Chapter 4
The attorney introduced himself as Victor Howard.
He was a middle-aged Black man wearing a perfectly tailored navy suit.
He looked uncomfortable standing beside Denise.
My father didn't invite them inside immediately.
"What financial interests?" Dad asked.
Denise smiled.
"Our marital assets."
Dad stared at her.
"You've been transferring money from my company, and you're worried about protecting yourself?"
Victor cleared his throat.
"Mr. Carter, I'm here to discuss a possible separation and the preservation of assets."
Dad folded his arms.
"Then you can speak to my attorney."
Denise rolled her eyes.
"Marcus, don't make this difficult."
He looked at her.
"You brought a lawyer to my door after secretly moving nearly two hundred thousand dollars. Difficult started a long time ago."
Victor's expression changed.
He glanced at Denise.
"Nearly two hundred thousand?"
She shot him a sharp look.
"Marcus is exaggerating."
Dad shook his head.
"I have bank records."
Victor became very still.
Then he adjusted his briefcase.
"Perhaps this discussion should take place after both parties have independent legal representation."
Dad nodded.
"Agreed."
Denise looked furious.
"Victor!"
He spoke quietly.
"Mrs. Carter, I strongly recommend we leave."
She turned toward Dad.
"You'll regret treating me like this."
Dad didn't move.
"Goodnight, Denise."
He closed the door.
I stood near the staircase, stunned.
For the first time, I'd seen someone refuse to let Denise control the conversation.
Dad turned toward me.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded.
But I wasn't.
I was frightened.
Because Denise had never accepted losing.
And I knew she would do something to punish us.
The next morning, Dad arranged for me to stay with Grandma Ruth.
She lived an hour away in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by tall oak trees.
I hadn't spent much time with her since Denise joined our family.
There was always an excuse.
Grandma was too busy.
The drive was too far.
I had too much homework.
Now I wondered whether Denise had deliberately kept us apart.
When Grandma opened the door, she immediately pulled me into a hug.
"My baby!"
I started crying.
She held me tightly.
Then she looked at Dad.
"Marcus, what happened?"
He lowered his eyes.
"Mom, I need to tell you something."
We sat together in her living room.
Dad explained the shopping bags.
The bank statement.
The transfers.
The townhouse.
And finally, the notebook.
Grandma listened in silence.
When he finished, she stared at him.
"Five years?"
Dad nodded.
"Five years, Marcus?"
His eyes filled.
"I didn't know."
Grandma's voice became firm.
"You didn't want to know."
Dad lowered his head.
I looked at her.
"Grandma—"
She took my hand.
"No, sweetheart. Your father needs to hear this."
Then she turned back to him.
"Do you remember when I called you two Christmases ago and told you Maya sounded unhappy?"
Dad nodded.
"You said I was overreacting."
He looked ashamed.
Grandma continued.
"Do you remember when I asked why Maya never came to visit anymore?"
He whispered:
"Denise said Maya didn't want to."
Grandma shook her head.
"And you believed her."
Dad covered his face.
"I know."
Grandma leaned forward.
"You lost your first wife. I understand how lonely you were. But you were never supposed to let another woman make your child feel like she lost both parents."
The room went silent.
Dad began crying.
I'd seen him emotional before.
But never like that.
His shoulders shook.
Grandma softened.
She stood and embraced him.
"Baby, I'm not saying this to destroy you."
He held her tightly.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"I know. But now you need to become the father Maya needs."
He nodded.
"I will."
Grandma looked at me.
"And you, sweetheart, are staying right here as long as you need."
For the first time in months, I felt safe enough to breathe.
That afternoon, Dad went to meet his attorney.
His name was Daniel Brooks.
Daniel had known my father for more than fifteen years.
He specialized in business disputes and financial litigation.
Before Dad left, he knelt beside my chair.
"Maya, I'm going to handle the legal problems. You don't need to fix anything."
I looked at him.
"Are you going to lose the company?"
He hesitated.
"I don't know yet."
My stomach tightened.
"It's because I found the statement."
He shook his head.
"No. If money was taken improperly, whoever took it is responsible."
I started crying.
He hugged me.
"Don't ever blame yourself for telling the truth."
Then he left.
Grandma spent the evening cooking my favorite meal.
Fried chicken.
Mashed potatoes.
Green beans.
And peach cobbler.
When she placed a second helping on my plate, I hesitated.
She noticed immediately.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
I looked down.
"Denise says I eat too much."
Grandma froze.
Then she sat beside me.
"Maya, look at me."
I raised my eyes.
"Food is not something you have to earn."
My throat tightened.
She took my hand.
"You are growing. You're studying. You're living. You deserve to be fed and cared for."
I started crying.
Grandma hugged me.
"Nobody in this house is going to make you ashamed of being hungry."
That night, I slept better than I had in years.
But the next morning, my phone began buzzing.
Message after message.
They were from Tasha.
"You ruined everything."
"Mom is crying because of you."
"You think you're special because Marcus believes you now?"
Then another message appeared.
"You better hope he doesn't find out what happened to your college money."
I stared at the screen.
My heart began pounding.
College money?
Dad had been saving for my education since I was little.
He always told me I wouldn't have to worry about tuition.
But Denise had started managing the household accounts two years earlier.
I reread Tasha's message.
Then I took screenshots.
I called Dad immediately.
He answered.
"Hey, sweetheart."
"Dad, I need to show you something."
My voice shook.
"What happened?"
"Tasha sent me messages."
"About what?"
I swallowed.
"My college fund."
There was a long silence.
Then Dad asked:
"What about your college fund?"
May you like
I stared at the final message on my phone.
"Dad, I think there's more money missing."
