Chapter 6
I spent that night staring at the ceiling.
Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined Denise sitting at our kitchen table, smiling as she planned how to take money from me.
I remembered all the times she called me ungrateful.
All the times she made me feel guilty for asking about my future.
And I wondered how long she'd been planning everything.
The next morning, Dad explained the insurance settlement.
When Mom died, she left behind a life insurance policy.
Part of the money helped pay our family's immediate expenses.
Another portion had been placed into a protected account intended for my education and future needs.
Dad had managed it carefully.
But the newest documents showed someone had recently attempted to redirect a large distribution.
The amount was ninety thousand dollars.
I stared at him.
"Ninety thousand?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Did she get it?"
"Not according to the records we've seen. The transfer appears to have been stopped for verification."
I exhaled.
But the relief didn't last.
Because Denise had clearly tried.
Dad sat beside me.
"Maya, there's something I need to tell you."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"I've been blaming myself."
My chest tightened.
"Dad—"
He raised his hand gently.
"Please let me finish."
I nodded.
He looked toward the family photographs on the mantel.
"When your mother died, I promised myself I'd protect you."
His voice cracked.
"I worked hard because I wanted you to have everything you needed."
He paused.
"But somewhere along the way, I confused providing money with being present."
My eyes filled.
He continued.
"I thought if the house was comfortable and the bills were paid, everything was okay."
I shook my head.
"You were doing your best."
He smiled sadly.
"That doesn't mean I didn't make mistakes."
I leaned against him.
"I just wanted you to notice me."
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"I know."
I whispered, "I missed you."
He kissed my forehead.
"I missed you too, sweetheart."
We sat quietly.
Then Dad said, "I'm changing my work schedule."
I looked up.
"What?"
"I'm stepping back from some of my travel."
"But your business—"
"My business will survive."
He smiled.
"I only have one daughter."
I started crying.
He hugged me.
"And I refuse to miss another year of your life."
Later that morning, Mr. Harris called with important news.
The bank's fraud department had uncovered more suspicious activity.
Several transactions involved accounts connected to Calvin Brooks.
Investigators had also identified payments to a company Denise had formed shortly after marrying Dad.
The company was called D&B Lifestyle Management.
I stared at the name.
"D&B?"
Dad nodded.
"Denise and Brooks."
Mr. Harris explained that the business appeared to have received funds from multiple sources, including accounts connected to my inheritance.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Marcus, another person has contacted my office."
Dad frowned.
"Who?"
"Calvin Brooks's former business partner."
My stomach tightened.
"What does he want?"
"He says he has documents showing Denise was aware of the transfers."
Dad leaned forward.
"Can we trust him?"
"We'll verify his claims before relying on anything."
The man agreed to meet with investigators.
His name was Aaron Price.
According to Mr. Harris, Aaron had worked with Calvin for several years before leaving their company.
He claimed Calvin had been moving client funds between accounts without proper authorization.
When Aaron questioned the transactions, Calvin threatened legal action.
Aaron eventually resigned.
Then he began collecting records.
I listened as Dad spoke with the attorney.
My hands were cold.
Because the more we learned, the less Denise looked like someone who had made a desperate mistake.
She looked like someone who had planned a scheme.
That afternoon, I received a text message.
It came from an unfamiliar number.
Maya, this is Denise. We need to talk.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Your father is making this worse than it needs to be.
My stomach tightened.
A third message followed.
If you tell the investigators you misunderstood the bank documents, we can fix everything.
I immediately showed Dad.
His expression hardened.
"Don't reply."
I nodded.
He forwarded the messages to Mr. Harris.
Then he blocked the number on my phone.
But ten minutes later, another message arrived from a different number.
Think carefully, Maya. You don't want to ruin your family over money.
I began shaking.
Dad took the phone gently.
"You're not dealing with this alone."
He called our attorney.
Mr. Harris advised us to preserve the messages and report the attempted pressure to investigators.
He also recommended that Dad document every contact Denise made.
I felt sick.
"What if she comes here?"
Dad looked at me.
"Then we'll handle it safely. You don't have to speak to her."
I nodded.
But the fear stayed.
That evening, Jordan approached me in the kitchen.
He looked nervous.
"Maya, can I ask you something?"
I nodded.
"Sure."
He glanced toward the hallway.
"Did Mom ever make you sign papers?"
My stomach tightened.
"Yes."
His face changed.
"At the bank?"
I nodded.
"Why?"
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Because she made me sign something too."
My heart pounded.
"What?"
He swallowed.
"Last year. She said it was paperwork for my car."
I stared at him.
"And?"
"Yesterday, I found a copy in my email."
He pulled out his phone.
Then showed me a document.
It wasn't a car purchase agreement.
It was a business loan guarantee.
Jordan's name appeared on the final page.
His signature was there.
But the amount made my stomach drop.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
I looked at him.
"Jordan, did you know about this?"
He shook his head.
"No."
His eyes filled.
"She told me I was signing for insurance."
I felt a chill.
Denise had used her own son too.
Jordan sat down heavily.
"Oh my God."
I looked at him.
"Does Dad know?"
He shook his head.
"Not yet."
I took a breath.
"Then we need to tell him."
We found Dad in his office.
Jordan handed him the phone.
Dad read the document.
Then slowly looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
Jordan explained.
Dad listened.
His face hardened.
Then he said something neither of us expected.
"This changes everything."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Dad looked at Jordan.
"Because now we have proof Denise may have been manipulating more than one child."
Jordan lowered his head.
"I trusted her."
Dad placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That doesn't make this your fault."
Jordan's eyes filled.
It was the first time I'd ever seen him cry.
Dad looked at both of us.
"I'm going to make sure every suspicious account connected to this family gets reviewed."
Then his phone rang.
An investigator.
Dad answered.
His expression changed.
"Yes, this is Marcus Carter."
He listened.
Then looked directly at me.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What happened?"
Dad ended the call.
He took a slow breath.
"Denise and Calvin are being investigated together."
Jordan looked up.
"For what?"
Dad swallowed.
May you like
"Financial fraud."
Then he added quietly, "And the investigators want to interview both of you."
