Chapter 2 - The First Click
Emma entered a sequence of commands.
Daniel moved toward her.
"Don't."
Emma didn't look at him.
"Why?"
"You don't understand what you're doing."
That made her stop.
She slowly turned.
"I don't understand?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"Emma, please."
She looked around the room.
At Vivian.
At Rachel.
At the relatives who had watched her humiliation without saying a word.
Then she looked back at Daniel.
"I have spent three years cleaning up financial problems you never even knew existed."
Daniel froze.
Vivian frowned.
"What is she talking about?"
Emma clicked once.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
Then Vivian's.
Then Rachel's.
The room erupted in confusion.
Vivian checked her screen.
"My card was declined."
Rachel looked at hers.
"Mine too."
Daniel stared at his phone.
"Emma."
She closed one window and opened another.
"Your mother wanted financial independence."
Vivian's voice rose.
"What did you do?"
"I'm giving it to her."
Daniel rushed toward the laptop.
Emma stepped away.
"Don't touch me."
He stopped.
The words were quiet.
But they carried more weight than shouting.
Vivian stared at her.
"You cannot simply shut down our accounts."
Emma shook her head.
"I didn't shut down your accounts."
"Then what did you do?"
"I removed my authorization."
Daniel went pale.
Vivian looked confused.
"What authorization?"
Emma looked directly at her.
"The authorization that has been keeping several of your financial arrangements alive."
Nobody spoke.
Rachel laughed nervously.
"That's impossible."
Emma looked at her.
"Is it?"
Rachel's smile disappeared.
Daniel grabbed the back of a chair.
"Emma..."
She turned toward him.
"Should I explain?"
He shook his head.
"Not here."
Vivian snapped:
"Explain what?"
Daniel looked trapped.
Emma closed the laptop.
"You'll find out."
Vivian stepped forward.
"You think you're clever?"
Emma looked at her.
"No."
She picked up her handbag.
"I think I was patient."
She walked toward the door.
Daniel followed.
"Emma, wait."
She stopped.
He came closer.
"Please don't leave like this."
Emma turned.
"How should I leave?"
Daniel couldn't answer.
"After your mother ordered me onto the floor?"
He lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Emma's expression softened for half a second.
Then she remembered his silence.
"No, Daniel."
She walked away.
Behind her, Vivian shouted:
"You are going nowhere!"
Emma stopped.
She didn't turn around.
Then she said:
"That depends on which house you're talking about."
Vivian stared at her.
Emma left.
Daniel remained frozen.
His phone vibrated again.
He checked the notification.
His expression changed.
It wasn't another declined card.
It was a message from the bank.
ACCOUNT REVIEW INITIATED.
Daniel looked toward the door.
May you like
"Emma..."
But she was already gone.
