Chapter 5 - GRANDMA KNEWI drove to Grandma's house before sunrise.
She opened the door before I knocked.
That was strange.
She was already awake.
She looked at me.
“Come in.”
There was no surprise in her voice.
“You knew I'd come.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
She closed the door.
“Because eventually you would ask the right question.”
I stared at her.
“Did Dad steal your money?”
Grandma sat down.
“No.”
I almost laughed.
“Matt said he took over $100,000.”
“He did.”
“Then what?”
Grandma folded her hands.
“I gave it to him.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed him.”
“Believed what?”
“That he could save the family.”
She looked toward the window.
“He told me the company was one contract away from recovery.”
“And it wasn't?”
“No.”
“How bad was it?”
She sighed.
“Bad enough that he needed more money every month.”
“And he kept borrowing?”
“Yes.”
“From you?”
“At first.”
Then she looked at me.
“And then from you.”
I felt my stomach drop.
“You knew?”
“I knew he had asked you for help.”
“You knew I was paying for the cruise?”
“Yes.”
“But you didn't stop them from excluding me?”
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“I didn't know they would.”
“Grandma.”
She looked down.
“I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I taught your father that keeping the family together mattered more than telling the truth.”
Silence.
“There's more,” she said.
I sat down.
“What?”
She walked to a cabinet.
Pulled out a black folder.
And placed it in my hands.
“Read this.”
Inside was a financial statement.
I scanned it.
My name appeared.
I froze.
“What is this?”
“Your father created a family investment account.”
“I never opened this.”
“No.”
“Then why is my name on it?”
Grandma didn't answer.
I flipped the page.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
My signature.
But I had never signed the document.
I looked at Grandma.
“This is forged.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
“Why didn't you report it?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Dad?”
“Yes.”
I stared at the signature.
Then I noticed something else.
The date.
Two years ago.
That was before I had ever paid for the cruise.
Before Lauren had asked for help.
Before I knew any of this existed.
“How much money went through this account?”
Grandma's answer was quiet.
“$612,000.”
I nearly dropped the folder.
“What?”
“Six hundred twelve thousand dollars.”
“Where did it go?”
She looked at me.
“That is what I have been trying to find out.”
“And Dad?”
“He says the records were lost.”
“That isn't possible.”
“I know.”
I closed the folder.
“Grandma, why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted to protect you.”
“From what?”
“Your father.”
I stared at her.
Then the front door opened.
We both turned.
Dad walked in.
He stopped when he saw me.
His face changed.
“What are you doing here?”
I stood.
“You forged my signature.”
Dad looked at Grandma.
She said nothing.
He slowly closed the door.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“It was a family account.”
“Not my account.”
“You were going to benefit from it.”
“I never agreed to it.”
Dad stepped closer.
“Everything I did was to protect this family.”
I laughed.
“You protected the family by stealing from Grandma?”
“Watch your mouth.”
“You used my identity.”
“I made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
His face hardened.
“You think you've been the victim.”
“I know I have.”
“No.”
He pointed at me.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.”
I stared at him.
“For who?”
“For all of you.”
“You mean yourself.”
He said nothing.
Then Grandma spoke.
“Tell him.”
Dad looked at her.
“No.”
“Tell him what happened to the company.”
Silence.
I looked between them.
Finally, Dad sat down.
“The company failed.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
He rubbed his face.
“We didn't lose money because of bad business.”
“Then why?”
He looked at me.
“Because someone stole from us.”
“Who?”
Dad's expression became unreadable.
“Your mother.”
I froze.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
I turned toward Grandma.
She closed her eyes.
Dad whispered:
“She took the money.”
Grandma looked at him.
“Don't you dare.”
I stared at both of them.
My entire family had just cracked open.
And suddenly I wasn't sure who the real villain was.
May you like
Then Grandma said something even worse.
“Your father is lying.”
