Chapter 4 - The Family Meeting
For the next several days, I said nothing.
That was difficult.
Vivian called constantly.
Daniel came to my apartment twice.
I refused to let him in.
Not because I hated him.
Because I needed space to understand what had happened.
The more I investigated, the worse it became.
The suspicious transfer wasn't isolated.
There were others.
Small amounts at first.
Then larger ones.
Some were labeled as property expenses.
Others were listed as administrative costs.
But the money wasn't going where the records claimed.
I built a timeline.
Date.
Amount.
Destination.
Authorization.
Recipient.
I noticed something immediately.
Many of the transfers occurred shortly after conversations I had with Vivian.
Whenever she asked me for money and I refused, another transfer appeared.
I called my attorney.
“We need to freeze everything.”
“Agreed.”
“Can you trace the account?”
“Yes.”
The account belonged to a company I recognized.
Mercer Holdings.
I had seen the name before.
It had been associated with one of Daniel's father's properties.
But there was something strange.
The company was still active.
And someone was using it.
I asked for the ownership documents.
My attorney sent them.
I read them twice.
The listed manager wasn't Daniel.
It wasn't Vivian either.
It was a third party.
Someone I had never heard of.
I called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
“Emma?”
“Did your father ever have a company called Mercer Holdings?”
“Yes.”
“Who runs it now?”
He hesitated.
“Why?”
“Daniel.”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“No.”
“Then find out.”
He became defensive.
“Why are you investigating my family?”
“Because money is disappearing.”
“What?”
“I found unauthorized transfers.”
Silence.
“Where?”
“From accounts connected to the Mercer properties.”
Daniel's voice changed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I'll come over.”
“No.”
“Emma…”
“I'm handling it.”
“You don't trust me.”
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't.
Not completely.
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, “You're right.”
That surprised me.
“I should have protected you.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't.”
“No.”
“I don't know how to fix it.”
“Start by telling the truth.”
There was a long silence.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
“I think Mom has another account.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“After Dad died, Mom told me there was an emergency account.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Does she?”
“Yes.”
“Then ask her.”
“I will.”
But he didn't.
Because Vivian called him first.
That evening, Daniel sent me a message.
Mom says you're accusing her of stealing.
I stared at the screen.
I replied:
I'm following the money.
He didn't respond.
The next morning, Vivian appeared outside my apartment.
She didn't come alone.
Two relatives stood behind her.
She looked furious.
“You've humiliated this family.”
I stayed inside.
“You need to leave.”
“You've frozen accounts.”
“Accounts I was paying.”
“You have no right.”
“I have every right to stop funding them.”
“You married my son.”
“Not your debts.”
Her face reddened.
“You're selfish.”
I looked at her through the doorway.
“No. I'm finished.”
She raised her voice.
“Daniel will leave you.”
I felt the words hit me.
Not because I believed them.
Because I realized she thought that threat still worked.
I opened the door.
“Then he'll leave.”
Vivian stared at me.
“But I'm not giving you my life to keep him.”
She stepped closer.
“You think you're better than us?”
“No.”
I looked her directly in the eyes.
“I think I deserve better.”
She had no answer.
She turned and left.
That night, Daniel came alone.
He looked exhausted.
“Mom admitted something.”
I crossed my arms.
“What?”
“She has an account.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Daniel.”
“She won't tell me.”
“Then we need to find it legally.”
He nodded.
I looked at him.
“Why are you helping me now?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because I finally realized that I was letting fear destroy the person I love.”
I looked away.
“I don't know if that's enough.”
“I know.”
“I don't know if I can trust you again.”
“I know.”
“Then don't ask me to.”
He nodded.
“I won't.”
That was the first honest conversation we'd had in years.
Meanwhile, the investigation continued.
Eventually, the hidden account was discovered.
It contained years of transfers.
Money had been moved into it from several Mercer properties.
Some of the funds had come from accounts I had been helping maintain.
The amount was enormous.
I stared at the final number.
My attorney looked at me.
“This changes everything.”
“How?”
“We now have evidence that the financial problems were not simply inherited.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone was deliberately moving money.”
I felt sick.
“Who?”
“We'll need to prove it.”
Then another document arrived.
A signature.
Vivian's.
I looked at it.
My hands began shaking.
The woman who had spent years telling everyone I owed the family my loyalty had been secretly diverting money.
And she had used the family itself as cover.
I looked at Daniel.
“Your mother didn't just depend on me.”
He nodded slowly.
“She used you.”
The truth hurt.
But it also gave me clarity.
I wasn't responsible for saving them.
May you like
I never had been.
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