Chapter 5: The Account My Father Left Behind
My father's savings account had been untouched for almost six years.
He had opened it shortly before his death.
When I was younger, he'd always told me that money wasn't meant to make someone rich.
It was meant to give the next generation a chance.
After he passed away, I kept the account separate from our household finances.
I added money whenever I could.
My plan was simple.
When Noah turned eighteen, I'd give him enough to start college without drowning in debt.
Vanessa knew about the account.
But she'd never had access to it.
At least, that's what I'd believed.
I picked up the bank notification.
"Mom, what exactly happened?""
Evelyn looked at the paper.
"I went to the bank because I wanted to deposit the money Vanessa owed me.""
"Okay.""
"The teller told me there had been an attempted withdrawal using my identification.""
I frowned.
"Your identification?""
"Yes. Someone presented documents claiming I was authorizing a transfer.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was gripping the back of a chair so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
"Was the money taken?""
"No. The bank employee noticed something unusual and refused to process it.""
I exhaled.
"Thank God.""
But my mother wasn't finished.
"The employee also told me the request included a change of contact information.""
I looked at her.
"Whose contact information?""
"An email address I didn't recognize.""
Vanessa suddenly interrupted.
"This is absurd. You're twisting everything.""
I turned toward her.
"Then tell us the truth.""
"I already told you. I didn't steal anything.""
"Did you try to access my father's account?""
"No!""
"Did you use my mother's identification?""
"I said no!""
Marcus cleared his throat.
"Vanessa, perhaps you should tell him about the document you asked me to prepare.""
She whipped around.
"Marcus, shut up.""
He took a step backward.
I stared at him.
"What document?""
Marcus opened his folder and removed a folded sheet.
"This was a preliminary authorization form. She wanted to use the proceeds from the property sale to settle an outstanding debt.""
I looked at the paper.
"Whose debt?""
He glanced at Vanessa.
"She told me it belonged to her brother.""
Vanessa shook her head furiously.
"That's not what I said.""
"Then what did you say?"" I asked.
Marcus hesitated.
"You said someone had lent you money, and you needed to repay it before the end of the month.""
I looked at my wife.
"How much?""
Marcus checked the paperwork.
"Approximately sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
My mouth went dry.
"Sixty-eight thousand?""
Vanessa sank into her chair.
"Daniel, I can explain.""
I placed both hands on the table.
"Start talking.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Two years ago, I made a mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"I borrowed money.""
"From whom?""
She looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
"Not me.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"From someone I knew.""
"How much?""
"Thirty thousand.""
I stared at her.
"Where did you get the other thirty-eight thousand?""
She didn't answer.
My mother leaned forward.
"Vanessa, tell him about the investment.""
Vanessa looked at her sharply.
"Don't.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
"What investment?""
Evelyn looked devastated.
"She told me she had invested in a small business with a friend. She said it was going to generate enough money for Madison's future.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you?""
She nodded faintly.
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
"It failed.""
"How much did you lose?""
She covered her face.
"Everything.""
I sat down slowly.
For a few seconds, I could hear only the refrigerator humming in the kitchen.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
"Did you gamble?""
Vanessa's head snapped up.
"No!""
"Did you put the money into some kind of betting scheme?""
"No, Daniel!""
Marcus shifted uncomfortably.
"Mr. Carter, I think the debt may be connected to an online investment platform.""
Vanessa glared at him.
"You're making this worse!""
I turned toward Marcus.
"What platform?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know the full details. I only saw the repayment documents.""
My mother reached across the table and touched my wrist.
"Daniel, I didn't want to tell you without evidence.""
I looked at her.
"How long have you known?""
"About three weeks.""
"Three weeks?""
She nodded.
"I wanted to give Vanessa an opportunity to tell you herself.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Everyone keeps giving her opportunities. Meanwhile, my son is being charged rent.""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
That silence hurt.
Because my mother had been there.
She'd watched Noah grow up.
She'd attended his birthday parties, bought him books, and held his hand when he was afraid of thunderstorms.
How had none of us noticed what was happening?
Then I remembered something.
"Mom, why did Madison say you gave Vanessa the papers?""
Evelyn looked confused.
"What papers?""
"The loan application. She said you gave Vanessa the documents.""
My mother slowly shook her head.
"I never gave her anything.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Stop questioning my daughter!""
I turned toward her.
"Then explain why she said it.""
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
"I'm done with this conversation.""
"Sit down.""
"No.""
She walked toward the hallway.
I moved away from the table, but before I could reach her, Madison appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"Mom?""
Vanessa stopped.
"What now?""
Madison held a small white envelope.
"You told me to hide this if Dad ever found out.""
Vanessa's handbag slipped from her shoulder.
The envelope landed on the floor.
Madison looked at me.
"I didn't know what it was.""
I crouched down.
"That's okay, sweetheart.""
She handed it to me.
Inside was a printed email conversation.
The first message was dated eleven months earlier.
The sender's name was Evelyn Carter.
My mother's name.
But the email address wasn't hers.
I read the first line.
Then the second.
My hands started shaking.
The message contained instructions about transferring money from my father's account.
And the final sentence read:
Once Daniel signs the paperwork, nobody will ever know where the money went.
I slowly looked up.
"Mom?""
Evelyn was staring at the screen.
She looked as confused as I felt.
Then she whispered:
"That's not my email address.""
Vanessa took one step backward.
May you like
And Madison, crying now, said something that made the room go silent.
"Mom told me Grandma was helping her because Grandma wanted Noah's money gone.""
