Chapter 2: The Secret Money Trail
The next morning, Margaret woke up before sunrise.
Old habits were difficult to break.
For forty years, she had woken up early, prepared breakfast, and started her day before everyone else.
But this morning felt different.
She sat at the kitchen table holding a cup of coffee she barely touched.
The argument from the night before replayed in her mind.
David had defended her.
But she could feel the tension in the house.
She didn’t want her son’s marriage to fall apart because of her.
When David entered the kitchen, he immediately noticed the sadness on her face.
“Mom, did you sleep?””
Margaret forced a small smile.
“I’m fine.””
David sat across from her.
“No, you’re not.””
She looked down.
“David, Jessica and I just misunderstood each other.””
“Mom.””
His voice softened.
“You don’t have to protect people who hurt you.””
Margaret looked surprised.
She wasn’t used to hearing that.
“I just don’t want to be the reason my son loses his family.””
David shook his head.
“You’re not the problem.””
Before Margaret could answer, Jessica walked into the kitchen.
She looked tired.
“David, can we talk?””
David stood.
“Actually, yes. We need to.””
Jessica sighed.
“I knew this was going to happen.””
“What was going to happen?””
“You choosing your mother over me.””
David stared at her.
“That’s not what this is.””
Jessica grabbed her coffee.
“I was trying to teach her responsibility.””
“Responsibility?””
David pointed toward the hallway.
“She is 75 years old.””
“She is my mother.””
“She gave everything she had for me.””
Jessica rolled her eyes.
“And I’m supposed to feel guilty forever because she raised you?””
David’s expression changed.
“No.””
“You’re supposed to respect her because she’s a human being.””
Jessica looked away.
The argument ended when David’s phone rang.
It was his sister, Emily.
After answering, his face became serious.
“Mom is okay,” he said.
A pause.
“No, I just found out something.””
Margaret watched him carefully.
After the call ended, David sat down.
“Emily said something strange.””
“What?”” Jessica asked.
“She said Mom told her last year that she was saving money because she was paying rent here.””
Jessica looked uncomfortable.
David noticed.
“How long has this been happening?””
Jessica didn’t answer.
“Jessica.””
Finally, she sighed.
“Almost a year.””
Margaret’s hand froze around her coffee cup.
“A year?””
David looked at his wife.
“You collected $3,000 every month?””
Jessica crossed her arms.
“I used it for the household.””
“Then show me.””
“What?””
“Show me where the money went.””
Jessica looked offended.
“You don’t trust me?””
David stayed silent.
That silence made her uncomfortable.
“I don’t have to prove every purchase to you.””
David stood.
“Then why did you hide it?””
Jessica walked away.
But David followed.
“Wait.””
She stopped.
He noticed her phone on the counter.
A notification appeared on the screen.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
A banking app notification.
A transfer.
$15,000.
David picked up the phone.
Jessica rushed back.
“Don’t touch my phone!””
But it was too late.
David had already seen the name attached to the transfer.
His face changed.
“Jessica…”
She froze.
“Who is Michael?””
The color disappeared from her face.
Margaret looked confused.
“Who is Michael?””
Jessica grabbed her phone.
“It’s nothing.””
David stared at her.
“You took money from my mother…”
“And now there’s a man I’ve never heard of receiving thousands of dollars?””
Jessica said nothing.
David felt something inside him break.
The woman he trusted most was hiding something.
But before he could ask another question, another message appeared on Jessica’s phone.
This time, David saw the first line.
And it wasn’t about money.
It was about Margaret.
May you like
The message said:
“Once she’s gone, we can finally…”
