Chapter 3 - The Money Brooke Never Knew About
The inheritance came from Nathan’s mother.
Brooke’s grandmother.
A woman Brooke barely remembered.
She died when Brooke was twelve.
According to Brooke’s mother, there had been “nothing left.”
That was another lie.
Nathan handed Brooke a trust summary.
The balance made her sit down.
$2.7 million.
Not all available immediately.
But enough to change everything.
Half was designated for Brooke when she turned eighteen, with safeguards.
The rest was reserved for Ethan’s education and future support.
Brooke stared at her mother.
“You knew?”
Her mother’s lips tightened.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since the trust was created.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you’re a child.”
Nathan answered quietly:
“She also knew she couldn’t control it.”
Gary slammed his palm onto the table.
“This is family business.”
Nathan looked at Ethan.
“Then why was your family business holding a belt over a nine-year-old?”
Gary moved toward him.
Brooke stepped between them.
“No.”
Gary stopped.
That was new.
For years, Gary controlled the room simply by making everyone afraid of what he might do.
Now Brooke had someone else standing there.
Not rescuing her.
Backing up the truth.
She opened the conservatorship petition.
It claimed Brooke was emotionally unstable.
Impulsive.
Unable to manage money.
Easily manipulated.
The proposed conservator?
Gary Lawson.
Brooke nearly laughed.
“You?”
Gary’s expression hardened.
“I manage businesses.”
“You can’t even manage your temper.”
Her mother snapped:
“Enough.”
Brooke turned.
“No. Not enough.”
She held up the pages.
“You were going to let him control Grandma’s money?”
“It would protect you.”
“From what?”
Her mother hesitated.
Nathan answered:
“From herself.”
Everyone looked at him.
He continued:
“Because the trust requires an accounting of any money taken for the children before Brooke turns eighteen.”
Brooke frowned.
“What money taken?”
Nathan gave her another document.
A preliminary audit.
Withdrawals.
Repeated ones.
School expenses.
Medical expenses.
Housing expenses.
But Brooke knew some were false.
$18,000 for private tutoring.
She had never had a tutor.
$11,400 for Ethan’s occupational therapy.
Ethan had never attended occupational therapy.
$29,000 for “special security modifications.”
Their house had one cheap doorbell camera.
Brooke looked at Gary.
Then her mother.
“You’ve been taking it.”
Her mother went pale.
Gary shouted:
“That money paid for this family!”
Nathan replied:
“Then receipts should prove it.”
Gary had no answer.
Brooke finally understood why he had become so aggressive lately.
Her birthday was approaching.
The trust would be examined.
And once Brooke became an adult, she could demand records herself.
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They didn’t need her obedient forever.
Only six more weeks.
