Chapter 5
I had never been so frightened in my life.
"Tasha!"
I screamed into the phone.
No answer.
Then I heard footsteps.
A muffled voice.
And the call ended.
Aunt Renee grabbed my shoulders.
"Maya, look at me."
I was shaking.
"Mom found her."
Renee took out her phone.
She called Dad immediately.
He answered.
"Renee?"
"Tasha may be in trouble. Go home now."
Dad's voice changed.
"What happened?"
She explained quickly.
I stood beside her, barely breathing.
Then Dad said, "I'm five minutes away."
Renee looked at me.
"We're going too."
We drove toward the house.
Every red light felt endless.
I kept calling Tasha.
No answer.
I called Mom.
Nothing.
Finally, Dad called.
"She's safe."
I began crying.
"Where is she?"
"With me."
"Is she hurt?"
"No."
I covered my face.
"Thank God."
Dad took a breath.
"Denise was shouting at her. Tasha got frightened and dropped the phone."
I exhaled shakily.
"Can I talk to her?"
A moment later, Tasha came on.
"Maya?"
I started crying harder.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"Mom caught me looking through her things."
I closed my eyes.
"Did she hurt you?"
"No. She just yelled."
I swallowed.
"I'm coming."
Tasha began crying.
"Please hurry."
When we reached the house, Dad was standing in the kitchen.
Tasha sat beside him.
Her eyes were red.
I rushed toward her.
She stood.
For a moment, we stared at each other.
Then she threw her arms around me.
"I'm sorry!"
I hugged her tightly.
She sobbed against my sweatshirt.
"I'm so sorry, Maya."
I held her.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not."
She pulled back.
"I knew they weren't taking you."
My heart tightened.
"I know."
She wiped her cheeks.
"But I didn't know Mom was going to send you away."
I nodded.
"I believe you."
Tasha looked relieved.
Then she reached into her pocket.
She pulled out the black notebook.
Dad stared at it.
"Where did you get that?"
"Mom's dresser."
He took it carefully.
Aunt Renee stood beside him.
He opened the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed.
"Denise."
Mom stood near the hallway.
She looked defeated.
Dad held up the notebook.
"What is this?"
Mom swallowed.
"Raymond's plan."
I felt cold.
"His plan?"
She nodded.
Dad read aloud.
"Travel June fourth. Complete investment presentation June sixth. Remove Maya before departure."
He looked at Mom.
"Why does it say remove Maya?"
Mom began crying.
"Raymond said she would complicate things."
I stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because the investment was connected to her trust."
Dad shook his head.
"That still doesn't explain the runaway story."
Mom covered her face.
I felt my stomach twist.
Dad turned another page.
There were handwritten instructions.
Create conflict.
Document refusal.
Arrange temporary guardianship.
Explain absence as voluntary.
I stared at the words.
They had planned everything.
The arguments.
The accusations.
The supposed refusal to travel.
Mom hadn't simply lost her temper in the kitchen.
She had been following instructions.
I looked at her.
"You made me think I was the problem."
She began crying harder.
"Maya—"
"You told Dad I didn't want to go."
"I know."
"You told Tasha I was selfish."
She lowered her head.
"You told everyone I was ruining the vacation."
My voice broke.
"Because you needed an excuse to get rid of me."
Mom looked devastated.
"I wasn't trying to get rid of you forever."
I stared at her.
"That doesn't make it better."
Dad closed the notebook.
"Where is Raymond?"
Mom shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Call him."
She hesitated.
Dad's voice hardened.
"Denise."
She took out her phone.
Then dialed.
It rang several times.
Finally, a man answered.
"Denise?"
Mom looked at Dad.
He nodded.
She put the call on speaker.
"Raymond, we have a problem."
He sighed.
"What now?"
"Marcus found the paperwork."
Silence.
Then Raymond said, "How?"
Mom looked at me.
"Maya found the travel packet."
Raymond cursed.
Dad stepped closer.
"Raymond, this is Marcus."
There was a long pause.
Then Raymond laughed.
"Well, I guess the secret is out."
Dad's jaw tightened.
"You forged my daughter's signature."
Raymond said nothing.
"You used her trust money."
Another pause.
Dad continued.
"And you planned to send her away while you tried to take the rest."
Raymond's voice hardened.
"You don't understand business."
Dad stared at the phone.
"I understand theft."
Raymond laughed again.
"Careful, Marcus."
I felt a chill.
"Careful of what?" Dad demanded.
"You don't want this becoming public."
Dad looked furious.
"Why not?"
"Because your wife signed everything."
Mom began trembling.
Raymond continued.
"If I go down, Denise goes down too."
I stared at Mom.
She covered her mouth.
Dad's voice became cold.
"Then she will answer for what she did."
Raymond went silent.
For the first time, he seemed surprised.
Dad continued.
"I'm protecting my daughters. Not your secrets."
The call ended.
Mom collapsed onto a kitchen stool.
She began sobbing.
I looked at her.
Part of me wanted to comfort her.
Another part wanted to ask why she hadn't cared about my tears yesterday.
Dad handed the notebook to Aunt Renee.
"Take pictures of every page."
She nodded.
Then he looked at Mom.
"You need to leave the house for now."
Mom stared at him.
"What?"
"I need the girls somewhere they feel safe."
She shook her head.
"Marcus, this is my home."
"And they're our children."
Mom began crying harder.
"You're choosing them over me?"
Dad looked at her.
"Yes."
The word was quiet.
But it changed everything.
For the first time, my father wasn't staying silent.
He was standing beside me.
Mom stared at him.
Then she looked at Tasha.
My sister moved closer to me.
Mom's face crumpled.
She stood slowly.
"I never wanted this."
Dad opened the hallway closet and handed her a coat.
"Then you should have made different choices."
Mom left that evening.
Aunt Renee stayed with us.
Dad called our attorney and gave him the notebook.
He also contacted the authorities.
For the first time in days, I felt like the adults were finally protecting me.
But later that night, Dad received a call from Mr. Bennett.
I was sitting beside him when he answered.
The attorney sounded serious.
"Marcus, we've found the investor Raymond was expecting to meet in Honolulu."
Dad frowned.
"Who?"
"Victor Lang."
I remembered the name in the notebook.
Dad asked, "What do you know about him?"
Mr. Bennett hesitated.
"He's connected to several questionable investment schemes."
Dad closed his eyes.
Then the attorney continued.
"But there's something else."
"What?"
"Victor has already received documents containing Maya's personal information."
I felt cold.
Dad looked at me.
"What documents?"
"A passport copy, trust account information, and a signed authorization."
My hands began shaking.
I had never given Raymond my passport.
I had never authorized anything.
Dad's voice hardened.
"How did he get those?"
Mr. Bennett paused.
"Marcus, I think someone inside your household provided them."
I stared toward the empty hallway.
Mom.
The person who knew where I kept my documents.
The person who had access to my room.
May you like
The person who told me she was protecting my future.
And suddenly, I was afraid the nightmare was far from over.
