Chapter 5 - Three Accounts
While they waited, Daniel reviewed the bank records.
The more he found, the worse it became.
Mia had transferred money from three different accounts over fourteen days. She had used Elena’s phone to approve verification codes, then deleted the messages.
She had also applied for a credit card in Elena’s name.
Elena sat at the kitchen island with a cup of soup Daniel had prepared. She listened as he read each transaction.
Mia paced near the staircase.
“You’re humiliating me over money you can replace.”
Daniel looked up.
“That sentence tells me everything.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You do not regret taking it. You regret being caught.”
“I’m your daughter.”
“And Elena is your mother.”
Mia pointed toward Elena.
“She gave me access.”
“To buy food.”
“She never said I couldn’t borrow some.”
Elena placed her spoon down.
“You took my phone.”
Mia rolled her eyes.
“You were sick.”
“You told Daniel I was sleeping whenever he called.”
“Because you were supposed to rest.”
“You changed my passwords.”
“To protect you.”
“You left me without food.”
Silence filled the kitchen.
For the first time, Elena’s voice was firm.
Mia looked toward Brent for support, but he stared at the floor.
Daniel opened another statement.
A payment of nine thousand dollars had been sent to a vehicle dealership.
“What did you buy?”
Mia’s face tightened.
“Nothing.”
Daniel turned the phone toward her.
Brent swore under his breath.
Mia glared at him.
Daniel understood.
“You bought Brent a car.”
“It was a down payment,” Brent muttered.
“With stolen money,” Daniel said.
Mia’s voice rose.
“You have more than enough!”
Daniel closed the banking application.
“I worked thirty years for what we have. Your mother built this home with me. Our money is not your reward for refusing to grow up.”
Mia’s eyes filled with tears, but Daniel recognized the performance.
May you like
She had used those tears before.
This time, no one rushed to comfort her.
