Chapter 4 - The Account She Never Saw
Nathaniel spread the records across the dining table.
Ethan’s name appeared beside dozens of transfers.
Furniture.
Wine.
Beatrice’s private club membership.
A luxury vehicle registered to Ethan.
A renovation contract awarded to one of his friends.
Maya gripped the back of a chair.
“All of this came from my money?”
Ethan moved toward her.
“It was for our life.”
She stepped away.
“My life?”
Her voice shook.
“I have been wearing the same winter coat for three years.”
Beatrice rolled her eyes.
“This melodrama is unnecessary.”
Mrs. Sterling looked at her.
“My daughter is standing barefoot in freezing water while you eat food she prepared.”
“She lives here without contributing.”
Nathaniel lifted one document.
“She owns the beneficial interest in the property, funded the renovations, and paid every major household expense.”
Maya looked at Ethan.
“You told me your salary covered everything.”
“I was protecting you from financial stress.”
“You gave me twenty dollars at a time.”
“Because you overspend.”
Maya laughed once.
The sound held no humor.
She had spent years questioning herself.
She stopped buying coffee.
Stopped replacing worn shoes.
Stopped visiting friends because Ethan said fuel costs were irresponsible.
Meanwhile, Beatrice drank imported wine paid for by Maya’s inheritance.
Mrs. Sterling took off her coat and wrapped it around her daughter.
The simple act nearly broke Maya.
Warmth.
Permission.
Protection.
Ethan watched.
His expression changed from fear to anger.
“You came here to turn her against me.”
Mrs. Sterling met his eyes.
“No. I came because Maya called me and said she was tired.”
Maya stared at her.
“I never called.”
Her mother looked toward Ethan’s phone.
“No. But someone did.”
Nathaniel removed a small audio device from his case.
“The trust’s emergency monitoring service received a voice activation from this property at 1:17 p.m.”
Ethan’s face changed.
Maya had not known there was an emergency system.
Neither had he.
May you like
But Beatrice did.
She stood so quickly that her chair struck the floor.
