Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Money
I barely slept that night.
Even after Dad told me I wasn’t leaving, I stayed awake staring at the ceiling.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
My room was across the hallway from Tyler’s. Normally, I could hear him laughing with his friends late at night or playing video games.
But that night, everything felt different.
Like the walls themselves knew something had broken.
Around 2 a.m., I heard voices downstairs.
My door was slightly open.
I sat up.
It was Dad and Jessica.
“I don’t understand how you thought that was okay,” Dad said.
His voice wasn’t loud, but I could hear disappointment in every word.
Jessica answered softly.
“I made a mistake.””
“A mistake is buying the wrong groceries.””
A pause.
“What you did was hurt her.””
“I was trying to teach her.””
“No,” Dad said.
“You were trying to make her pay for something that wasn’t her responsibility.””
I closed my eyes.
Part of me felt relieved.
Another part felt sad.
Because I didn’t want Dad to fight with Jessica.
She used to be family.
The next morning, Dad made breakfast.
That alone told me how serious everything was.
My father was a simple man. He worked long hours as an electrician and usually grabbed coffee on his way out.
But that morning, he cooked pancakes.
He placed a plate in front of me.
“Eat.””
I forced a small smile.
“Thanks, Dad.””
He sat across from me.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked up.
“For what?””
“For not seeing what was happening.””
I swallowed.
“You didn’t know.””
“I should have.””
His words surprised me.
“You trusted her.””
Dad nodded.
“I did.””
A shadow crossed his face.
Then Jessica walked into the kitchen.
She looked tired.
“Can we talk?””
Dad looked at her.
“Yes.””
I started to stand.
“No, Jasmine stays.””
Jessica looked uncomfortable.
“Why?””
“Because this involves her.””
Jessica sat down.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Dad asked:
“Where did you get the idea that Jasmine owed you two thousand dollars?””
Jessica folded her hands.
“I told you. Responsibility.””
“That’s not the real reason.””
She looked away.
I noticed.
Dad noticed too.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Jessica sighed.
“I was stressed.””
“About what?””
She didn’t answer.
“Jessica.””
Finally, she said:
“Tyler’s phone broke.””
I blinked.
“His phone broke?””
She nodded.
“He dropped it.””
Dad frowned.
“And insurance?””
“Expired.””
“So you decided Jasmine should pay?””
“No.””
Jessica shook her head quickly.
“It wasn’t like that.””
But it was.
Everyone knew it.
Later that afternoon, Dad went to his office.
I was studying in my room when I heard him calling someone.
Then another sound came.
A drawer opening.
A few minutes later, Dad called my name.
“Jasmine?””
I walked into the hallway.
He was standing near Jessica’s bedroom.
His face looked confused.
“What happened?””
He held a stack of papers.
“I found something.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
Dad looked at the documents.
Then at me.
“These are credit card statements.””
I frowned.
“Okay?””
He handed one to me.
I scanned it.
At first, I didn’t understand.
Then I saw Tyler’s name.
Multiple purchases.
Gaming equipment.
Designer shoes.
Restaurant bills.
And the amounts were huge.
“Dad…”
He took another paper.
“She’s been spending thousands.””
I felt cold.
“On Tyler?””
He nodded.
“Mostly.””
I looked toward Jessica’s closed bedroom door.
“But why?””
Dad didn’t answer.
Because neither of us knew.
Then his phone rang.
It was a message from the bank.
Dad read it.
His face changed.
“What?””
I asked.
He showed me the screen.
It was a notification about a recent transfer.
A large amount of money had been withdrawn.
From our family account.
And the note attached said:
“New phone payment.””
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“Jasmine…”
“What?””
He looked at me.
“The money she demanded from you…”
He stared at the message.
“She wasn’t trying to teach you responsibility.””
A chill went through me.
“What was she trying to do?””
Dad looked toward Jessica’s room.
Then whispered:
“She was trying to cover something up.””
And then he opened the next document.
May you like
The name written at the bottom wasn’t Jessica’s.
It was mine.
