Chapter 2 - PATRICIA’S ACCOUNT
Nobody moved.
I switched Rachel to speaker.
“Say that again.”
“The transfer from your joint savings went to Bennett Family Holdings LLC,” Rachel said. “Registered agent: Patricia Bennett.”
Jenna turned toward her mother. “Mom?”
Patricia set down her glass with perfect care.
“This is ridiculous.”
Michael lunged for my phone.
I stepped back.
His father, Robert, finally moved between us. “Enough.”
Michael pointed at me. “She’s stealing private financial information.”
I laughed once, because apparently shock had burned through fear and left nothing polite behind.
“They were my savings too.”
“We were protecting family money.”
“From your wife?” Jenna asked.
Patricia snapped, “Stay out of this.”
Rachel cut in. “Emma, I need you away from Michael. He assaulted you in front of witnesses.”
Michael’s jaw flexed.
“I didn’t assault anybody. She came in here trying to destroy me.”
Blood touched my lip.
Robert looked at it and seemed to age ten years.
“I saw you throw the glass, son.”
Patricia’s eyes flashed toward him.
That glance told me more than the words.
This family had rules. Robert had broken one by telling the truth.
My phone buzzed with a new email from Rachel. Attached was the transfer record.
$184,600.
Every dollar Michael and I had saved for nine years.
But beneath the transfer was a second transaction I had never seen.
$72,000 from an account ending in 4819.
I frowned.
“That isn’t ours.”
Rachel went silent again.
“No,” she said. “It isn’t.”
Patricia’s face drained.
Rachel continued, “Emma, do you still have the inheritance account your father left you?”
I stopped breathing.
May you like
The account ending in 4819 was mine alone.
And Michael had never been authorized to touch it.
