Chapter 2: The Email That Disappeared
Dad pulled a dining chair away from the table and sat down.
"Everyone is going to explain themselves," he said.
"And nobody is leaving this room until I understand what happened.""
Monica immediately shook her head.
"Marcus, this is ridiculous. Jasmine is upset because she didn't get the scholarship.""
"I haven't lost it," I said.
Dad looked at me.
"Explain.""
I opened my backpack and removed a folder containing my application documents.
The scholarship had been my biggest dream since sophomore year.
It wasn't just about money. It was about getting into a good university without spending the rest of my life worrying about tuition.
My mother had wanted me to become a lawyer.
Before she died, she used to tell me that education was something nobody could take away from me.
I had worked after school at a small grocery store, saved every paycheck, and spent countless nights preparing my application.
The scholarship committee had selected twenty finalists from thousands of applicants.
I was one of them.
My interview was supposed to take place on Friday.
But the invitation had disappeared.
"I received an email on Monday," I explained.
"It had the interview schedule and a link to confirm my attendance.""
Dad nodded.
"And then?""
"On Wednesday, I checked my laptop. The email was gone. I searched everywhere. Deleted messages, spam, everything.""
"Did you contact the committee?""
"I did. They said my confirmation deadline had passed.""
Dad frowned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
I looked down.
"Because I thought I could fix it before you found out.""
Monica let out a short laugh.
"That sounds convenient.""
Dad turned toward her.
"Don't interrupt.""
She pressed her lips together.
I continued.
"I checked my laptop's activity history. The email had been opened, and then deleted while I was at school.""
Olivia shifted her weight.
Dad noticed.
"Olivia, what do you know about this?""
"Nothing.""
"Look at me when you answer.""
She lifted her eyes.
"I said I know nothing.""
I reached into my folder and pulled out another sheet.
"There's something else.""
It was a screenshot of the scholarship portal.
My application status had changed from finalist to withdrawn.
Dad leaned forward.
"Who withdrew it?""
"I don't know. The committee said the request came from my registered email account.""
Monica folded her arms.
"Perhaps you made a mistake.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't.""
Olivia suddenly spoke.
"Maybe you should have checked your email more often.""
I stared at her.
"You were using my laptop last Tuesday.""
Her mouth opened.
"So?""
"You asked me for the password because yours wasn't working.""
"I was looking for a movie.""
"You were logged into my account.""
"That doesn't prove anything.""
Dad raised his hand.
"Enough. Olivia, did you delete Jasmine's email?""
"No!""
Her answer came too quickly.
Monica stepped closer to her daughter.
"Marcus, you're interrogating a teenager over an email. This is getting absurd.""
Dad looked at her.
"Jasmine is also a teenager. Yet somehow she's the only one being forced out of her home.""
Monica's face reddened.
"Because she has become impossible to live with!""
"Give me one example.""
"She constantly competes with Olivia.""
"Over what?""
"Everything!""
Olivia crossed her arms.
"She thinks she's better than me because she gets good grades.""
I turned toward her.
"I've never said that.""
"You don't have to say it. You make everyone feel stupid.""
"Olivia, I help you with your homework.""
"Nobody asked you!""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Both of you, stop.""
Then I noticed something.
Olivia's phone was lying on the dining table.
A notification appeared on its screen.
*Mom: Don't say anything about Tuesday.*
I stared at it.
My heart started pounding.
"What's that?""
Olivia snatched the phone.
"Nothing.""
Dad stood up.
"Show me.""
"It's private!""
"Then explain why your mother is telling you not to discuss Tuesday.""
Monica immediately reached for the phone.
"Marcus, you have no right to inspect her messages.""
Dad stepped between them.
"I'm her father too, Monica. And right now, I'm trying to understand why my daughter has been packed out of her bedroom.""
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
"Mom, please.""
Monica put an arm around her.
"You're not in trouble, sweetheart.""
I almost couldn't believe it.
Even now, even with everything happening, Monica was comforting Olivia while I stood alone beside a suitcase.
Dad noticed my expression.
He walked over and put a hand on my shoulder.
"Jasmine, I believe you.""
Those four words nearly broke me.
I had been waiting to hear them for months.
Then he asked, "What else has been happening?""
I hesitated.
Monica's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful what you say.""
Dad turned sharply.
"Don't threaten her.""
I looked at him.
"Things have been disappearing.""
"What things?""
"My mother's necklace. My school certificates. Some photographs. My savings envelope.""
Dad went still.
"Your savings?""
"I had almost eight hundred dollars hidden in my desk. It was money I'd saved from work.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Monica said I was irresponsible and probably spent it.""
Monica threw her hands up.
"Are we seriously going to discuss every little thing she has misplaced?""
"It wasn't misplaced," I said.
My voice trembled.
"I found the empty envelope in Olivia's closet.""
Olivia's face changed.
"You're lying!""
"Then why was it there?""
"Because you put it there!""
Dad looked at his stepdaughter.
"Olivia, did you take Jasmine's money?""
She began crying.
"I didn't take anything!""
Monica pulled her closer.
"That's enough. My daughter is being bullied.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Then let's look at the evidence.""
He turned toward me.
"Do you still have the laptop?""
I nodded.
"Upstairs.""
Olivia suddenly stepped forward.
"You can't go upstairs.""
Dad looked at her.
"Excuse me?""
"Mom said the room is mine now.""
For several seconds, Dad didn't speak.
Then he walked toward the staircase.
"Let's get something straight. Nobody gets to take my daughter's bedroom while she's still living in this house.""
Monica followed him.
"Marcus, we discussed this.""
"No. You discussed it. I was never asked.""
He reached the top of the stairs.
I followed.
My bedroom door was locked.
Dad held out his hand.
"Olivia. The key.""
She reluctantly handed it over.
Dad unlocked the door.
The room looked almost unrecognizable.
My books had been removed from the shelves. My desk drawers were open. My mother's photograph was missing from the bedside table.
And my laptop was gone.
I stared at the empty desk.
"Where is it?""
Olivia stood behind us.
"I don't know.""
Dad turned toward her.
"Then why is your charger plugged into the wall?""
She glanced at the socket.
A white laptop charger was connected beside her mother's bedroom door.
Dad followed the cable with his eyes.
Then he looked at Monica.
"Why is Jasmine's laptop in your bedroom?""
Monica didn't answer.
Instead, she reached for the charger.
But Dad moved first.
May you like
He opened the bedroom door.
And what he found on Monica's bed made him stop breathing.
