Continued:

The morning air bites at my face as I hurry through Riverside Park. Gran’s already at our bench, her silver hair catching the autumn light. She’s holding a thick Manila envelope, her fingers trembling slightly as she grips it.

“You look tired, darling,” she says as I sit beside her.

“First week at the new job. Everything hurts except my pride,” I reply, trying to smile. Gran’s expression stops me before I can finish.

“What’s wrong?”

She presses the envelope into my hands. “These are copies of documents I found in your father’s study last year. Bank statements, transfer records, letters… the truth about your college fund.”

Inside, I find papers dating back five years. My fingers go numb as I scan the numbers.

“This can’t be right,” I whisper. “There’s over $200,000 here. My grandfather set up trust funds for both you and Ryan before he died. Equal amounts.”

Gran’s voice hardens. “Your father was supposed to be the trustee until you turned 21. Yesterday.”

The world tilts sideways. But they said they couldn’t afford my tuition. That’s why I had to take out loans. Why I—

“They transferred your money to Ryan’s account gradually over the years. Private schools, sports camps, that ridiculous car…” Gran takes my hand. “I tried to stop it, but Derek threatened to cut off my access to the family if I interfered.”

My phone buzzes—Sophie calling. I ignore it, my hands shaking as I flip through more documents.

“Does Ryan know?” I ask, barely able to form the words.

“No, he’s as much a victim of their manipulation as you are, just in a different way.”

Another buzz. Sophie again. This time, I answer.

“Jade, thank God. You need to get home right now. Your father found out I was in his study. He’s destroying everything.”

My heart stops.

“What do you mean, destroying?”

“Papers, files—everything. He knows someone’s been looking into the accounts. He’s in a complete panic.”

Gran grabs my arm. “Go now. I’ll make copies of these.”

I drive like a woman possessed, reaching my parents’ house in record time. Sophie meets me at the side door, her face pale.

“They’re in the study. Your mom’s trying to calm him down, but a crash from upstairs cut her off.”

We race up together, finding the study door locked.

“Open this door!” I pound on the wood.

I know what you did with my trust fund!

Silence falls inside. Then my father’s voice, eerily calm.

“You don’t understand anything, Jade.”

“I understand enough,” I yell, my voice raw. “$200,000, Dad. My future. You stole it.”

“We invested it in your brother’s future,” he spits, his tone cold.

“The family’s future,” my mother adds in a strained voice.

I laugh, and it sounds bitter. “No, I say. Everything you did was for Ryan. And now everyone’s going to know.”

The door flies open. My father stands there, papers scattered around him. A wastepaper basket smolders with half-burned documents.

“You wouldn’t dare destroy this family’s reputation,” he growls.

“You already did that yourself.” I hold up my phone, recording.

“And now I have proof.”

His face contorts with rage.

“You ungrateful—”

Before he can finish, Sophie slips past him into the study, quickly gathering the fallen papers.

“I’m done covering for you, Uncle Derek,” she says, her voice firm. “This ends now.”

My mother steps forward, her expression turning desperate. “This is a mistake.”

I laugh again, and this time it’s a sound of breaking glass. “No. The mistake was thinking you could get away with this forever. The mistake was believing I’d stay quiet.”

My father slumps against his desk, suddenly looking old. “You don’t understand the pressure we were under.”

“Save it for the lawyers,” I snap. I turn to leave, then pause. “Oh, and Happy Birthday to me. Finally got my inheritance after all.”

Outside, Sophie hands me the salvaged papers, her hands shaking.

“What now?”

My phone buzzes again. It’s a text from Gran.

“Document safe. Your grandfather would be proud.”

Now, I say, watching my parents’ silhouettes in the study window. We make them face everything they tried to burn away. And we do it together.

Ella’s waiting when I get back, a victory cupcake in hand.

“Got the job. Start training tomorrow.”

I take the cupcake but don’t eat it.

“Ella, I need to ask you something. If this gets ugly, really ugly, are you sure you want to be involved?”

She takes my hand, squeezing it tight. “Honey, I’ve watched them dim your light for years. It’s about time someone helped you shine.”

I squeeze back, thinking of Gran’s cryptic call and Sophie’s message.

“Then let’s get started.”

The morning air bites at my face as I hurry through Riverside Park. Gran’s already at our bench, her silver hair catching the autumn light. She’s holding a thick Manila envelope, her fingers trembling slightly as she grips it.

“You look tired, darling,” she says as I sit beside her.

“First week at the new job. Everything hurts except my pride,” I reply, trying to smile. Gran’s expression stops me before I can finish.

“What’s wrong?”

She presses the envelope into my hands. “These are copies of documents I found in your father’s study last year. Bank statements, transfer records, letters… the truth about your college fund.”

Inside, I find papers dating back five years. My fingers go numb as I scan the numbers.

“This can’t be right,” I whisper. “There’s over $200,000 here. My grandfather set up trust funds for both you and Ryan before he died. Equal amounts.”

Gran’s voice hardens. “Your father was supposed to be the trustee until you turned 21. Yesterday.”

The world tilts sideways. But they said they couldn’t afford my tuition. That’s why I had to take out loans. Why I—

“They transferred your money to Ryan’s account gradually over the years. Private schools, sports camps, that ridiculous car…” Gran takes my hand. “I tried to stop it, but Derek threatened to cut off my access to the family if I interfered.”

My phone buzzes—Sophie calling. I ignore it, my hands shaking as I flip through more documents.

“Does Ryan know?” I ask, barely able to form the words.

“No, he’s as much a victim of their manipulation as you are, just in a different way.”

Another buzz. Sophie again. This time, I answer.

“Jade, thank God. You need to get home right now. Your father found out I was in his study. He’s destroying everything.”

My heart stops.

“What do you mean, destroying?”

“Papers, files—everything. He knows someone’s been looking into the accounts. He’s in a complete panic.”

Gran grabs my arm. “Go now. I’ll make copies of these.”

I drive like a woman possessed, reaching my parents’ house in record time. Sophie meets me at the side door, her face pale.

“They’re in the study. Your mom’s trying to calm him down, but a crash from upstairs cut her off.”

We race up together, finding the study door locked.

“Open this door!” I pound on the wood.

I know what you did with my trust fund!

Silence falls inside. Then my father’s voice, eerily calm.

“You don’t understand anything, Jade.”

“I understand enough,” I yell, my voice raw. “$200,000, Dad. My future. You stole it.”

“We invested it in your brother’s future,” he spits, his tone cold.

“The family’s future,” my mother adds in a strained voice.

I laugh, and it sounds bitter. “No, I say. Everything you did was for Ryan. And now everyone’s going to know.”

The door flies open. My father stands there, papers scattered around him. A wastepaper basket smolders with half-burned documents.

“You wouldn’t dare destroy this family’s reputation,” he growls.

“You already did that yourself.” I hold up my phone, recording.

“And now I have proof.”

His face contorts with rage.

“You ungrateful—”

Before he can finish, Sophie slips past him into the study, quickly gathering the fallen papers.

“I’m done covering for you, Uncle Derek,” she says, her voice firm. “This ends now.”

My mother steps forward, her expression turning desperate. “This is a mistake.”

I laugh again, and this time it’s a sound of breaking glass. “No. The mistake was thinking you could get away with this forever. The mistake was believing I’d stay quiet.”

My father slumps against his desk, suddenly looking old. “You don’t understand the pressure we were under.”

“Save it for the lawyers,” I snap. I turn to leave, then pause. “Oh, and Happy Birthday to me. Finally got my inheritance after all.”

Outside, Sophie hands me the salvaged papers, her hands shaking.

“What now?”

My phone buzzes again. It’s a text from Gran.

“Document safe. Your grandfather would be proud.”

Now, I say, watching my parents’ silhouettes in the study window. We make them face everything they tried to burn away. And we do it together.

Ella’s waiting when I get back, a victory cupcake in hand.

“Got the job. Start training tomorrow.”

I take the cupcake but don’t eat it.

“Ella, I need to ask you something. If this gets ugly, really ugly, are you sure you want to be involved?”

She takes my hand, squeezing it tight. “Honey, I’ve watched them dim your light for years. It’s about time someone helped you shine.”

I squeeze back, thinking of Gran’s cryptic call and Sophie’s message.

“Then let’s get started.”

The End.