Chapter 5 - The Ledger of Lies
The living room fell into a silence so absolute that the hum of the refrigerator sounded like an oncoming train.
Bethany’s head snapped up from the paper, her eyes burning with pure, unadulterated fury. She didn't look at me; she stared directly at Derek with a look of murderous realization.
""Taryn?"" Bethany’s voice hit an octave that made Cole flinch. ""You bought Taryn’s daughter a two-thousand-dollar laptop?""
""Bethany, wait, let me explain—"" Derek stammered, his hands coming up in a frantic defensive posture.
""You told me you couldn't pay your half of Cole’s orthodontic retainer last month because business at the firm was slow!"" Bethany shouted, the camel coat flying open as she slammed the folder against the table. ""You told me you were taking out a personal loan just to cover Christmas for the kids! And you gave Taryn West two thousand dollars?""
""It gets better, Bethany,"" I said smoothly, stepping to the side of the table. ""Keep turning the pages.""
""Eliza, stop!"" Derek lunged forward, trying to grab the folder from Bethany's hands, but Bethany swerved, blocking him with her elbow.
""Don't touch me, Derek!"" she barked. She flipped to the next tab, where three neat rows of bank statements were highlighted in fluorescent yellow.
""November twelfth,"" Bethany read, her voice shaking with rage. ""Twelve thousand dollars to West Coast Design & Consulting. November twenty-eighth, fifteen thousand dollars. December tenth, seven thousand dollars. Totaling thirty-four thousand dollars in six weeks.""
Marley stepped closer to her mother, her phone hanging limp by her side. Her face had lost all of its triumphant smugness. ""Mom? What is that? Who is Taryn?""
""Taryn,"" Bethany said, turning on her daughter with brutal honesty, ""is the woman your father was sleeping with while we were still in marriage counseling. The woman he swore he cut off two years ago.""
Bethany rounded on Derek, her eyes blazing. ""You told me you didn't have money for Marley’s computer because your new wife was an uptight miser who budgeted every penny! You let Marley film a video humiliating Eliza, you let her post it on the internet, all so your kids wouldn't realize that you were spending their college savings on your side piece!""
Marley looked at Derek. Her chin trembled. ""Dad? Is that true?""
Derek looked like a man standing on the gallows. He glanced at Marley, then at Bethany, and finally at me. The desperate charm that had carried him through two marriages and countless deceptions had completely run out of road.
""Marley, listen to me,"" Derek began, his voice cracking. ""Maya needed that computer for her medical program. Taryn was in a desperate spot. I was trying to do the right thing—""
""With my money,"" I interrupted, my voice cutting through his excuse like a razor. ""That thirty-four thousand dollars wasn't family income, Derek. That was the remaining equity from the sale of my Pacific Beach condominium, which I deposited into our high-yield account to serve as a down payment for the kids' college trust fund next year.""
Cole spoke up from the hallway, his voice small and cracking with puberty. ""Dad... you took our college money?""
""No! Cole, buddy, no, that's not how it works—""
""That's exactly how it works,"" I said, looking at Cole with steady, calm clarity. ""Your father told you I was cheap. He told you I wouldn't let him spend money on you. But I paid for Cole’s marine biology camp out of my personal account in August. I paid for Marley’s film equipment with my own bonus check. The gifts in the trash can yesterday weren't cheap dollar store bribes. They were top-tier supplies chosen specifically for what each of you love.""
Marley slowly turned her head toward the front door, looking out toward the driveway where the blue recycling bin still stood. Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.
""You... you bought me the boom mic?"" Marley whispered, tears finally welling in her eyes. ""The one with the wind filter?""
""And the high-speed solid-state drive,"" I answered gently. ""Because you told me two months ago that your 4K video files kept crashing your old hard drive.""
May you like
Marley covered her mouth with both hands. A choked sob broke from her throat. She looked at her father, her dark eyes filled with a sudden, devastating betrayal that no apology could ever mend.
""You lied to me,"" Marley sobbed, her voice tearing at the room. ""You made me hate her! You told me she hated us!""
