Chapter 9 - THE MONEY REBECCA DIDN'T ASK FOR
Sophie’s account had been funded in six transfers.
All after Charles died.
Rebecca denied knowing.
Her husband, Mark Ellis, managed household finances.
Daniel had always liked him.
Quiet.
Dependable.
A little boring.
Those qualities suddenly became suspicious only because everything had become suspicious.
Mark admitted opening the education account.
Not funding it.
He assumed Rebecca had arranged the transfers after arguing with Charles about unequal trusts.
Rebecca stared.
“You thought I took Ethan’s money?”
“I thought your dad corrected things.”
“After he died?”
Mark looked embarrassed.
Fair.
Then the transfer authorizations appeared.
Signed:
Elaine Carter.
Daniel’s mother.
She went pale.
Again.
“I authorized internal balancing.”
Richard stared.
“What does that mean?”
Elaine explained.
After Charles died, she believed he intended to equalize grandchildren later.
She saw the large reserve for Ethan and smaller account for Sophie.
She moved $125,000.
No permission.
No theft for herself.
Still misuse.
Daniel felt exhausted beyond anger.
“Mom.”
Elaine looked at him.
“I thought it was fair.”
“From Ethan’s medical trust.”
“He had more than enough.”
“He was in the hospital this week.”
Elaine flinched.
Good.
Reality finally entered the abstract fairness argument.
Rebecca cried.
“I never asked you to do that.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father hurt you.”
Rebecca stared.
“So you stole from his grandson to repair me.”
Elaine closed her eyes.
There it was.
Family money used as emotional correction.
Again.
The audit now had a cleaner picture:
Charles secretly moved funds.
Lauren took some.
Elaine moved some.
Legitimate medical expenses covered some.
Jason’s identity was used without consent.
Jason, strangely, was one of the cleaner people in the financial mess.
That did not erase his deception.
He had helped Daniel manipulate Lauren emotionally.
He admitted it.
Then family court ordered individual evaluations before the next custody hearing.
Ethan’s therapist met with him privately.
He still did not want to see Lauren.
The therapist asked:
“Do you miss her?”
Ethan cried.
“Yes.”
“Can both be true?”
“What?”
“You can miss someone and not want to see them.”
Ethan nodded.
That sentence helped.
Then Lauren began writing letters.
The first said:
I’m sorry I missed the hospital.
Ethan refused it.
The second:
I’m sorry I said I was done with you.
He read that one.
Then asked Daniel:
“Did she steal my money?”
Daniel froze.
Who told him?
School rumor.
Someone’s parent had seen court documents leaked online.
Daniel felt rage.
Then stopped.
Truth had already escaped.
He answered carefully.
“She used some money from your trust that she should not have used.”
“Why?”
“She was scared about the divorce.”
“Did she buy Jason things?”
“No.”
“Did Jason take it?”
“No.”
Ethan looked confused.
“Then Jason isn’t bad?”
Daniel sighed.
“People can do one wrong thing and not every wrong thing.”
Ethan thought about it.
“Did you do wrong?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I asked Jason to pretend he didn’t know I knew about Mom.”
“Why?”
“To learn what she was planning.”
“That’s lying.”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked disappointed.
Daniel accepted it.
Better disappointment than worship.
Then Ethan asked:
“Did it work?”
Daniel almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Was it worth it?”
That answer was harder.
May you like
He looked toward the hospital bracelet still around Ethan’s wrist.
“No.”
