Chapter 3: The Account With My Name On It
My father stared at Daniel.
“What account?””
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“An account opened approximately eighteen months ago. It was registered in Emma's name, with Caroline listed as the authorized adult.””
Caroline immediately stepped forward.
“That was a savings account!””
Daniel didn't respond.
My father looked at her.
“You told me you were opening a savings account for Emma?””
“Yes. I was putting money aside for her future.””
“How much?””
Caroline crossed her arms.
“I don't remember the exact amount.””
Daniel opened his briefcase again.
“I have the statements.””
He placed three pages on the counter.
My father began reading.
His expression grew darker with every line.
I couldn't understand the numbers, but I recognized some of the dates.
One of them was my birthday.
Another was the week I started school.
A third was Christmas.
“Caroline,” my father said quietly, “why were there withdrawals from this account?””
“They were household expenses.””
“Household expenses?””
“Yes. Emma lives here. She eats here.
She uses electricity. She benefits from everything I provide.””
My father looked at her as though he had never seen her before.
“You took money from an account in your stepdaughter's name to pay household bills?””
Caroline raised her voice.
“I was raising her! Do you have any idea how expensive that is?””
Daniel interrupted politely.
“If I may, the account also received deposits from Emma's maternal grandmother.””
My father stopped reading.
“What?””
Daniel turned another page.
“Mrs. Margaret Collins made regular deposits into the account after Emma's mother passed away.””
I looked up.
“Grandma?””
My father turned toward me.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
I hadn't seen Grandma Margaret in almost two years.
Caroline had told me that she was too busy to visit.
Sometimes I asked whether I could call her.
Caroline always said she was traveling or unwell.
I had believed her.
Daniel continued.
“The deposits were intended to support Emma's education. According to the bank records, a significant portion was withdrawn within days of arriving.””
My father slowly sat down.
“Caroline, what did you do with that money?””
She began pacing.
“I used it to maintain the household. I bought groceries. I paid bills. I made sure Emma had a roof over her head.””
“Where are the school expenses?””
“I already told you!””
“And the clothes?””
“She had clothes!””
My father pointed toward the hallway.
“Those three garbage bags are not an answer.””
Caroline's face turned red.
“You're acting as though I've been abusing her!””
Nobody moved.
Then she made another mistake.
“She has never been easy to raise. Everything is a problem. If Olivia gets a dress, Emma wants one.
If Lucas gets something, Emma wants it too. I cannot spend my entire life treating her like a princess.””
My father stood.
“She asked for one blue dress.””
Caroline scoffed.
“And tomorrow she'll ask for something else.””
“She is a child!””
“And I'm her stepmother, not her personal servant!””
Daniel quietly closed his briefcase.
“I think we should pause here.””
My father nodded.
“Thank you, Daniel. Please send me copies of everything. I'll speak with our lawyer.””
Caroline turned sharply.
“Your lawyer?””
“Yes.””
“You're bringing lawyers into a family disagreement?””
My father looked at her.
“This stopped being a family disagreement when you began taking money meant for my daughter.””
Caroline walked out of the kitchen.
Her footsteps echoed across the hallway.
I watched her disappear.
Then I looked at my father.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Is Grandma angry with me?””
His face softened.
“Why would you think that?””
“Because she sent money and I didn't say thank you.””
My father knelt beside my chair.
“Grandma loves you. She has never been angry with you.””
I looked down.
“Can I call her?””
He smiled sadly.
“Of course.””
He took out his phone and searched for her number.
A few moments later, a familiar voice answered.
“Richard?””
“Margaret. It's me.””
“Oh, Richard. Is everything all right? I've been trying to reach Emma for months.””
My father looked at me.
“She's here. Would you like to speak to her?””
There was a small gasp.
“Emma?””
My eyes filled immediately.
“Grandma?””
“Oh, my darling girl!””
I grabbed the phone with both hands.
“Grandma, I'm sorry I haven't called.””
“Don't you dare apologize. I've missed you terribly.””
“I missed you too.””
“Are you eating properly? Are you going to school? How are your piano lessons?””
I went quiet.
I hadn't had piano lessons in more than a year.
Caroline had said they were unnecessary expenses.
“Emma?””
“I'm okay, Grandma.””
My father looked away.
He couldn't bear hearing me say those words anymore.
Grandma continued.
“I sent you something for your birthday, sweetheart. Did you receive it?””
I frowned.
“What thing?””
“A little necklace. Your mother's favorite flower was engraved on it. I thought you'd like to have something that reminded you of her.””
I looked at my father.
He immediately understood.
“Margaret,” he said, “Emma never received it.””
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Grandma asked:
“Richard, what is happening in that house?””
My father glanced toward the staircase.
“Something I should have discovered a long time ago.””
He ended the call only after promising Grandma that she could visit the following weekend.
For the rest of the morning, my father made arrangements.
He ordered a new bed, a proper mattress, and a wardrobe.
He also contacted my school to arrange a meeting with my teacher.
But I didn't understand why everyone seemed so serious.
I thought perhaps Caroline would simply apologize and things would return to normal.
I was wrong.
That afternoon, I went upstairs to collect my schoolbag.
When I returned, Caroline was standing inside my bedroom.
She was holding the little photograph of my mother.
“What are you doing?”” I asked.
She turned.
“Looking for something.””
“That's Mommy's picture.””
“I can see that.””
She placed it on the desk.
Then she opened my wardrobe.
“Your father has become completely unreasonable.””
I didn't answer.
She pulled one of the garbage bags from the corner.
“Do you think you can make him feel sorry for you forever?””
I shook my head.
“I'm not trying to.””
“Then why did you write all those things?””
I stared at the floor.
“Because I wanted Daddy to know.””
Caroline laughed.
“Your father has responsibilities. He cannot spend every minute worrying about you.””
I remembered what Daddy had said the night before.
This was my home.
Nobody could send me away.
So I tried to be brave.
“Daddy said I can have my own clothes now.””
Caroline's expression changed.
She stepped closer.
“Your father says a lot of things when he's angry.””
I moved backward.
“Please don't shout.””
She pointed toward the wardrobe.
“Take those bags and put them in the storage room. I don't want to see them.””
I looked at the clothes.
“Can I keep the pink dress?””
“No.””
“But—”
“I said no.””
She picked up the dress and threw it into the bag.
Then she grabbed my mother's photograph.
“What's this doing here?””
“Please don't touch it!””
Caroline raised her eyebrows.
“Excuse me?””
I reached for the frame.
She pulled it away.
“Your father is letting you become spoiled. You need to understand that you are not the only person in this house.””
I was crying now.
“Please give me Mommy's picture.””
For a moment, Caroline held it above the open garbage bag.
Then the bedroom door opened.
“Put that photograph down.””
My father stood in the doorway.
Behind him was Daniel.
And beside Daniel stood a woman I hadn't seen in nearly two years.
Grandma Margaret.
“Emma!””
She rushed toward me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
I buried my face in her coat.
“Grandma!””
“Oh, my darling. Look at you.””
She held my face gently and studied me.
Then her eyes moved toward the wardrobe.
Three black garbage bags.
The oversized sweaters.
The torn shoes.
The old mattress.
Her expression changed.
“What happened to this room?””
Caroline immediately straightened.
“Margaret, I can explain.””
Grandma didn't look at her.
She was staring at the photograph of my mother in Caroline's hand.
“Give that to me.””
Caroline hesitated.
“It's just a photograph.””
“It's my daughter's photograph.””
Grandma took it carefully and placed it in my hands.
Then she turned toward my father.
“Richard, I want to know exactly what has happened.””
My father nodded.
“I'm going to tell you everything.””
Caroline stepped forward.
“Margaret, please. You're making this worse. Emma has always been sensitive, and she misunderstands—”
“Stop.””
Grandma's voice was quiet.
But everyone listened.
“I knew my granddaughter was unhappy. I called this house repeatedly. I sent letters.
I sent money. I even sent presents. And every time I asked to speak to her, you told me she was unavailable.””
Caroline looked uncomfortable.
“I was protecting her routine.””
“From her grandmother?””
“I had a lot to manage.””
Grandma looked at the clothes.
“Apparently, you had enough time to buy designer dresses for your children.””
Olivia appeared in the doorway.
She was holding her phone.
“Mom?””
Caroline turned.
“Go downstairs.””
But Olivia didn't move.
Grandma continued.
“I want to see the account statements. All of them.””
Daniel nodded.
“I have copies.””
“Good. And I want the lawyer to know about the money I sent for Emma's education.””
Caroline's face tightened.
“You cannot interfere with this marriage.””
Grandma looked directly at her.
“I am not here to interfere with your marriage. I am here because my granddaughter has been neglected.””
Caroline laughed.
“Neglected? She has a roof over her head, food, and a school to attend!””
My father finally spoke.
“And that is supposed to be enough?””
Caroline turned toward him.
“You are letting these people turn you against me!””
“No,” he replied.
“I'm finally looking at what happened while I wasn't paying attention.””
He walked toward the wardrobe and pulled out one of the garbage bags.
Then he removed the tiny pink dress.
He held it up.
“Emma asked you for one new dress. You gave her this.””
Caroline folded her arms.
“She could have worn it.””
My father shook his head.
“Not anymore.””
He placed the dress on the desk.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“Please arrange an independent review of every payment made for Emma. And I want the school to contact me directly from now on.””
Daniel nodded.
Caroline stared at him.
“You're going to regret humiliating me like this.””
My father didn't respond.
Instead, he turned to me.
“Sweetheart, why don't you go downstairs with Grandma? I have something important to discuss with Caroline.””
I held Grandma's hand.
As we walked out, I heard Caroline's voice rise.
“You cannot throw me out of this house!””
Then my father's reply.
“I'm not discussing where anyone lives tonight. I'm discussing what you've done to my daughter.””
Grandma took me into the living room.
She sat beside me and brushed my hair.
“Emma, sweetheart, there's something I've wanted to give you for a long time.””
She opened her handbag and took out a small velvet box.
Inside was a delicate gold necklace.
A tiny flower pendant hung from its chain.
“Your mother wore this when she was young,” Grandma whispered.
“I had it made into a necklace for you.””
I touched the pendant.
“It's beautiful.””
Grandma kissed my forehead.
“It's yours. And nobody will ever tell you that you don't deserve something beautiful again.””
I hugged her.
For the first time in two years, I felt that I wasn't alone.
But upstairs, the argument continued.
Then I heard Caroline shout:
“Fine! If you want the truth, Richard, ask your daughter what she told Olivia about the money!””
I looked toward the staircase.
Grandma stopped brushing my hair.
A few seconds later, my father appeared at the top of the stairs.
He looked down at me.
“Emma, sweetheart?””
I stood.
“Yes, Daddy?””
He hesitated.
“Did Olivia ever tell you anything about the money Caroline was taking from your account?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My father looked toward the bedroom.
May you like
Then he said something that made Grandma slowly rise from her chair.
“Because Olivia has just admitted that she knew where your mother's necklace was—and she says Caroline gave it to her.””
