Chapter 3 - The Secret Behind My College Fund
I stood outside the kitchen doorway, barely breathing.
Mom was pacing near the marble island.
Her phone was pressed against her ear.
"Andre, lower your voice," she whispered.
I couldn't hear his response.
Then Mom said something that made my stomach tighten.
"We agreed we'd handle it before graduation."
I stepped backward.
My heart was pounding.
I wanted to walk into the kitchen and demand answers.
Instead, I went upstairs.
I didn't know what money they were discussing.
But I knew my name was involved.
And after the morning's argument, I was beginning to wonder how many decisions had been made about my life without anyone asking me.
That evening, Chris returned from work around six.
He carried a grocery bag and looked exhausted.
Mom was waiting in the living room.
I heard her voice before he even reached the stairs.
"We need to talk."
Chris sighed.
"Not in front of Maya."
"I'm not a child," I called from the hallway.
Both of them turned.
Mom looked irritated.
Chris looked concerned.
I walked into the living room.
"What money?"
Mom froze.
"What?"
I crossed my arms.
"I heard you on the phone with Andre."
Her expression hardened.
"You were listening to my private conversation?"
I felt anger rise.
"You said Chris doesn't know about the money."
Chris slowly put down the grocery bag.
"What money?"
Mom looked between us.
Then she laughed nervously.
"It's nothing."
I stared at her.
"Mom, please stop."
She turned toward me.
"Watch your tone."
Chris stepped forward.
"Natasha, answer the question."
For several seconds, the room was silent.
Then she said, "It's about Maya's college savings."
My stomach dropped.
Chris frowned.
"What about them?"
Mom avoided his eyes.
"You know we've been putting money aside."
Chris nodded.
"I've been transferring money every month."
I looked at him.
"What?"
He turned toward me.
"Your mother and I agreed to save for your education."
I felt a strange mixture of relief and confusion.
I knew Chris wanted me to attend college.
But I hadn't realized he'd been setting aside money.
Mom crossed her arms.
"See? Nothing suspicious."
Chris looked at her.
"Then why were you discussing it with Andre?"
She hesitated.
"Because he's Maya's father."
Chris took a slow breath.
"That doesn't explain what you said."
I watched Mom's face.
For the first time, she looked nervous.
Then she snapped, "I'm tired of being interrogated in my own home."
She grabbed her phone and walked upstairs.
Chris stood quietly.
I looked at him.
"Did you know Andre was involved?"
He shook his head.
"No."
My stomach tightened.
"How much money have you saved?"
Chris hesitated.
"Enough that we should review the account together."
I nodded.
"Can we?"
"Yes."
He looked toward the staircase.
"But first, I need to understand what your mother has been doing."
That night, Chris sat at his desk reviewing bank records.
I stayed in my room.
I wanted to give him privacy.
But every few minutes, I heard drawers opening and papers moving.
Around ten, he knocked on my door.
"Maya, are you awake?"
"Yeah."
He stepped inside.
His expression worried me.
"I need to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Did your mother ever tell you she'd opened an education account with Andre?"
I frowned.
"No."
He nodded slowly.
"Has Andre ever mentioned paying for college?"
I shook my head.
"He barely pays for anything."
Chris looked down.
I felt my chest tighten.
"What's wrong?"
He sat beside me.
"I've been contributing money to an account your mother said was dedicated to your education."
I swallowed.
"Okay."
"But the statements I have don't match what I expected."
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
He took a breath.
"It means we need to verify where the money went."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I asked, "How much?"
His jaw tightened.
"Over the years, I've contributed more than thirty thousand dollars."
My mouth fell open.
Thirty thousand dollars.
I thought about every time Chris worked late.
Every weekend he turned down invitations because he said we had financial priorities.
Every time he told me to focus on school because education mattered.
He had been saving for my future.
And now something was wrong.
"Is it gone?" I whispered.
He looked at me.
"I don't know yet."
My eyes filled.
Chris reached for my hand.
"Listen. Your education doesn't depend on one account. We'll make a plan."
I shook my head.
"But you worked so hard."
He smiled sadly.
"I did that because I wanted to."
I started crying.
He hugged me.
Then he said something that changed the way I saw him forever.
"Maya, I don't regret a single dollar I spent helping you grow."
I held him tighter.
For years, Mom had insisted that Andre was my real father.
But sitting there, I understood that biology couldn't explain everything.
Chris had chosen to care for me.
Every day.
Even when it was difficult.
Even when nobody thanked him.
The next morning, Chris contacted the bank and asked for records relating to his transfers.
He also consulted an attorney to understand what information he was entitled to access and how to protect any remaining funds.
Mom was furious.
"You went behind my back?"
Chris looked at her calmly.
"I'm trying to understand where the education money went."
She threw up her hands.
"You're acting like I stole it!"
"I didn't say that."
"Then stop treating me like a criminal!"
I stood in the doorway.
Mom saw me and immediately changed her expression.
"Maya, sweetheart, go upstairs."
I shook my head.
"No."
She stared.
"What?"
"This is about my education."
Her face tightened.
"I said go upstairs."
Chris spoke quietly.
"Natasha, she has a right to ask questions about her own future."
Mom turned toward him.
"There you go again, trying to act like her father!"
The words hung in the air.
Chris went still.
I felt something snap inside me.
"Stop saying that!"
Both of them turned.
My voice was shaking.
"He's been there for me more than anyone!"
Mom looked stunned.
"Maya..."
"No! You don't get to keep throwing that in his face!"
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
"He helped me with school. He took care of me when I was sick. He taught me to drive!"
Mom opened her mouth.
I kept going.
"And now you're acting like he has no right to ask about money he saved for my college?"
Chris looked away.
His eyes were wet.
Mom stood completely still.
Then she whispered, "You don't understand."
I stared at her.
"Then explain it."
She looked at Chris.
Then at me.
Finally, she lowered her voice.
"Andre needed help."
My stomach turned.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"He had some financial problems."
Chris slowly stepped back.
"Natasha..."
She began crying.
"I thought he would pay it back."
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
"How much did you give him?"
Mom covered her face.
Chris repeated the question.
"How much?"
She whispered a number.
"Twenty-four thousand."
I couldn't breathe.
Twenty-four thousand dollars.
Money Chris had saved for my education.
Money Mom had secretly given to the man who barely remembered my birthday.
And when I looked at Chris, I saw something in his face I had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
May you like
Something far worse.
The moment trust finally broke.
