CHAPTER 9: THE CONFRONTATION WITH FATHER
I drove to my parents' house.
My father was in the study, reading the paper. He looked up when I walked in, and his expression shifted from surprise to wariness.
"Evelyn," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
I sat down across from him.
"About Mom. About the business. About everything."
He set down his paper. "What are you talking about?"
I opened my folder and slid documents across the desk.
"Mom has been embezzling from the family. From Grandfather's estate. From your business."
He stared at the documents.
"These are bank statements. They show transfers from your company accounts to accounts Mom set up in her own name."
"That's impossible."
"Is it? Check your accounts. You'll see."
He didn't move.
"Dad, you need to face the truth. Mom has been lying to you. She's been stealing from you. And she's been doing it for years."
"Why would she do that?"
"For Grant. To pay off his debts. To keep the family together."
He finally looked at the documents.
The color drained from his face.
"I didn't know," he said.
"I know you didn't. But now you do. And you need to decide what you're going to do about it."
He was silent for a long moment.
Then he said, "What do you want me to do?"
"Report her. Press charges. Let the law handle it."
"She's your mother—"
"She's a criminal. She forged my signature. She stole from Grandfather. She tried to destroy my career. And she would have done worse if she'd had the chance."
He looked down at his hands.
"I can't believe it," he said. "After all these years."
"I know, Dad. I know."
We sat there in silence.
When I stood up to leave, he said, "Evelyn?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry. For everything I did. For not protecting you."
"You can make it up to me by doing the right thing."
"I'll try."
May you like
I left the house.
And I knew that everything was about to change.
