six thousand five hundred dollars, Gloria. Where did it go?""
"Household expenses.""
"To Tessa's account?""
"She needed help.""
"With what?""
Gloria looked toward her daughter.
Tessa suddenly became very interested in her phone.
My father stepped closer.
"Answer me.""
Gloria sighed.
"She had some payments due.""
"What payments?""
"Credit cards.""
"How much does she owe?""
"That's none of your business.""
Robert stared at her.
"We're married. The money came from our joint account.""
Gloria stood.
"I did what any mother would do.""
I finally spoke.
"Did you use the money to pay Tessa's competition expenses?""
My mother turned toward me.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Then what was the money for?""
Tessa stood up.
"Mom, just tell them.""
Gloria's eyes widened.
"Tessa!""
My sister looked frightened.
But she continued.
"I told you I couldn't keep doing this.""
I looked between them.
"Doing what?""
Tessa rubbed her forehead.
"I borrowed money from someone.""
My father folded his arms.
"How much?""
"About twelve thousand.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"A friend.""
"That's not an answer.""
Tessa started crying.
"It was someone I met online. He said he could help me start a beauty business.""
My father frowned.
"What happened to the business?""
"There wasn't one.""
The room went silent.
Tessa explained that she had invested money in an online business opportunity. The man had promised quick returns and encouraged her to recruit other people.
When she realized it was a scam, she had already borrowed money from several credit cards and a private lender.
Gloria had discovered the situation weeks earlier.
Instead of telling Robert, she had quietly begun making payments.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" my father asked.
Gloria's voice broke.
"Because you would have blamed her!""
"She's twenty years old. She made a mistake. We could have handled it together.""
"You don't understand. She was scared.""
I looked at my mother.
"And you weren't scared when you took my cake?""
Gloria turned toward me.
"That has nothing to do with this.""
"It has everything to do with it. You knew I needed the prize money, and you still gave my work to Tessa.""
Gloria's expression hardened.
"I thought she could win.""
"But she couldn't.""
Tessa covered her face.
My father picked up another statement.
"There's more.""
He looked at Gloria.
"You used the emergency savings account too.""
Gloria said nothing.
"That money was supposed to cover unexpected medical expenses.""
My stomach tightened.
I knew what was coming before he said it.
My father looked at me.
"Your mother withdrew part of the money we had originally set aside for your eye treatment.""
I felt the room tilt.
"How much?""
He answered quietly.
"Four thousand dollars.""
I turned toward Gloria.
"You took money that was supposed to pay for my surgery?""
She looked away.
"I was going to replace it.""
"When?""
"When things improved.""
I laughed, but no humor came out.
"You stole my cake because Tessa needed money. You used my medical savings to pay her debts. And you still think I'm the selfish one?""
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
"I was trying to protect my family.""
I shook my head.
"No, Mom. You were protecting the daughter you chose.""
Tessa began sobbing.
My father told everyone to sit down.
He opened his laptop and started reviewing the statements.
Then he stopped.
His face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He turned the screen toward us.
There was a recent loan application.
It had been submitted using my personal information.
My name.
My date of birth.
My old address.
And beneath the signature was a digital authorization I had never given.
The application was for $15,000.
The applicant had listed me as the primary borrower.
I looked at my mother.
She went completely still.
"Gloria," my father whispered.
"Tell me you didn't do this.""
My mother began to cry.
But this time, I wasn't interested in her tears.
May you like
Because someone had attempted to put my name on another debt.
And I knew exactly who had access to my documents.
