Chapter 2: The Secret Account
Brandon didn’t tell me the truth because he cared.
He told me because he enjoyed watching me panic.
He leaned against the kitchen counter, holding my father’s envelope like it was a trophy.
“You really thought Mom didn’t know you were snooping?””
My throat tightened.
“I wasn’t stealing anything.””
He laughed.
“Sure.””
“I was looking for food.””
The smile disappeared for half a second.
Then he shrugged.
“Same thing. You’re always taking something.””
I stared at him.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
I was the one who had been given less food.
I was the one wearing old clothes.
I was the one sleeping in a room with a broken window because Victoria said repairs were “too expensive.””
But somehow, I was the problem.
Brandon walked closer.
“You should forget what you saw.””
“Why?””
His eyes narrowed.
“Because my mom is nice enough to let you stay here.””
I almost couldn’t believe it.
“This is my house too.””
He smiled.
“Not anymore.””
Those three words followed me for the rest of the day.
Not anymore.
I stayed quiet when Victoria came home.
I watched her walk through the front door carrying shopping bags.
She was wearing a new coat.
A coat that probably cost more than my father’s monthly grocery budget.
“Oh, you’re home,” she said.
Her eyes moved toward Brandon.
He gave her a small nod.
A signal.
She knew.
My heart dropped.
Victoria slowly placed her bags on the table.
“Go upstairs.””
I didn’t move.
“Why?””
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Excuse me?””
“I want to know why Dad’s money is missing.””
The room became silent.
Even Brandon stopped smiling.
Victoria stared at me.
Then she laughed.
A quiet, almost gentle laugh.
“You went through my things?””
“It’s not your money.””
Her expression changed.
The kindness disappeared.
“You have become very disrespectful.””
“My dad sent that money for us.””
“For this family.””
“For me too.””
She walked closer.
“You know what your problem is?””
I stayed silent.
“You think you deserve everything.””
My hands curled into fists.
“No. I think I deserve dinner.””
The sentence came out before I could stop it.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Victoria slapped the table.
“You are exactly like your mother.””
I froze.
She rarely mentioned my mother.
And every time she did, it was cruel.
“What does that mean?””
“It means you are ungrateful.””
“My mother loved me.””
Victoria smiled.
“That’s why she’s not here anymore.””
The words cut deeper than anything else.
I ran upstairs before she could see my tears.
That night, I didn’t sleep.
I stared at the ceiling, replaying everything.
The missing money.
The lies.
My father believing everything was fine.
I wanted to call him.
I wanted to tell him everything.
But I was afraid.
What if he didn’t believe me?
What if Victoria convinced him I was lying?
The next morning, something unexpected happened.
My father called.
I saw his name on the phone.
My heart jumped.
“Dad.””
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said warmly.
“How’s school?””
I opened my mouth.
I wanted to tell him.
I wanted to say:
Dad, she’s hurting me.
Dad, she’s spending your money.
Dad, please come home.
But then I heard Victoria’s voice downstairs.
She was watching me.
Waiting.
“I’m fine,” I whispered.
There was a pause.
My father knew me too well.
“You sure?””
I looked toward the bedroom door.
“Yes.””
Another lie.
The smallest word.
But it felt like carrying a mountain.
After the call ended, I noticed something strange.
A message appeared on my phone.
It was from an unknown number.
I opened it.
My hands went cold.
It was a photo.
A photo of Victoria at a luxury restaurant.
With another man.
The message underneath said:
“Your father deserves to know what she’s really doing with his money.””
I stared at the screen.
Who sent this?
And why?
Before I could reply, another message appeared.
This time, it was only four words.
“I can prove everything.””
I looked at the name attached to the number.
And my heart stopped.
May you like
Because I knew who it was.
It was someone Victoria thought had disappeared from our lives forever.