Chapter 8: The Ultimatum
Dad spent the night in the guest room.
I heard him moving around until nearly three in the morning.
At six, he was already awake.
He sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a stack of documents.
When I walked downstairs, he looked up.
"How are your eyes?""
"Bad.""
He nodded.
"We're seeing the specialist today.""
"What about Laura?""
Dad glanced toward the stairs.
"She hasn't come down.""
At that moment, Laura appeared.
She looked smaller somehow.
She had packed two suitcases.
I noticed immediately.
Dad noticed too.
"You were serious.""
Laura stopped.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
Dad looked at the suitcases.
"You still have somewhere to go.""
"Michael said I could stay.""
Dad nodded.
"Then go.""
Laura's face crumpled.
"David.""
"You made your choice.""
She walked closer.
"Can we talk privately?""
Dad looked at me.
Then nodded.
They went into the living room.
I stayed in the kitchen.
Their voices were muffled at first.
Then Laura began crying.
"I never wanted this.""
Dad answered quietly.
"You did.""
"I made mistakes.""
"You lied.""
"I was afraid.""
"You stole.""
"I was desperate.""
"You endangered Emma.""
Silence.
Then Dad said something that made my chest tighten.
"You betrayed my daughter.""
Laura sobbed.
"I know.""
"No. You don't.""
His voice was louder now.
"She trusted you.""
"I know.""
"She called you Mom.""
"I know!""
The room went silent.
Then Laura whispered, "I loved her.""
Dad replied, "Then you should have protected her.""
A few minutes later, they came back into the kitchen.
Dad held a document.
Laura's eyes were swollen.
He looked at me.
"Emma, I need you to hear this.""
I nodded.
Dad turned to Laura.
"Here is what happens next.""
Laura swallowed.
"First, you sign over the sports car.""
She nodded.
"Second, you cooperate with the bank to remove the lien against the house.""
"I will.""
"Third, you repay Emma's thirty-eight thousand dollars.""
Laura closed her eyes.
"I don't have it.""
"You have assets.""
"My savings?""
"Whatever is necessary.""
She looked frightened.
"That won't cover it.""
"Then you sell what you own.""
Her voice broke.
"Everything?""
"Everything that doesn't belong to you.""
She looked at me.
"Emma...""
Dad interrupted.
"Don't ask her for forgiveness.""
Laura lowered her head.
"Okay.""
"Fourth," Dad continued, "you tell the truth about every dollar you took.""
Laura nodded.
"And fifth...""
Dad paused.
"If you lie again, I file a police report.""
Laura's face went white.
"David, please.""
"No.""
"Please don't.""
"You've had every opportunity to tell the truth.""
"I can fix this.""
"Then fix it.""
Laura wiped her tears.
"What happens to us?""
Dad stared at her for a long time.
"Our marriage is over.""
She gasped.
"No.""
"I'm not going to stay married to someone who can steal from my child and then plan to leave with another man.""
Laura collapsed into a chair.
"I don't love Michael.""
Dad's expression didn't change.
"That isn't the point.""
"I made a terrible mistake.""
"Yes.""
"I'll cut him off.""
"That isn't the point either.""
She looked up.
"What do you want me to do?""
Dad answered simply.
"Take responsibility.""
Laura began sobbing.
Tyler appeared at the doorway.
"Mom.""
She looked at him.
He walked into the room.
"I'll sell the car.""
Dad looked at him.
"You don't have to.""
"Yes, I do.""
Tyler's voice shook.
"I knew she was taking money from Emma.""
My heart stopped.
Dad stared at him.
"What?""
Tyler swallowed.
"I knew some of it.""
Laura stood.
"Tyler, don't.""
"No.""
He looked at his mother.
"You lied to Dad. You lied to Emma. You lied to me.""
Laura shook her head.
"I was protecting you.""
"You made me part of it.""
Dad stepped closer.
"What exactly did you know?""
Tyler's eyes filled with tears.
"I knew about the first six thousand.""
Dad's face hardened.
"First six thousand?""
"She told me last year.""
My stomach dropped.
"So you knew my money was being taken?""
Tyler looked at me.
"I didn't know it was your money.""
"You knew it was stolen.""
He couldn't answer.
Dad looked furious.
"Get the car keys.""
Tyler reached into his pocket.
He placed them on the table.
Then he pulled out his phone.
"There is something else.""
Dad looked at him.
"What?""
Tyler opened a message thread.
"I saved these because I was scared.""
He handed the phone to Dad.
There were dozens of messages between Laura and Michael.
Dad scrolled.
At first, the messages were ordinary.
Then he reached one dated three weeks earlier.
Laura had written:
*"Once David refinances the house, I'll have enough to start over.""*
Michael replied:
*"And Emma?""*
Laura's answer was short.
*"She'll have her father. She always does.""*
I felt something inside me break.
Dad stopped scrolling.
Then another message appeared.
This one was from Michael.
*"What about the $30,000 you promised me?""*
Dad looked up.
Laura froze.
"Who is Michael?"" he asked again.
Laura whispered, "Nobody.""
Dad turned the phone around.
"You promised him thirty thousand dollars?""
Laura's lips trembled.
"I didn't mean—"
Dad stood.
"How much of Emma's money was actually supposed to go to him?""
Laura said nothing.
Tyler looked at his mother.
"Mom...""
She finally whispered the truth.
"All of it.""
Dad's face went completely still.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
Dad listened.
His expression changed.
"Yes, this is her husband.""
A pause.
"You're saying Laura already signed the purchase agreement?""
He looked at me.
Then at Laura.
"On an apartment?""
Laura began crying.
Dad's grip tightened around the phone.
"Send me the contract.""
He ended the call.
Laura whispered, "David...""
He looked at her.
"The apartment was already purchased.""
May you like
She stared at him.
"And guess whose name is on the deed?""
