Chapter 4
Dad didn't raise his voice.
That frightened me more than shouting would have.
He stood beside the kitchen island, staring at Claire.
"What second policy?"
Claire clutched her phone.
"Marcus, please."
He took a slow breath.
"Nicole has been dead for six years."
My chest tightened.
Dad continued.
"Why am I only hearing about another insurance policy now?"
Claire shook her head.
"It's not what you think."
Grandma Ruth stepped closer.
"Then tell us what it is."
Claire looked toward me.
Her expression shifted.
Suddenly, she wasn't frightened anymore.
She looked angry.
"Can we stop discussing adult matters in front of Maya?"
I stood.
"No."
Claire narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?"
I held Mom's letter against my chest.
"It's my mother's money."
"You're thirteen."
"And you're stealing from me!"
The words came out before I could stop them.
Claire's face reddened.
Dad immediately moved beside me.
"Maya doesn't need to leave."
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Of course. Your precious daughter gets everything."
I stared at her.
Everything?
I thought about the birthday parties Claire canceled.
The school trips she said were too expensive.
The winter coat I wore for three years while Lily received new clothes every season.
Dad stepped forward.
"Claire, don't start."
She pointed toward me.
"You have no idea what it's like living with a child who reminds you every day that your husband loved someone else first."
The room went silent.
I felt the words strike me like a slap.
Dad's face changed.
"Get out."
Claire blinked.
"What?"
"Leave the room."
She looked shocked.
"Marcus, this is my house."
He shook his head.
"Not while you're speaking to my daughter like that."
I stared at him.
I'd never heard him defend me so strongly.
Claire opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Finally, she stormed upstairs.
Her footsteps echoed above us.
I stood motionless.
Dad turned toward me.
"Maya, look at me."
I couldn't.
He gently touched my shoulder.
"Sweetheart."
My eyes filled.
"Does she hate me because of Mom?"
His face crumpled.
"No."
I shook my head.
"She just said..."
"I heard what she said."
His voice broke.
"And she was wrong."
Grandma Ruth wrapped her arms around me.
I started crying.
For years, I'd tried to be easier to love.
I cleaned my room without being asked.
I helped Lily with homework.
I stopped requesting expensive activities.
I told myself that if I was good enough, Claire would eventually treat me like her daughter.
Now I knew the truth.
I couldn't earn something she didn't want to give.
Dad kissed my forehead.
"You never have to make yourself smaller to belong here."
I cried harder.
Grandma held me until I calmed down.
Then Dad made a phone call.
He contacted an attorney named Rebecca Hayes.
She had handled several business matters for him.
He explained the suspicious transactions and the newly discovered insurance policy.
Rebecca listened.
Then she asked him to send copies of the statements.
Dad opened the laptop.
Grandma helped organize the documents.
I sat beside them, still holding Mom's letter.
Within an hour, Rebecca called back.
Her voice sounded serious.
"Marcus, we need to discuss this in person."
Dad swallowed.
"How bad is it?"
She hesitated.
"Several transfers appear inconsistent with the trust instructions."
My stomach tightened.
Dad looked toward me.
"And the second insurance policy?"
Rebecca paused.
"I found a reference to it in the estate records."
Grandma Ruth leaned forward.
"What reference?"
"The policy designated Maya as the beneficiary through a separate trust arrangement."
I stared at the phone.
Dad closed his eyes.
"How much?"
Rebecca answered quietly.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
My breath caught.
Dad sat down heavily.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand?"
Grandma covered her mouth.
Rebecca continued.
"The funds were supposed to remain protected for Maya's benefit."
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Where are they?"
"That's what we need to determine."
I stared at Mom's letter.
She had worked while she was sick.
She had made plans.
She had worried about my future.
And somebody might have taken everything she'd tried to leave me.
Dad turned toward me.
His eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry, Maya."
I shook my head.
He continued.
"I should have checked those accounts myself."
I wanted to tell him it was okay.
But it wasn't.
Not yet.
I just nodded.
"I know."
The following morning, Dad took me to school.
He waited until we reached the parking lot.
Then he turned off the engine.
"Sweetheart, I want you to know something."
I looked at him.
"I'm going to fix this."
My eyes filled.
"Can you?"
He swallowed.
"I can try."
I nodded.
That answer felt honest.
He didn't promise everything would be perfect.
He didn't pretend the money would magically return.
He just promised to try.
Before I got out, he handed me a small envelope.
Inside was the registration form for the engineering camp I'd wanted to attend.
I stared at it.
"Dad?"
He smiled sadly.
"I called them this morning."
My heart raced.
"They still have a place for you."
I looked up.
"But Claire said..."
Dad shook his head.
"Claire doesn't get to decide whether your dreams matter."
I started crying.
He hugged me across the console.
"You're going, sweetheart."
For the first time in weeks, I smiled.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Lily.
Maya, are you mad at me?
My chest tightened.
I stared at the words.
Lily hadn't taken my money.
She was only eight.
She loved Halloween.
She wanted pretty dresses.
And she'd been taught that getting more than me was normal.
I typed slowly.
No. I'm not mad at you.
A reply appeared immediately.
Mommy says we're leaving because of you.
My smile disappeared.
Another message followed.
She says Daddy doesn't love us anymore.
I stared at the screen.
My stomach twisted.
Claire wasn't just hurting me.
May you like
She was using Lily's fear to punish Dad.
And I realized the fight over our family was far from over.
