Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Accusation
Richard stood in the middle of the living room, staring at Marcus.
“What secret?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't know what she's talking about.””
Brianna gave a small, humorless laugh.
“Of course you don't.””
Vanessa wiped her daughter's tears.
“Brianna, if you know something, say it.””
Brianna looked at Marcus.
“You really want me to tell them?””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Go ahead.””
“Fine.””
She turned toward Richard.
“Ask him about the money.””
Richard frowned.
“What money?””
“The money from Grandpa's inheritance.””
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
There it was.
He should have known she would bring it up eventually.
Richard looked at his son.
“What inheritance?””
Marcus sighed.
“Dad, Grandpa left me some money in his will. You know that.””
“I know he left you something. What's Brianna talking about?””
“She thinks I stole it.””
Brianna immediately interrupted.
“Because you did!””
“Brianna, stop making things up.””
“You think I don't know?””
Marcus looked at his father.
“Grandpa left me a trust when I turned twenty-one. It was managed by an attorney. I haven't touched most of it.””
Richard's expression changed.
“Then why is Brianna saying you stole money?””
Brianna reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
“Because I saw his bank statement.””
Marcus frowned.
“My bank statement?””
“Your email was open on the family computer.””
“That doesn't mean you know anything about my account.””
She unlocked her phone and showed Richard a photograph.
It was a screenshot of a financial document.
Richard took the phone.
His eyebrows drew together.
“This says thirty-five thousand dollars.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
“That's a transfer.””
“Exactly,” Brianna said.
“And you never told Dad.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Because it was my money.””
Richard looked up.
“Where did it go?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Into a separate account.””
“Why?””
“Because Grandpa's attorney advised me to move it before the trust distribution was finalized.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because it wasn't your money, Dad.””
The words landed heavily.
Vanessa gasped.
“Marcus!””
But Richard didn't shout.
He simply looked at his son.
“You think I would take your money?””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“I didn't say that.””
“Then why keep it secret?””
“Because every time money comes up in this house, somehow Brianna ends up getting involved.””
Brianna scoffed.
“That's a convenient excuse.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“You were the one who asked me for fifteen thousand dollars last month.””
Her face changed.
Richard looked at Brianna.
“Fifteen thousand?””
She shrugged.
“He offered.””
“No, I didn't,” Marcus replied.
“You wanted me to pay off your credit card.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Brianna told me she had already paid that bill.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then she lied to you too.””
Brianna jumped to her feet.
“Stop acting like you're some perfect angel!””
Marcus's voice remained quiet.
“I never said I was perfect. But I didn't drag you into my room, tear your clothes, and scream that you were attacking me.””
Richard looked down at the carpet.
The torn blouse was still lying near the bedroom doorway.
A moment earlier, he had seen it as proof of his daughter's suffering.
Now it looked like evidence of something else entirely.
He turned toward Brianna.
“Is there anything else I need to know?””
Brianna folded her arms.
“No.””
Richard looked at the laptop.
“Then we're going to preserve that recording. Nobody deletes anything.””
Marcus nodded.
“Good.””
But Brianna wasn't finished.
She turned toward Vanessa and whispered something.
Vanessa's expression changed immediately.
“Richard, can I speak to you privately?””
Richard frowned.
“About what?””
“It's important.””
Marcus watched them move toward the kitchen.
He could hear Vanessa speaking in a low voice.
“Richard, you need to think carefully. Brianna has been under a lot of pressure.””
Richard replied, “That doesn't excuse what she did.””
“I'm not excusing it. I'm saying there's more to this.””
Marcus looked down at Lily.
The little girl was quietly stroking Mr. Buttons' fur.
“Are you okay?”” he asked.
Lily nodded.
“Are you?””
Marcus gave her a tired smile.
“I'm getting there.””
She leaned closer.
“Daddy shouldn't have hit you.””
Marcus swallowed.
“No, he shouldn't have.””
Lily hugged his arm.
“I was scared he was going to make you leave.””
Marcus looked toward the kitchen.
“So was I.””
A few minutes later, Richard returned alone.
“Marcus, come with me.””
Marcus stood.
“Where?””
“My office.””
Lily grabbed his hand.
“Don't let him be mad at you again.””
Marcus gently squeezed her fingers.
“I'll be okay.””
Inside the office, Richard closed the door.
He remained standing behind his desk.
Marcus sat down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Richard rubbed his forehead.
“I made a mistake.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You slapped me before asking a single question.””
“I know.””
“You told me to leave my own home.””
“I know, Marcus.””
“No, Dad. I don't think you do.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“I saw Brianna crying. I thought—”
“You thought I was guilty because she was crying?””
Richard didn't answer.
Marcus leaned forward.
“Do you remember when I was fourteen and you told me that a man's character was measured by how he treated people who couldn't defend themselves?””
Richard looked up.
“Yes.””
“Well, I couldn't defend myself today. And you didn't even give me a chance.””
Richard's eyes became moist.
“I'm sorry.””
Marcus looked away.
He wanted to accept the apology.
He really did.
But the sting on his cheek was still there.
And so was the memory of his father's voice telling him to get out.
Before he could respond, Richard's phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
Richard answered.
“What is it?””
Her voice came through loudly enough for Marcus to hear.
“Richard, you need to come upstairs. Right now.””
“Why?””
“Brianna's room. I found something.””
Richard frowned.
“What?””
A pause.
Then Vanessa said something that made his face turn white.
“There's another recording.””
Marcus stood.
“What recording?””
Richard looked at him.
“I don't know.””
They rushed upstairs.
Vanessa was standing beside Brianna's bed, holding an old tablet.
Brianna sat on the mattress, her face buried in her hands.
“What is that?”” Richard asked.
Vanessa held up the tablet.
“I found it hidden under her mattress.””
Marcus recognized the device immediately.
It was an old tablet that had belonged to the family.
Richard turned it on.
A video file was already open.
The timestamp showed it had been recorded three nights earlier.
“Why was this hidden?”” Richard asked.
Brianna didn't answer.
Vanessa pressed play.
At first, the screen showed an empty living room.
Then Brianna appeared.
She was speaking to someone on the phone.
Her voice was clear.
“I told you. He still doesn't know.””
A man's voice answered from the other end.
“Then you need to make sure he never finds out.””
Brianna laughed.
“Don't worry. Once Marcus is out of the house, everything will be easier.””
Marcus felt a chill run down his spine.
Richard stepped closer to the screen.
“Who is she talking to?””
The recording continued.
Brianna glanced toward the staircase before speaking again.
“And Dad will never suspect that the money was actually…”
The video suddenly ended.
Richard stared at the tablet.
Marcus looked at Brianna.
“What money?””
Brianna slowly raised her head.
Her face was no longer angry.
It was terrified.
And then, from somewhere downstairs, the front doorbell rang.
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
Richard's phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*STOP WATCHING THAT VIDEO. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SON HAS DONE.*
Richard read it twice.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Son…”
Marcus shook his head.
“Dad, I swear, I have no idea who sent that.””
But before Richard could respond, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Three slow knocks.
Then a familiar male voice called from the hallway.
“Richard? We need to talk about the thirty-five thousand dollars.””
Marcus recognized the voice.
May you like
It belonged to the attorney who had managed his grandfather's inheritance.
And he had no idea why the man was standing outside their house.
