Chapter 2
I stared at the bank statement in Grandma's hand.
My father moved toward her.
"Give me that."
Grandma stepped away.
"No."
"Mom, those are private financial records."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Private?"
Then she turned toward me.
"Maya, have you been transferring money to your father every month?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"How much?"
I swallowed.
"Eight hundred dollars."
Dad looked away.
Grandma's face tightened.
"For how long?"
"Eight months."
She closed her eyes.
I continued.
"He told me the mortgage payments had increased."
Grandma slowly opened her eyes.
"Maya, this house doesn't have a mortgage."
For a moment, I couldn't understand the words.
"What?"
"It's been paid off for almost six years."
I stared at her.
Then at Dad.
He remained silent.
My stomach tightened.
"Dad?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"Things are complicated."
I took one step toward him.
"You told me we were behind on payments."
He didn't answer.
"You said the bank might take the house."
"Maya—"
"You said if I didn't help, we'd lose everything!"
He looked irritated.
"Lower your voice."
Something inside me snapped.
"No!"
My own shout startled me.
For years, I'd spoken softly whenever Dad became angry.
I'd apologized for things I didn't do.
I'd handed over money because I thought he was struggling.
And now Grandma was telling me the emergency never existed.
I looked at the statement.
"Where did my money go?"
Grandma placed it on the table.
I recognized the account number immediately.
It belonged to the checking account where I deposited money for Dad.
But the withdrawals told a different story.
Two thousand dollars transferred to Vanessa Brooks.
Another fifteen hundred.
Then three thousand.
The dates made my head spin.
I pointed at one transaction.
"That's the week I worked overtime."
Dad stared at the floor.
I'd taken extra shifts at the medical billing office where I worked.
Twelve-hour days.
Six days straight.
My feet ached so badly that I soaked them in warm water every night.
I thought I was helping save our home.
Instead, my father had transferred the money to a woman I'd never met.
"Who is Vanessa?"
He crossed his arms.
"She's a friend."
Grandma laughed without humor.
"A very expensive friend."
Dad glared at her.
"Stay out of my personal life."
Grandma pointed toward me.
"Your personal life became our business when you started taking Maya's money."
I felt physically sick.
"Are you dating her?"
Dad hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
I stared at him.
"How long?"
"Almost a year."
A year.
He'd been seeing her before he started asking me for money.
I looked at the suitcases.
Then back at him.
"Does she want to move here?"
Dad didn't answer.
Grandma spoke quietly.
"That's exactly what he planned."
I turned toward her.
"What?"
She pulled another paper from her handbag.
It was a printed message.
Dad's name appeared at the top.
Below it was a conversation with Vanessa.
I read the first sentence.
Once Maya leaves, we can finally turn her room into the nursery.
My breath caught.
Nursery?
I looked at Dad.
"Is she pregnant?"
His face changed.
Then he whispered, "Yes."
The room seemed to tilt.
I grabbed the back of the sofa.
For months, Dad had complained that I took up too much space.
He criticized my clothes.
My work schedule.
My groceries.
Everything.
Now I understood.
He wasn't trying to teach me independence.
He wanted my bedroom for his new family.
"How far along?" I asked.
He swallowed.
"Four months."
I stared at him.
"You're having another baby."
He nodded.
I tried to smile.
I wanted to feel happy.
A baby wasn't responsible for any of this.
But the timing hurt.
Especially when I remembered the day Dad told me he couldn't afford to help with my college tuition.
I'd wanted to study nursing.
Mom had always encouraged me.
But after she died, Dad claimed our finances were too uncertain.
So I worked instead.
Now I wondered how many opportunities I'd surrendered because he wanted me financially dependent.
Grandma guided me toward the sofa.
"Sit down, sweetheart."
I shook my head.
"I need answers."
Dad sighed.
"Maya, Vanessa and I want to build a family."
I stared at him.
"We are a family."
He looked away.
I felt tears spill down my cheeks.
"Or did you forget?"
His jaw tightened.
"Don't twist my words."
I pointed toward the luggage.
"Then why did you pack my things?"
He said nothing.
"Why didn't you just tell me the truth?"
His expression hardened.
"Because you would've made everything difficult."
I almost laughed.
Difficult.
That was what he called my grief when Mom died.
Difficult.
That was what he called my desire to attend college.
Difficult.
And apparently, asking why he was taking my money made me difficult too.
Grandma stood.
"Marcus, you're leaving tonight."
He turned sharply.
"Mom!"
"You can stay elsewhere while we sort this out."
He shook his head.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Grandma placed her hands on her hips.
"This property belongs to Maya and me."
He laughed bitterly.
"You can't just throw me out."
Grandma's voice remained steady.
"You're right. We'll handle possession legally if we have to. But you will not threaten or intimidate my granddaughter."
Dad stared at her.
Then grabbed his car keys.
"Fine."
He pointed toward me.
"Enjoy your victory."
I stood.
"Dad, this isn't a victory."
He paused.
I looked at him through tears.
"I just wanted you to love me."
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then his phone rang again.
Vanessa.
He glanced at it.
And whatever tenderness I'd seen disappeared.
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
"You're going to regret making me choose."
The door slammed.
I stood motionless.
Grandma came beside me.
She wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"Baby, he was never supposed to make you compete."
I started sobbing.
She held me.
For several minutes, I couldn't speak.
Then Grandma whispered something that made me pull away.
"Maya, there's another reason I added your name to the deed."
I wiped my eyes.
"What reason?"
Her expression became serious.
"Your mother left something for you."
My heart tightened.
"What?"
Grandma took a slow breath.
"Something your father was supposed to protect."
I stared at her.
May you like
Then she said the words that changed everything.
"And I think he's been spending it."
