Chapter 7: The Person Behind the Lie
I stared at the message for almost a full minute.
My thumb hovered over the screen, unsure whether I should reply or throw the phone across the room.
The words were simple.
But they carried a warning that made my stomach twist.
*“Your father needs to know what really happened before it’s too late.””*
I looked at Dad.
He was still sitting beside me, completely unaware that one message had changed everything again.
“Dad?””
He looked up.
“What’s wrong?””
I turned my phone toward him.
His expression changed immediately.
Not panic.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“You don’t know this number?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
He took the phone from my hand and studied the message.
“Don’t reply.””
“Why?””
“Because we don’t know who this is.””
I watched his face carefully.
“You look like you know something.””
Dad stayed silent.
That silence scared me more than the message.
“Dad.””
He sighed.
“I need to make a call.””
“To who?””
He stood up.
“Linda.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“Because if someone else was involved, she may know.””
The idea of calling Linda made my chest tighten.
After everything that happened, part of me wanted nothing to do with her.
But another part of me knew there were still missing pieces.
Dad called.
She answered after two rings.
“David?””
Her voice sounded surprised.
“We need to talk.””
A pause.
“What happened?””
Dad looked at me.
Then at the phone.
“Did anyone else know about the money?””
Silence.
Too long.
“Linda.””
She exhaled.
“My mother.””
Dad’s face changed.
“Carol?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Linda’s voice became quiet.
“Because she helped me.””
I felt my heart sink.
Dad walked toward the window.
“Helped you do what?””
Linda didn’t answer.
Then she whispered:
“David… I didn’t take the money alone.””
The room became completely silent.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Explain.””
“I was desperate. My debts were getting worse. But I didn’t know how to access everything.””
“So?””
“So my mother told me what to do.””
My hands went cold.
Dad gripped the phone tighter.
“What exactly did she tell you?””
Linda hesitated.
“She said you would never notice small amounts missing.””
My jaw dropped.
Small amounts.
That was the phrase.
The thing that made everything worse.
Because it meant someone had planned it.
This wasn’t one bad decision.
This was a pattern.
Dad’s voice became low.
“You’re telling me your mother encouraged you to steal from my daughter?””
“I know how it sounds.””
“No.””
He interrupted.
“I want to hear you say it.””
Linda started crying.
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
“Yes, she did.””
After the call ended, Dad sat down.
I could see the anger building inside him.
Not the kind that exploded.
The kind that became cold.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
“For what?””
“For letting people near you who didn’t protect you.””
I shook my head.
“You protected me.””
“Eventually.””
That word hurt.
Eventually.
Because he was right.
He did protect me.
But after I had already been hurt.
The next morning, Dad and I went to see Carol.
I didn’t want to go.
But I needed answers.
Her house was small and quiet.
When she opened the door, she immediately knew why we were there.
“David.””
He didn’t smile.
“Carol.””
She stepped aside.
“Come in.””
We sat in her living room.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Dad placed the bank records on the table.
“I know everything.””
Carol looked at the papers.
Then looked away.
“I assume Linda told you.””
“She did.””
Carol sighed.
“She made mistakes.””
Dad’s expression hardened.
“No.””
Carol looked up.
“No?””
“You don’t get to call this a mistake.””
She became defensive.
“She was struggling.””
“So was my daughter.””
Carol looked at me.
“I’m sorry, Jasmine.””
I stared at her.
“Were you sorry when you told her to take my money?””
The question silenced her.
Dad leaned forward.
“Why?””
Carol looked confused.
“Why what?””
“Why did you convince her to do this?””
Carol looked down.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Because I knew David would never choose Linda over Jasmine.””
The room went quiet.
I felt like someone had punched the air out of my lungs.
Dad stared at her.
“What?””
Carol sighed.
“I knew Jasmine was always first.””
Dad’s voice became sharp.
“She is my daughter.””
“I know.””
“Then why punish her?””
Carol looked at me.
“I thought if Linda had more security, she wouldn’t feel so insecure.””
I couldn’t believe it.
“So you hurt me to make her feel better?””
Carol had no answer.
Dad stood.
“That is the most selfish thing I have ever heard.””
Before we left, Carol stopped him.
“David.””
He turned.
“There’s something else.””
My heart started racing.
“What?””
Carol looked nervous.
“Linda didn’t know everything.””
Dad frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“She thought she was only taking money.””
A chill went through me.
“What did she actually do?””
Carol looked at the floor.
“She signed something.””
Dad stepped closer.
“What?””
“A document.””
“What document?””
Carol swallowed.
“Something that could affect Jasmine’s inheritance.””
I froze.
Dad’s face went pale.
“What inheritance?””
Carol looked at me.
And suddenly, I understood.
This wasn’t about a laptop.
It wasn’t even about money.
May you like
It was about my future.
And someone had tried to take something from me that my mother left behind.
