Chapter 8
The first time I called Arthur "Dad" without thinking, he cried.
We were standing in his kitchen.
He was teaching me how to make his famous peach cobbler.
I'd added too much cinnamon.
He laughed.
I rolled my eyes.
"Dad, it's not that bad."
He went still.
I looked up.
"What?"
His eyes filled.
"Nothing."
I frowned.
"Dad?"
He covered his mouth.
Then laughed through his tears.
"You called me Dad."
I stared at him.
Then smiled.
"I guess I did."
He shook his head.
"I've waited eighteen years to hear that without a crowd around us."
My throat tightened.
I hugged him.
He held me tightly.
For a long moment, the cobbler sat forgotten on the counter.
Then he whispered, "Thank you for giving me a chance."
I pulled back.
"You don't have to thank me."
His eyes filled.
"I do."
I smiled through tears.
We finished the cobbler.
It came out slightly too dark.
But Dad said it was perfect.
I laughed.
For the first time, ordinary moments felt extraordinary.
A kitchen.
A recipe.
A father who wanted to know me.
The things I'd spent my childhood imagining were finally real.
Summer passed quickly.
I started preparing for college.
I'd received a scholarship to study biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech.
The scholarship covered tuition and some expenses.
Before graduation, Marcus told me I should choose a cheaper school.
He said my dreams were unrealistic.
Now Arthur helped me shop for notebooks.
He asked about my classes.
He watched videos about engineering so he could understand what I wanted to study.
One evening, he surprised me with a small toolkit.
I stared at it.
"What's this?"
He smiled.
"Your first engineering kit."
I laughed.
"Dad, you didn't have to."
He shrugged.
"I know."
Then he grinned.
"But I wanted to."
My eyes filled.
I hugged him.
For years, I'd felt guilty whenever anyone spent money on me.
Now Dad was teaching me that gifts could be expressions of love.
Not debts I had to repay.
Meanwhile, the financial case moved forward.
Angela's investigation established that substantial money had been transferred from my education account into Marcus's dealership.
Some funds had been used for business expenses.
Others were moved into personal accounts.
Independent specialists reviewed the disputed signatures and authorizations.
The bank cooperated with the investigation.
Marcus's dealership was placed under financial scrutiny.
I tried not to think about it every day.
But sometimes the anxiety returned.
Especially at night.
I'd wonder whether Marcus would show up at Dad's house.
Whether he'd try to intimidate Mom.
Whether he'd find another way to blame me.
Arthur noticed.
One evening, he found me sitting on the porch.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
I shrugged.
"Nothing."
He sat beside me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, "You know you don't have to pretend with me."
My eyes filled.
I looked at him.
"I'm scared Marcus will come here."
Arthur nodded.
"Okay."
I swallowed.
"What if he does?"
Dad remained calm.
"We won't argue with him. We'll follow the safety plan Angela helped us establish."
I looked at him.
"You really have a plan?"
He nodded.
"Of course."
He explained that we'd documented the threats.
Updated the security system.
And arranged for any necessary contact to go through attorneys.
I exhaled.
For the first time, I felt like someone had taken my fear seriously.
Not mocked it.
Not called me dramatic.
Simply listened.
Dad took my hand.
"You deserve to feel safe in your own home."
My eyes filled.
"I don't think I've ever felt that before."
His face crumpled.
Then he wrapped an arm around me.
"We're going to change that."
I leaned against him.
And for the first time, I believed it.
A few weeks later, Mom asked to meet.
I hesitated.
Then agreed to see her at a quiet café.
Arthur offered to come.
I shook my head.
"I want to do this myself."
He smiled gently.
"Okay."
Then added, "Call me if you need anything."
I nodded.
At the café, Mom was already waiting.
She stood when she saw me.
"Maya."
I smiled faintly.
"Hi."
Her eyes filled.
"You look beautiful."
I looked down at my jeans and sweatshirt.
I laughed nervously.
"Thanks."
We sat.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Mom took a shaky breath.
"I've been going to counseling."
I looked up.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I waited.
She continued.
"I've been trying to understand why I let fear make so many decisions for me."
My throat tightened.
"Okay."
She looked down.
"I can't undo what I did."
I nodded.
"No."
"But I want to stop making excuses."
Her eyes filled.
"I lied about Arthur."
I swallowed.
"Yes."
"I allowed Marcus to control our family."
I nodded.
"And I helped move money that belonged to you."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I was wrong."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
I'd waited years to hear Mom say those words.
Not "I'm sorry you feel that way."
Not "You don't understand."
Just "I was wrong."
I wiped my cheeks.
"Thank you for saying that."
She nodded.
"I know I have to prove I've changed."
I looked at her.
"Yes."
Then I asked something I'd been afraid to say.
"Are you still living with Marcus?"
Mom shook her head.
"No."
My eyes widened.
She continued.
"I moved into a small apartment."
I stared.
"Why?"
Her voice broke.
"Because I finally realized I was afraid of him too."
My chest tightened.
Mom reached for my hand.
"I don't expect you to forgive me quickly."
I looked at her.
She continued.
"But I hope someday we can build something honest."
I squeezed her fingers.
"Maybe we can."
Her face crumpled.
For the first time, hope felt possible.
Not because everything was fixed.
But because Mom was finally telling the truth.
Then my phone rang.
Angela.
I answered.
"Hello?"
Her voice was serious.
"Maya, the independent review has reached a major conclusion."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
She paused.
"The signature on the account closure request was not made by you."
I closed my eyes.
I had known.
But hearing it confirmed made my heart race.
Angela continued.
"And there's evidence connecting the submission to Marcus."
I looked toward Mom.
Her face went pale.
Then Angela added something that made both of us freeze.
"Investigators have also located a second account."
I swallowed.
"What second account?"
She took a breath.
"An account opened using your personal information without your knowledge."
I stared at the table.
Marcus hadn't only taken money from the account Dad created.
May you like
He'd been using my identity to obtain more.
And suddenly, the damage was even bigger than we'd imagined.
