Chapter 3: The Paper She Was Afraid Of
I couldn't move.
Victoria stood between me and the door.
The document trembled in my hands.
“What is this?””
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Emma.””
“What is this?””
She took one step forward.
I took one step back.
For once, she looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not annoyed.
Afraid.
“You don't understand what you're reading,” she said.
“Then explain it.””
“Give me the paper.””
“Why?””
“Because it doesn't concern you.””
“My name is on it.””
Her jaw tightened.
I looked down at the signature.
My father's signature.
Daniel Carter.
My father.
The man who called me every night.
The man who sent money.
The man who believed I was safe.
“Did Dad sign this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he trusts me.””
“That isn't an answer.””
She reached for the document.
I pulled it away.
“What does ‘Family Trust’ mean?””
Victoria's eyes hardened.
“Who told you about that?””
“The bank statements.””
“You've been digging through my things.””
“Because you lied to Dad.””
She slapped the document from my hands.
It landed on the carpet.
I immediately bent to pick it up.
Victoria grabbed my arm.
“You are going to stop this.””
“Let go.””
“You don't know what you're doing.””
“I know you're taking Dad's money.””
“You think this is about money?””
She released me.
I stared at her.
“What else could it be?””
Victoria turned away.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she walked toward the window.
“Your father and I made an agreement.””
“What agreement?””
“When we got married, he wanted everything protected.””
“Protected from what?””
She looked over her shoulder.
“From you.””
The room seemed to tilt.
“From me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because you were twelve.””
“That doesn't make sense.””
“You were a grieving child. Your father was afraid you would eventually become difficult.””
I shook my head.
“Dad would never say that.””
“You don't know your father as well as you think.””
I picked up the document.
“What did he sign?””
Victoria moved toward me again.
“Nothing that matters now.””
“Then why are you scared?””
She stopped.
I could see it in her face.
She was calculating.
Then she smiled.
“Do you remember what happened to your mother?””
My blood went cold.
“Don't talk about her.””
“Why?””
“Don't.””
“She died suddenly.””
“You know that.””
“Your father was devastated.””
“Stop.””
“He couldn't handle raising you alone.””
I stared at her.
“What are you trying to say?””
“I'm saying your father made decisions when he was vulnerable.””
“About me?””
“About everything.””
I looked at the paper again.
There were words I didn't fully understand.
*Beneficiary.*
*Trustee.*
*Minor child.*
*Distribution upon age eighteen.*
My eyes stopped.
“Wait.””
I looked at her.
“I'm the beneficiary.””
Victoria said nothing.
“You lied.””
“Emma—”
“You told me Dad's money belonged to you.””
“I said it belonged to the household.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“This money is mine.””
Victoria's expression changed.
“You don't understand what that means.””
“It means Dad was sending money for me.””
“Not exactly.””
“Then explain it.””
She stepped closer.
“The trust doesn't belong to you until you are eighteen.””
I stared at her.
“And you're the trustee?””
Silence.
“You're the trustee.””
“Yes.””
“So you control it.””
“Yes.””
“And Dad gave you control of the money.””
“For your benefit.””
“Then why am I starving?””
Victoria's lips pressed together.
“Because you're irresponsible.””
“I’m twelve.””
“You waste things.””
“I was eating dog food.””
Her face remained blank.
“I was hungry.””
“You were being disciplined.””
“You locked me in a bathroom.””
“You disobeyed.””
“You let the electricity get shut off.””
“Temporary inconvenience.””
“You bought a diamond bracelet.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“That was none of your business.””
“It was bought with money from my trust.””
That sentence changed everything.
Victoria grabbed the document.
I held on.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Emma!””
I pulled hard.
The paper tore.
We both froze.
Half of it remained in her hand.
The other half was in mine.
Her face went pale.
“You have no idea what you've just done.””
“What?””
She stared at the torn document.
Then at me.
“You just destroyed the one thing keeping your father from taking everything away from me.””
I couldn't understand.
“What does that mean?””
She stepped backward.
For the first time, her voice sounded unsteady.
“Your father wasn't supposed to know you found this.””
“Why?””
“Because if Daniel sees that document…”
She stopped.
A phone began ringing downstairs.
Victoria's eyes widened.
The ringing continued.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
She looked toward the bedroom door.
Then at me.
“Who is it?””
I didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
Victoria whispered, “It can't be him.””
I walked toward the door.
She grabbed my shoulder.
“Don't.””
I looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“Why?””
Her grip tightened.
“Because if you answer that phone, everything changes.””
The ringing stopped.
A second later, a notification chimed.
Then another.
I looked at my own phone.
There was a message from Dad.
*Emma, I need you to tell me the truth.*
My heart stopped.
A second message appeared.
*Are you safe with Victoria?*
I looked up.
Victoria was staring at my phone.
And behind her fear was something even worse.
Panic.
Then Dad called again.
May you like
This time, the caller ID showed his name.
*DAD.*
