Chapter 6 - The Cards Go Silent
After Harold walked upstairs, the dinner fractured into chaos.
Vanessa received the first payment notification. The card connected to her digital wallet had been suspended.
Then Adrian tried opening the banking application.
His access had vanished.
He rushed upstairs and pounded on Harold’s bedroom door.
“Dad, open this door.”
Harold remained seated at his desk.
Helen stood beside the window, reviewing the documents he had collected.
“Dad, you’re embarrassing us.”
Harold almost laughed at the irony.
Downstairs, several guests began leaving. Others stayed, drawn by the growing confrontation.
Adrian continued pounding.
“You can’t lock me out of the household accounts. I pay the bills.”
Harold opened the door.
Adrian stepped forward, but stopped when he saw Helen.
“What is she doing here?”
“Protecting her client,” Helen said.
Adrian’s face changed.
Harold handed him a copy of the forged partnership document.
“I found this.”
Adrian looked at the signature, then at his father.
“It’s preliminary paperwork.”
“You signed my name.”
“I was going to explain.”
“You attempted to transfer two hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars from my retirement account.”
“It was an investment,” Adrian insisted. “A good one. Once the building was renovated, you would have doubled your money.”
“You never asked.”
“I knew you’d be afraid of the risk.”
Harold studied him.
Adrian did not look ashamed.
He looked inconvenienced.
“You stole my money because you decided my judgment no longer mattered.”
“I didn’t steal anything. We’re family.”
Helen stepped forward. “Family members can still commit financial fraud.”
Adrian’s confidence finally cracked.
Vanessa appeared behind him.
She was pale.
“Harold, we can fix this privately.”
Harold looked at the phone still clutched in her hand.
“Were you planning to post the recording?”
Vanessa did not answer.
“Delete it,” Adrian snapped at her.
“It’s already backed up,” she whispered.
Harold nodded slowly.
“Good.”
May you like
They stared at him.
“Because it recorded the moment you both publicly claimed I lived here for free. That may be useful when everyone learns whose house this actually is.”
