Chapter 4: The Call I Wasn't Supposed to Answer
I stared at the phone until Dad’s name blurred behind my tears.
Victoria still had one hand on my shoulder.
“Give me the phone,” she whispered.
“No.””
“Emma, give it to me.””
The phone kept ringing.
I pressed the answer button.
“Dad?””
For two seconds, there was only static.
Then his voice came through.
“Emma?””
I swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Where are you?””
“In Victoria’s room.””
A pause.
“Why?””
Victoria shook her head violently.
I looked at her.
Then at the torn document in my hand.
“I found something.””
“What did you find?””
Victoria stepped toward me.
I backed away.
“A bank statement,” I said.
“And a trust document.””
Dad went silent.
Then his voice changed.
“What trust document?””
Victoria lunged for the phone.
I turned away.
“Dad, she—”
“Emma, listen to me carefully.””
His voice was suddenly firm.
“Is Victoria in the room?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
“Put me on speaker.””
Victoria’s face drained of color.
“No.””
Dad heard her.
“Victoria?””
She froze.
“Daniel.””
“What is happening?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why is Emma crying?””
Victoria looked at me.
“She went through my private things.””
“I found Dad’s papers,” I said.
“Emma,” Victoria snapped, “stop.””
Dad's voice cut through hers.
“Don't tell her to stop.””
The room went silent.
I had never heard my father speak to Victoria like that.
“Daniel, you're misunderstanding,” she said.
“No. I think I've been misunderstanding for a very long time.””
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you talking about?””
“I received a message from the school.””
My stomach tightened.
“What school?”” Victoria asked.
“My daughter’s school.””
Victoria stared at me.
Dad continued.
“They told me Emma has been coming to school without lunch.””
Victoria opened her mouth.
“She doesn't eat breakfast either,” Dad said.
“Her teacher told me she’s lost weight.””
I looked down.
My hands were shaking.
“Dad…”
“Why didn't you tell me?””
I couldn't answer.
Victoria whispered, “Because she’s dramatic.””
Dad heard her.
“Dramatic?””
“She refuses to eat what I prepare.””
“That isn't what the school told me.””
“She lies.””
“Then why did I receive photographs of the meals you packed for her?””
Victoria's face changed.
“What?””
“I asked the school to send me everything they had.””
Silence.
Dad's breathing was heavy.
Then he said something that made Victoria step backward.
“I also know the electricity was disconnected.””
Victoria looked toward the floor.
“I know Emma’s medical bills weren't paid.””
“Daniel—”
“I know the grocery account was nearly empty.””
“I can explain.””
“I know about the hotel charges.””
Victoria went completely still.
“And I know about the transfers into your personal account.””
She stared at the phone.
“Daniel…”
“Do not lie to me again.””
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
Dad had known.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
“Emma,” he said softly.
“Yes?””
“I need you to leave that room.””
Victoria immediately said, “She isn't going anywhere.””
Dad's voice became cold.
“She is my daughter.””
“And I'm her legal guardian.””
“Not for much longer.””
Victoria looked at the torn document in my hand.
“You don't understand what you signed.””
“I understand exactly what I signed.””
“Do you?””
“Yes.””
A long pause.
Then Dad said, “I signed a temporary trust arrangement after Emma’s mother died. I trusted you to manage it until she turned eighteen.””
Victoria said nothing.
“You were supposed to use the money for her care,” Dad continued.
“I did.””
“You used it for yourself.””
“No.””
“Then explain the bracelet.””
Victoria touched her wrist instinctively.
Dad saw it through the video call.
His voice dropped.
“You're wearing it now.””
Victoria looked at the diamond bracelet.
“It was a gift.””
“With money from Emma's trust.””
“No.””
I whispered, “The bank statement says it was.””
Victoria turned toward me.
Dad heard.
“Emma, where is the statement?””
I held it up.
“I have it.””
“Keep it.””
Victoria suddenly moved toward me.
I ran into the hallway.
“Emma!””
I slammed my bedroom door and locked it.
Victoria pounded against it.
“Open this door!””
Dad shouted through the phone.
“Victoria, step away from her.””
She didn't.
“Daniel, you're making a mistake.””
“I'm already making one by allowing you to remain in that house.””
I heard her footsteps retreat.
I stayed against the door.
Dad's voice softened.
“Emma?””
“Yes.””
“I'm coming home.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
My chest tightened.
“Really?””
“Really.””
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in years, I allowed myself to believe that maybe someone was finally coming to get me.
Then Dad said something else.
“But there's something you need to know.””
I opened my eyes.
“What?””
“The document you found wasn't the original.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“I never signed the version you found.””
I looked at the torn paper.
“Then whose signature is that?””
Dad went silent.
“Dad?””
“I don't know.””
Victoria's footsteps stopped outside my door.
Then she spoke.
“You really want to know whose signature is on it?””
I turned.
Her voice was strangely calm.
She leaned against the hallway wall.
“Ask your father.””
I looked at my phone.
“Dad?””
Victoria smiled.
“Ask him what happened the night your mother died.””
The call suddenly disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
No signal.
Then I heard the front door open downstairs.
A man’s voice said,
“Victoria, we need to talk.””
Victoria's smile disappeared.
Because the man standing at the bottom of the stairs…
wasn't my father.
May you like
And I knew his voice.
He was the attorney whose name appeared on the trust papers.
