Chapter 6 - Eighteen Thousand Dollars
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The dining room fell into an uncomfortable, heavy silence as everyone strained their necks to look at the screen.
Prominently displayed at the top of the financial overview page was one single line showing the actual master account for the Mercer Family Operating Fund.
Current Available Balance: $18,642.11.
Daniel recognized the screen instantly. His skin turned a sickly shade of grey.
“What is that number?” Aunt Patricia asked, squinting across the table. “Is that her personal savings account?”
“No,” I announced loudly so the cousins in the back could hear every word. “That is the total remaining balance in the Mercer family business account. That is all the money this entire family has left in the world.”
Vivian stared at the screen, her face twisting in disgust. “That’s impossible! That’s an absolute lie! My husband left us millions!”
“Your husband left you approximately $3.8 million in physical real estate assets,” I corrected her, scrolling down to the secondary spreadsheet. “Would you like to see the rest of the ledger, Vivian?”
“Stop this nonsense right now!” Vivian barked, though her voice lacked its previous strength.
“He also left behind $4.6 million in secured and unsecured debt,” I continued relentlessly. “The mansion we are sitting in right now has two heavy bank liens against it. The lake house you brag about? It was quietly foreclosed on and sold three years ago.”
Aunt Patricia gasped, dropping her fork onto her plate. “The lake house is gone? But Vivian said you were renting it out for passive income!”
I turned to look at Vivian. “Did you tell them that, Vivian? Or did Daniel tell you that?”
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Vivian rounded on her son, her eyes wide with sudden terror. “Daniel? What is she talking about? Where has the money been coming from every month? You told me the family investments were generating high returns!”
Daniel squeezed his eyes shut, bowing his head in total defeat. He couldn't say a single word.
