Chapter 2: The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Nobody touched their breakfast.
The smell of fried eggs and fresh coffee suddenly made me nauseous.
I stared at Tyler.
He had gone pale.
"Son," I said, "come here.""
Tyler didn't move.
Vanessa immediately grabbed her phone.
"Marcus, don't.""
I looked at her.
"Why is Maya's money being transferred to Tyler?""
"It's not what you think.""
"Then explain it.""
She shook her head.
"Tyler has nothing to do with this.""
I turned back to him.
"Is that true?""
Tyler finally looked up.
His eyes were red, but he wasn't crying.
"I didn't steal anything.""
"I didn't say you did.""
"Mom transferred money to me.""
Vanessa snapped her fingers toward him.
"Tyler, stop talking.""
He flinched.
That reaction told me more than his words.
I pulled out the chair opposite him.
"Nobody is in trouble for telling the truth. I just need to understand what's happening.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You're taking a fifteen-year-old girl's side against your wife and my son. Do you hear yourself?""
I ignored her.
Tyler rubbed his palms against his jeans.
"Mom said Maya didn't need the money.""
I nodded slowly.
"How much did she give you?""
He looked toward his mother.
She stared at him with a warning expression.
"Tyler.""
He swallowed.
"About four thousand dollars.""
"About?""
"Maybe a little more.""
"Where is it?""
He looked down.
"I bought a car.""
I blinked.
"A car?""
"An old Mustang. I found it online. Mom said it would be a good first car for college.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"With Maya's inheritance?""
She lifted her chin.
"Tyler needed transportation.""
"And Maya needed a school blouse.""
"She has plenty of clothes.""
I glanced at the stained fabric still lying on the table.
"Does that look like plenty to you?""
Vanessa's face reddened.
"You always make me the villain.""
"No, Vanessa. Your decisions are doing that.""
She turned toward her sons.
"Get upstairs. All of you.""
Noah immediately stood.
Ethan followed.
But Tyler remained seated.
"Tyler," Vanessa said sharply.
He looked at his mother.
Then at me.
"Can I tell him something?""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"There's nothing to tell.""
Tyler pushed his chair back.
"Actually, there is.""
He walked toward the kitchen island and took his phone from the counter.
His hands trembled as he opened something.
Then he placed the phone in front of me.
It was a group chat.
The name at the top read:
*THE REAL FAMILY.*
I felt my jaw tighten.
There were four participants.
Vanessa.
Tyler.
Ethan.
Noah.
I scrolled through the messages.
The first one was dated almost ten months earlier.
Vanessa had written:
Your father needs to stop treating Maya like she's the only child in this house.
Ethan had replied:
She gets everything because Grandma left her money.
Vanessa:
Exactly. And I am not going to let that money sit around while my boys struggle.
Tyler:
Dad won't notice if it's small amounts.
Vanessa:
He doesn't check her account. That's why I handle it.
I stopped scrolling.
My hands had begun to shake.
There were messages about shopping trips, transfers, and arguments over Maya's allowance.
Then I saw one from Vanessa.
If Maya asks about the money, tell her Grandma's account was closed. Marcus doesn't need to know.
I looked up.
"How long has this been going on?""
Tyler rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know exactly.""
"Tyler.""
"Since last Christmas.""
Vanessa snatched the phone from the counter.
"That's enough.""
I stood.
"Give it back.""
"It's my son's phone.""
"And those are messages about my daughter's money.""
She clutched it against her chest.
"You have no right to interrogate my children.""
I stared at her.
"You had no right to take money from mine.""
Her lips parted.
For a moment, she had no answer.
Then she did something I would never forget.
She pointed at Maya.
"Your daughter has been manipulating you for years.""
Maya recoiled.
"Stop," I said.
Vanessa continued.
"She knows exactly how to make you feel guilty. She cries, she looks helpless, and suddenly everyone has to rearrange their lives around her.""
Maya began shaking.
"That's not true.""
"Oh, really? Then why does everything become a problem when you don't get your way?""
I stepped between them.
"One more word.""
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Marcus, you are destroying this family over money.""
I looked at my daughter.
She was wearing an old blouse with frayed cuffs and a stain near the collar.
Her shoes had cracks along the sides.
There was a tiny hole in the strap of her schoolbag.
I turned back to Vanessa.
"No. I'm finally noticing what you've been doing to my daughter.""
I took my phone from my pocket and called Daniel Reed, the attorney who had helped my mother establish Maya's fund.
He answered after three rings.
"Marcus? Everything all right?""
"No, Daniel. I need you to check Maya's trust account immediately.""
His tone changed.
"What happened?""
"Someone has been withdrawing money without my authorization.""
There was a pause.
"How much?""
"More than twelve thousand dollars. The account was just emptied.""
"Don't touch any of the documents. Don't delete any messages. I'm coming over.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had become strangely blank.
"Daniel," I continued, "I also need to know who has legal access to the account.""
"Only you and the designated custodian.""
I frowned.
"Who is the custodian?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Your wife was listed as the temporary administrative contact when you signed the original paperwork.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
She was watching me.
"Does that mean she could transfer the money?""
"Not without authorization for certain transactions. But Marcus, there's something else.""
"What?""
"I'll explain when I arrive. I need to review the original documents.""
The call ended.
I lowered my phone.
Vanessa picked up her coffee cup.
Her hand was trembling.
"Well?"" she asked.
"Daniel is coming.""
She let out a frustrated breath.
"You're bringing lawyers into a family matter?""
"Apparently, that's what it takes.""
She walked around the table and stood close to me.
"Think carefully about what you're doing. If you turn this into a legal war, you might lose more than money.""
I looked directly into her eyes.
"Are you threatening me?""
"I'm warning you.""
She picked up her handbag.
Then she walked toward the staircase.
"Where are you going?"" I asked.
"To pack.""
I frowned.
"Pack what?""
"My things.""
"You live here.""
She turned around.
"Not if my husband has already decided I'm a criminal.""
She climbed the stairs.
A few seconds later, a bedroom door slammed.
Tyler remained standing by the kitchen island.
I looked at him.
"Did you know she was taking all of Maya's money?""
He hesitated.
"Not all of it.""
"How much did you know?""
He stared at the floor.
"Mom said she was only borrowing it.""
"And did she pay it back?""
He shook his head.
I sat down.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Tyler's eyes filled.
"Because she said if I told you, you'd send us away.""
I looked toward the staircase.
For the first time, I began wondering whether Vanessa had been using the same fear against all four children.
Then Tyler said something that made my blood run cold.
"There's another reason Mom wanted Maya's money gone.""
I looked at him.
"What reason?""
He swallowed.
"She told us that once Maya turned sixteen, she was going to have to leave this house.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
Tyler shook his head.
"She said she had already made arrangements.""
"With whom?""
He looked toward the staircase.
May you like
Then whispered:
"With a woman who came here while you were at work.""
