Chapter 5 - Careless Mistakes
"You’ve been incredibly careless, Daniel," my mother said, stepping into the study with her chin held high. "Elena spends far too much money. She’s bleeding your accounts dry with her shopping and her demands. I was simply teaching her the value of a dollar."
I didn't look up at her. I simply turned one page of the financial dossier.
Right there, at the bottom of a transfer authorization document for Meridian Wellness, was a signature. Lucas’s signature. He had authorized a massive withdrawal, likely thinking the digital carbon copy had been permanently deleted from the bank's servers.
Then, I looked at the receiving offshore account number.
I had memorized that specific routing number years ago when I set up the family trust. It did not belong to a wellness retreat. It did not belong to Elena.
It belonged directly to my mother.
I slowly closed the leather folder, the snap echoing loudly in the quiet study.
"You’re right," I said, finally turning to look at her. "Someone in this house has been incredibly careless."
She smiled, a triumphant, sickening curve of her lips, entirely believing I had surrendered to her narrative. She thought my silence was submission.
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"I'm glad you see reason," she purred. "Now, tell that girl to apologize to me, and we can forget this ugly morning."
I picked up the heavy financial folder, tucked it under my arm, and walked past her without a word. I went into the bedroom, picked up our two packed suitcases, took Elena’s trembling hand, and walked out of the house without ever looking back.
