Chapter 4: The Secret Rebecca Hid
Marcus stared at his phone like it was something dangerous.
“Who is it?”” Daniel asked.
Marcus didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, he picked up.
“Hello?””
Everyone watched his face.
At first, he looked confused.
Then shocked.
Then angry.
“What do you mean you need more?””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Marcus, hang up.””
He looked at her.
“No.””
The person on the phone said something.
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Wait… Mom knew?””
Rebecca grabbed his arm.
“Give me the phone.””
Marcus pulled away.
“You knew?””
I watched the realization hit him.
Whatever he was hearing, it was destroying the picture he had of his mother.
“Who are you talking to?”” Daniel demanded.
Marcus ended the call.
Nobody moved.
“Marcus,” my father said, “tell me.””
He looked down.
“It was Coach Reynolds.””
I frowned.
“Your soccer coach?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“He said there was a problem with my training payments.””
Daniel looked confused.
“What training payments?””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“She told me she was paying for extra training.””
My father’s face darkened.
“How much?””
Marcus swallowed.
“I don’t know.””
Daniel turned toward Rebecca.
“Explain.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“It wasn’t what you think.””
“That sentence usually means it’s exactly what I think.””
She became defensive.
“I was investing in Marcus’s future.””
Daniel pointed toward me.
“And you destroyed Sophie’s future?””
Rebecca looked frustrated.
“She would have found another way.””
I couldn’t believe she said it.
Another way.
Like my dreams were replaceable.
Like my sacrifices meant nothing.
My father stepped closer.
“You took $85,000.””
Rebecca whispered:
“I only used part of it.””
“Part?””
“You’re acting like I spent everything.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You spent enough.””
Then the lawyer called again.
Daniel answered.
After listening, he said:
“Send me the records.””
Five minutes later, an email arrived.
He opened it.
His face changed.
“Sophie.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He turned the laptop around.
There were transactions.
Thousands of dollars.
Not just the car.
Not just the trip.
There were payments everywhere.
Luxury stores.
Hotels.
Restaurants.
Private lessons.
And one transfer every month to an account I didn’t recognize.
“What is that?”” I asked.
Daniel clicked on it.
The account belonged to someone named Evan Brooks.
Marcus looked confused.
“Who is Evan?””
Rebecca went completely silent.
That silence answered everything.
My father looked at her.
“Who is Evan?””
She shook her head.
“Daniel…”
“Who?””
She started crying.
“I can explain.””
“No more explanations.””
He slammed the laptop shut.
“Tell us the truth.””
Rebecca sat down.
For the first time, she looked small.
“I met Evan last year.””
My chest tightened.
“You were cheating?””
She didn’t answer.
Daniel looked destroyed.
The woman he married.
The person he trusted around his daughter.
Had been secretly taking money and hiding another relationship.
Marcus stepped backward.
“I can’t believe you.””
Rebecca looked at him.
“Marcus, please.””
“No.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“You made me think Sophie hated me.””
I looked at him.
He continued:
“You made me think everyone was against me.””
Rebecca whispered:
“I was trying to give you a better life.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. You were buying one.””
The house became silent.
Then Daniel said:
“I want every dollar returned.””
Rebecca looked up.
“I don’t have it.””
“Then you explain where it went.””
She looked at the floor.
“I spent some.””
“Some?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“The rest…”
Nobody moved.
“The rest is gone.””
My father stared.
“How?””
Rebecca looked toward Marcus.
And what she said next changed everything.
“Because I wasn’t the only one who used the money.””
Marcus’s face went pale.
“What does that mean?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“I did it because of you.””
Marcus stepped back.
“What?””
And then she revealed the secret she had been hiding.
The sports car wasn’t the only thing she bought.
May you like
She had been paying for something Marcus never knew about.
Something that could destroy both their lives.
