Chapter 7
The first thing I did was call Daniel.
He didn't answer.
I called again.
Nothing.
On the third attempt, he finally picked up.
“Maya.”
His voice sounded annoyed.
“What do you want?”
I stood in my bedroom, looking at the graduation photograph where he'd replaced Marcus.
“I want you to stop.”
He was quiet.
“Stop what?”
“Going after my family.”
He laughed.
“Your family?”
I closed my eyes.
“Yes.”
“Maya, I am your family.”
“Then act like it.”
His tone changed.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
I felt my hands trembling.
But I kept speaking.
“You filed a petition against Marcus.”
“I'm protecting your interests.”
“No. You're trying to get access to my money.”
He sighed dramatically.
“Your mother has filled your head with nonsense.”
I looked at the framed photograph on my dresser.
It showed Marcus teaching me how to ride a bicycle.
I was laughing.
He was running behind me.
His hands were ready to catch me.
“No,” I said quietly.
“Mom hasn't filled my head with anything.”
Daniel scoffed.
“Then why are you attacking me?”
“Because I'm finally paying attention.”
Silence.
Then he spoke.
“You don't understand adult financial matters.”
I felt anger rising.
“I'm eighteen.”
“Exactly. Still a child.”
I took a breath.
“I'm old enough to know you didn't show up for me.”
His voice became sharp.
“I gave you life.”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
“And you should respect that.”
I looked toward the hallway.
Marcus was downstairs making breakfast.
I could hear him humming softly.
The same tune he'd hummed since I was little.
I looked back at my phone.
“Marcus gave me a childhood.”
Daniel went silent.
I continued.
“He taught me to ride a bike.”
“Maya—”
“He helped with homework.”
“Stop.”
“He sat beside me in the hospital.”
“I said stop!”
I felt tears filling my eyes.
“But you know what hurts the most?”
He didn't answer.
“I wanted you to do those things.”
My voice broke.
“I wanted you to be there.”
For a moment, I heard only his breathing.
Then he spoke more quietly.
“I know I made mistakes.”
I froze.
It was the closest he'd ever come to admitting anything.
I waited.
But then he added:
“Your mother made it difficult for me.”
And just like that, the apology disappeared.
I closed my eyes.
“Goodbye, Daniel.”
“Don't hang up on me.”
I ended the call.
Then I sat on my bed and cried.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I was finally grieving the father I'd imagined.
The one who existed only in my hopes.
An hour later, Marcus knocked.
“Breakfast is getting cold.”
I wiped my eyes.
“I'll be down.”
He paused.
“Are you okay?”
I looked toward the door.
“No.”
A moment later, it opened.
Marcus stepped inside.
He didn't ask questions.
He sat beside me.
And waited.
Finally, I told him about the call.
He listened quietly.
When I finished, he nodded.
“That must have been hard.”
I looked at him.
“Why doesn't he love me the way you do?”
Marcus's face changed.
He took my hand.
“Sweetheart, I can't answer what's in Daniel's heart.”
I began crying.
“But I can tell you something.”
I looked up.
“His choices are not a measure of your worth.”
I swallowed.
“You hear me?”
I nodded.
“You were lovable before I met you.”
He smiled gently.
“You were lovable when you were six.”
My eyes filled.
“And you're lovable now.”
I hugged him.
For several minutes, I let myself cry like the little girl I'd spent years pretending I wasn't.
Later that afternoon, I met with Rachel Morgan, our family's attorney.
She explained the legal situation carefully.
Daniel had requested financial information.
But he couldn't simply take control of an educational account that wasn't his.
The request was part of a larger dispute.
Rachel believed it was designed to pressure my parents.
“Can I make a statement?” I asked.
She looked at me.
“Yes, if you choose.”
“I want to.”
“Then it needs to be truthful and voluntary.”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
She asked about my childhood.
My relationship with Marcus.
My relationship with Daniel.
And the college fund.
I told her everything.
Even the embarrassing things.
Especially the embarrassing things.
I told her how I'd begged Marcus to step out of my graduation photograph.
How Daniel had arrived late.
How he'd left immediately.
How Marcus had comforted me afterward.
Rachel listened without interruption.
When I finished, she closed her notebook.
“Maya, I want you to understand something.”
I looked at her.
“You don't owe anyone a performance.”
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You don't need to exaggerate your pain to prove Marcus is a good father.”
I nodded slowly.
“Just tell the truth.”
I looked down.
“The truth is enough?”
She smiled.
“Usually, it's stronger than anything else.”
That evening, my mother received another call.
This time, it wasn't from our attorney.
It was from a woman named Olivia Grant.
I recognized the name.
She was Daniel's former business partner.
My mother placed the call on speaker.
“Claire, I'm sorry to bother you,” Olivia said.
My mother frowned.
“What happened?”
Olivia hesitated.
“I think Daniel is in serious trouble.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of trouble?”
“Financial fraud.”
Marcus looked at my mother.
Olivia continued.
“His investors have been asking questions.”
“About what?”
“Missing money.”
The kitchen became silent.
My mother sat down.
“How much?”
Olivia took a shaky breath.
“More than two hundred thousand dollars.”
I felt sick.
Daniel had been asking about my college fund.
Almost ninety thousand dollars.
Suddenly, I understood why.
Olivia continued.
“I've already spoken with investigators.”
My mother closed her eyes.
“Then why are you calling us?”
“Because Daniel told me something.”
My heart began racing.
“What?”
Olivia's voice trembled.
“He said he had one last source of money.”
I looked at Marcus.
His face had gone pale.
Then Olivia said:
“He mentioned Maya's trust.”
I couldn't breathe.
My father hadn't simply been curious about my savings.
He had been counting on them.
And if he couldn't get the money willingly, I had no idea how far he might go.
That night, I made a decision.
I wasn't going to wait for Daniel to tell another lie.
May you like
I was going to tell the world exactly who had shown up for me.
And exactly what family meant.
