Chapter 4: The Email That Exposed Them Both
Vanessa stared at the printed email as if the words might disappear if she refused to look at them.
They didn't.
Grandma Evelyn slid the paper across the coffee table.
"Read it aloud," she said.
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Grandma adjusted her glasses.
"Your name is at the top. Your email address is there. The message was sent three weeks ago. What exactly don't you understand?""
My father stepped between them.
"Mom, this is getting out of hand.""
Evelyn didn't move.
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before you signed your daughter's inheritance away.""
David lowered his voice.
"Vanessa was only trying to help Mia.""
I looked at him.
"By stealing from me?""
"Watch your language.""
I couldn't believe it.
Even now, with the evidence sitting on the table, he was more concerned about how I spoke than what they had done.
Vanessa finally reached for the paper.
"Fine. I sent the email. But you're taking it out of context.""
Grandma nodded.
"Then give us the context.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Mia was struggling. She didn't get accepted into the college she wanted, and her grades weren't good enough for the scholarship program. We were worried about her future.""
I looked at Mia.
She was standing beside the sofa, staring at the carpet.
"So you decided mine didn't matter?"" I asked.
Vanessa sighed.
"Aaliyah, you have always been independent. You've always been able to take care of yourself.""
"Because nobody else did!""
The words came out louder than I intended.
Nobody answered.
I continued.
"I worked weekends while Mia got money for dance lessons. I bought my own school supplies while she got new clothes every semester. I saved for my graduation dress while you bought her a designer handbag last Christmas.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"That handbag was a gift.""
"And my money was supposed to be a gift from Grandpa.""
My father rubbed his temples.
"Can we please stop comparing everything?""
Grandma opened the email again.
"There's more.""
She pointed to the second paragraph.
Vanessa had written:
David can sign the amendment as trustee representative. Aaliyah doesn't need to know until everything is finalized. Once Mia is listed as beneficiary, we can explain that the money was distributed equally for the girls' future.
I read it twice.
"Equally?""
My voice trembled.
"How is giving Mia four hundred and eighty thousand dollars equal?""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You don't understand the expenses involved in raising two girls.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You're right. I don't. Because I've been paying for my own things since I was fourteen.""
Mia suddenly spoke.
"Mom said you didn't even need the money.""
Everyone turned toward her.
Vanessa's face changed.
"Mia, go upstairs.""
"But you said—"
"Now!""
Mia flinched.
Grandma raised one hand.
"Let her finish.""
Mia looked frightened.
Then she glanced at me.
"Mom said Aaliyah was probably going to get a scholarship anyway. She said it would be selfish to keep all that money when I needed help more.""
I felt something inside me break.
Not because Mia had repeated Vanessa's words.
But because I realized how carefully they had constructed this plan.
They had decided my future was less important before anyone had even asked me what I wanted.
My father finally spoke.
"Vanessa made a mistake. We can correct it.""
Grandma stared at him.
"Can you explain the forged signature?""
David's face tightened.
"I didn't forge anything.""
I pointed at the document.
"That's not my signature.""
"Perhaps you signed something and forgot.""
"I didn't!""
"Don't shout.""
Grandma stood.
"David, stop treating your daughter like a child who doesn't know her own name.""
He turned toward his mother.
"You don't know what it's been like living here. Aaliyah has always been difficult.""
I stared at him.
"Difficult?""
"You're stubborn. You never accept anything. You question everything.""
"Because you never tell me the truth!""
He opened his mouth.
But no words came.
Grandma gathered the papers.
"We're going to the bank.""
David stepped forward.
"That's unnecessary.""
"It isn't your decision anymore.""
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
"You're not taking her anywhere without us.""
Grandma looked at her calmly.
"Aaliyah is eighteen. She can decide who accompanies her.""
I looked at my grandmother.
"I want to go with you.""
Grandma nodded.
"Then let's go.""
As I reached for my jacket, Mia suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Wait.""
I looked down at her hand.
She released me immediately.
"Are you going to tell everyone what happened?""
"What do you mean?""
She glanced toward Vanessa.
"About the dress.""
I stared at her.
"You mean the dress you cut up?""
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't think it would become this big.""
I gently pulled my hand away.
"It became this big when you decided destroying something I worked for was funny.""
She lowered her head.
I followed Grandma downstairs.
Just before we reached the front door, David called after us.
"Aaliyah!""
I stopped.
He stood at the top of the staircase.
"Don't make decisions you'll regret.""
I looked at the man who had watched me cry over a ruined dress and demanded that I apologize.
For once, I didn't lower my eyes.
"I'm not the one who needs to worry about that.""
Grandma opened the front door.
We stepped outside.
But before she could start the car, her phone rang.
She answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
Grandma's expression changed.
"Yes, this is Evelyn.""
She listened.
Then she looked at me.
"Are you certain?""
Another pause.
"Send it to my email immediately.""
She ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Grandma held the steering wheel tightly.
"The trust administrator reviewed the original beneficiary-change request.""
"And?""
She turned toward me.
"They found another document.""
"What document?""
Her voice dropped.
"A document claiming your grandfather had changed his will six months before he died.""
My stomach turned.
"That's impossible. Grandpa never told me anything about that.""
"I know.""
May you like
Grandma started the engine.
"Because the document was created after his funeral.""
