Chapter 6: The Money
I placed the bank statement on the coffee table.
“Tell me.””
Nathan looked at Rebecca.
She shook her head slowly.
He ignored her.
“The money went to me.””
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.
“What?””
“Rebecca transferred it to me.””
“Forty-two thousand dollars?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Nathan's face tightened.
“I owed money.””
“To whom?””
“People.””
“What people?””
He hesitated.
Rebecca jumped in.
“It was a loan.””
I turned toward her.
“I'm not talking to you.””
Her mouth closed.
Nathan rubbed his palms together.
“I made some bad investments.””
“What kind?””
“Crypto. Options. Sports betting.””
Mom whispered, “Nathan.””
He looked ashamed.
“It got out of control.””
I stared at him.
“You came to Rebecca?””
“Yes.””
“Why not me?””
“Because I knew what you'd say.””
“What would I say?””
“That I needed to take responsibility.””
“You mean exactly what you needed to hear?””
He nodded.
Rebecca stepped forward.
“He was desperate.””
“So you stole from me.””
“I borrowed it.””
“Without asking.””
“I was going to put it back.””
“With what?””
She had no answer.
I looked at Nathan.
“Did you repay any of it?””
“Eleven thousand.””
“To Rebecca?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
Rebecca went silent.
I turned toward her.
“Where is the eleven thousand dollars?””
“I used some of it.””
“For what?””
“Bills.””
“What bills?””
“House expenses.””
I almost laughed.
“Our household account covers the house.””
“Not everything.””
“What did you spend it on?””
“Daniel, does it matter right now?””
“Yes.””
My voice came out louder than I intended.
“It matters because tonight I found my elderly mother washing dishes while you drank wine with your friends. Then I discovered you've been sleeping with my brother, hiding a pregnancy, and moving tens of thousands of dollars out of an account my father left me. So yes, Rebecca. Every dollar matters now.””
She stared at me.
Then her expression hardened.
“You want every dollar?””
“Yes.””
“Fine.””
She walked to the small desk near the dining room.
Opened a drawer.
Pulled out a folder.
My stomach sank.
She had documents ready.
That meant this wasn't chaos.
It had structure.
She dropped the folder onto the table.
“Look.””
I opened it.
Credit-card statements.
Hotel charges.
Restaurants.
Clothing.
Spa appointments.
A jewelry store.
Then several cash withdrawals.
I looked at the total.
Nearly nineteen thousand dollars.
“You spent all of this?””
Rebecca crossed her arms.
“I was unhappy.””
Mom looked stunned.
Nathan whispered, “Rebecca, I didn't know about this.””
She turned on him.
“Of course you didn't. You were too busy using me as your personal ATM.””
Nathan recoiled.
“You offered.””
“And you took it.””
I watched them argue.
Something became painfully clear.
This wasn't love.
Whatever fantasy they'd created had already rotted.
Nathan pointed at her.
“You told me Daniel had millions sitting around.””
My head snapped toward him.
“She said what?””
Rebecca's face changed.
Nathan realized he had stepped into another secret.
“She told me the money wouldn't matter to you.””
I looked at my wife.
“You discussed my finances with him?””
“You discuss them with me.””
“Because you're my wife.””
“I was your wife.””
The words came out automatically.
Then she froze.
I stared at her.
“Was?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“I meant—I am.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You said was.””
“It's been a long night.””
“Were you planning to leave me?””
“No.””
Nathan sat down heavily.
I turned toward him.
His face had gone gray.
“What?””
He shook his head.
“Nathan.””
“Ask her about the apartment.””
Rebecca's voice became sharp.
“Don't.””
“What apartment?””
Nathan looked at me.
“She rented one.””
The room tilted again.
“When?””
“Six weeks ago.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Is that true?””
She didn't answer.
“Rebecca.””
“Yes.””
Mom sank into the armchair.
I couldn't blame her.
I wanted to sit too.
“Where?””
“Downtown.””
“For whom?””
Rebecca rubbed her temples.
“For me.””
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“She told me it was for us.””
Rebecca spun toward him.
“I told you I needed space.””
“You gave me a key.””
My chest tightened.
“You have a key?””
Nathan reached into his pocket.
Rebecca rushed forward.
He pulled out a brass key.
Set it on the table.
The sound was tiny.
It felt enormous.
“I've been there twice,” he said.
Rebecca shook her head.
“Three times.””
Nathan stared at her.
“What?””
She looked away.
I noticed.
“Who was there the third time?””
Nobody answered.
“Nathan?””
“I don't know what she's talking about.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Who?””
She sat down.
Suddenly she looked exhausted.
Older.
The confident woman who had been drinking wine two hours earlier seemed gone.
“It's not what you think.””
I laughed.
“That sentence should be carved on our divorce papers.””
Mom whispered, “Danny.””
I shook my head.
“No. I'm done accepting that answer.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Who was in the apartment?””
She didn't speak.
I picked up the folder.
“Was the rent paid with my money?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Thirty-eight hundred a month.””
“For six weeks?””
“Yes.””
“Furniture?””
She nodded.
“Also my money?””
Another nod.
Nathan stared at her.
“You told me you paid for it.””
“I did.””
“With Daniel's money.””
She looked at him.
“We were married. It was our money.””
I said, “Not the account my father left me.””
She looked away.
My phone suddenly rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Emily.
Nathan stood.
“Don't answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
His face was terrified.
“Because she doesn't know I'm here.””
I answered.
“Emily?””
Silence.
Then I heard her inhale sharply.
“Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“Oh, God.””
Her voice cracked.
“Did Nathan finally tell you?””
“Some of it.””
Nathan closed his eyes.
Emily was quiet for a moment.
Then she said, “I'm sorry.””
“You don't owe me an apology.””
“Yes, I do. I should've come to you months ago.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She was staring at the floor.
“Emily, did you know about the apartment?””
Rebecca's head shot up.
Emily paused.
“What apartment?””
I looked at Nathan.
He shook his head.
Apparently that secret was new even to Emily.
“Never mind.””
“Daniel.””
Something in her voice changed.
Urgent.
“Listen to me carefully.””
I straightened.
“What?””
“The envelope I gave Nathan wasn't complete.””
Nathan's face drained.
“What do you mean?””
“I kept one thing because I was afraid of what Rebecca might do if she knew I had it.””
Rebecca stood.
“What thing?””
Emily heard her.
“She's there?””
“Yes.””
A long silence followed.
Then Emily said, “Daniel, go somewhere Rebecca can't hear you.””
Rebecca stepped toward me.
“Put it on speaker.””
I moved away.
“Emily, just tell me.””
“Did Rebecca tell you why she really wanted your mother out of the house?””
I looked toward Mom.
She looked as confused as I felt.
“No.””
Emily's voice dropped.
“Because Margaret wasn't the only person who saw Nathan there.””
Rebecca whispered, “Emily, stop.””
But Emily continued.
“There was another witness.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Emily took a breath.
“The security camera across the street recorded Nathan coming to your house.””
I looked at Rebecca.
Her face had gone completely white.
Emily wasn't finished.
“And Daniel?””
May you like
“Yes?””
“Nathan wasn't the only man it recorded.””
