Chapter 2: The Money That Disappeared
I didn't confront Vanessa again that night.
Not because I had forgiven her.
Because Maya was still holding her birthday cake, and I refused to let another adult ruin what little happiness my daughter had left.
I carried the cake into the kitchen.
"Seven candles," Maya whispered.
"Seven beautiful years.""
She looked at the frosting.
"Can I make a wish?""
"Anything you want.""
She closed her eyes.
I watched her little hands come together.
For a moment, I wondered what a seven-year-old could possibly wish for after seeing her father argue with the woman who was supposed to care for her.
She blew out the candles.
I clapped.
Nobody else did.
Vanessa remained in the living room with her arms crossed. Tyler and Sophie had disappeared upstairs.
I cut Maya a generous slice.
"Do you like it?""
She nodded.
"Can I save some for tomorrow?""
"Of course.""
"Maybe for breakfast?""
I laughed despite myself.
"Let's not get carried away.""
She smiled.
It was the first real smile I'd seen all evening.
After she went upstairs to change, I stepped onto the back patio and called my accountant, Daniel Brooks.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus, I've been trying to reach you.""
"What happened?""
"I reviewed the transfers from your personal account and the joint household account. There's a problem.""
"What kind of problem?""
"Several transfers don't match the expenses Vanessa reported.""
I leaned against the railing.
"Be specific.""
Daniel paused.
"Over the last fourteen months, approximately $38,400 has been transferred to an account I don't recognize.""
My stomach tightened.
"Whose account?""
"That's what I'm trying to establish. The receiving account is registered under the name Lily Carter.""
I closed my eyes.
The receipt.
The apartment address.
The note.
It was all connected.
"Daniel, Lily was my first wife. She died four years ago.""
Silence.
"Then we need to investigate this carefully," he said.
"Can you tell me when the transfers began?""
"Fourteen months ago. The first one was for $1,200. After that, they became more frequent.""
I looked through the glass doors.
Vanessa was standing in the living room, staring at my phone.
"Can you send me the records?""
"I'll prepare everything tonight. Marcus, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The account has a second authorized contact.""
"Who?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Your current wife's email address.""
I felt a strange calm settle over me.
"Send me everything.""
When I returned inside, Vanessa was waiting.
"Who were you talking to?""
"My accountant.""
Her shoulders stiffened.
"Why?""
"Because apparently, someone has been transferring money out of our accounts.""
She laughed nervously.
"Marcus, you're exhausted. You're jumping to conclusions.""
"Thirty-eight thousand dollars isn't a conclusion.""
Her face went pale.
I watched her carefully.
"You know about it.""
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Then explain why your email is attached to an account under my dead wife's name.""
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
"Can we talk privately?""
"We've been talking privately for years. That's apparently been the problem.""
She flinched.
"You're being cruel.""
"No. I'm being specific.""
She walked toward me and lowered her voice.
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"Which family?""
"All of us.""
I almost laughed.
"Maya doesn't even have a functioning backpack.""
"She has everything she needs.""
"Then why was she crying in the hallway?""
Vanessa looked away.
I took the receipt from my pocket and placed it on the dining table.
"Who is Lily Carter's account?""
Vanessa stared at the paper.
Then she whispered, "It's complicated.""
"Make it simple.""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Your daughter has an inheritance, Marcus.""
I went still.
"What inheritance?""
"Lily left something for Maya.""
I remembered the estate settlement.
Lily had been careful with money. Before she died, she'd established a trust for Maya's education and future needs.
I'd handled the paperwork with an attorney.
The money was supposed to remain untouched until Maya became an adult, except for approved expenses.
"That trust is managed by a financial institution," I said.
"It isn't in Vanessa Carter's name.""
"You're not listening.""
"Then explain.""
Vanessa sat down.
"When we got married, you told me you wanted Maya to have a normal childhood. You didn't want her growing up thinking she was different from Tyler and Sophie.""
"I said I wanted them treated equally.""
"Exactly. I thought the money could help all three children.""
I stared at her.
"You used Maya's inheritance for your children?""
"I didn't steal anything.""
"Then why did you hide the account?""
She opened her mouth but said nothing.
I pulled out a chair.
"How much have you transferred?""
"Marcus—"
"How much?""
She looked down.
"Not all of it.""
That wasn't an answer.
Before I could speak, Daniel's email arrived.
I opened the attachment.
The transaction history filled my screen.
The first few transfers were small.
Then came $2,500.
Then $4,800.
Then $6,000.
I scrolled until I reached the most recent entry.
A payment of $9,200 had been made three days earlier.
The recipient wasn't the boutique.
It was a company called Carter Family Holdings.
I looked up.
"What's Carter Family Holdings?""
Vanessa stood so quickly that her chair scraped the floor.
"You weren't supposed to see that.""
The words escaped before she could stop them.
I stared at her.
"Who owns it?""
She shook her head.
"Please, Marcus.""
"Who owns it?""
"I was going to put the money back.""
"When?""
"When things settled down.""
"Things settled down three years ago when you moved into this house.""
She began crying.
I didn't move.
Then a small voice came from the doorway.
"Dad?""
Maya stood there holding her favorite stuffed rabbit.
Her eyes were red.
"Is Mommy's money gone?""
I felt something break inside my chest.
I knelt in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I don't know everything yet.""
"Did Vanessa spend it?""
I glanced at my wife.
She said nothing.
Maya hugged her rabbit tighter.
"Mommy said she saved it for me.""
I swallowed.
"She did.""
"Then why does everyone get new things except me?""
There was no answer I could give a seven-year-old that would make sense of what had happened.
I hugged her.
"You did nothing wrong.""
She buried her face against my shoulder.
Behind me, Vanessa whispered, "Marcus, don't turn her against me.""
I looked over my shoulder.
"You managed that yourself.""
Then my phone rang again.
It was Daniel.
I answered.
"Tell me.""
His voice was tense.
"Marcus, I found the original trust agreement. There's a clause you need to see.""
"What clause?""
"Your wife couldn't access the funds without approval from a second trustee.""
I frowned.
"Who was the second trustee?""
Daniel paused.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your wife's sister.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Your sister?""
She stopped crying.
Her expression changed completely.
May you like
And for the first time that evening, I saw something worse than fear in her eyes.
I saw anger.
