Chapter 3 - The Great Unraveling
Britney began to cry—loud, theatrical, desperate tears. "He's trying to ruin me! Dad, he's trying to destroy my family! Connor, Brianna, cover your ears!"
But the teenagers weren't covering their ears. They were staring at their mother with a mixture of confusion and sudden, horrifying comprehension. Connor, who had been snickering at Khloe just minutes prior, looked at his mother's panicked face and realized the luxury life he bragged about was built on stolen money.
William grabbed the folder from Britney's shaking hands. His eyes scanned the documents. Unlike his wife and daughter, William was a businessman. He knew how to read a forensic audit. He knew what official bank seals looked like. As he flipped through the pages, his jaw began to slacken.
"Margaret..." William whispered, his voice suddenly sounding very old, very tired. "What is this? Is this... is this real?"
"William, don't be ridiculous!" Margaret hissed, her eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal. "Andrew is an accountant, he can doctor any document he wants! He's doing this out of spite because he’s always felt like an outsider!"
"I am a licensed CPA and a forensic auditor, Mother," Andrew said, leaning back in his chair. "I didn't doctor these. The bank did. In fact, these documents are copies of the ones currently sitting in the office of the state attorney general. I filed a formal report of trust fund embezzlement three days ago."
The word embezzlement hung in the air like a guillotine.
"You did what?!" Margaret gasped, clutching her chest. "You reported your own mother to the authorities? Over a family disagreement?"
"It’s not a disagreement. It’s grand theft, Margaret," I finally spoke up. My voice was quiet, but it cut through the noise of Britney's hysterical crying. "You took money meant for my daughter's future. You stole from her. And then you tried to break her spirit so she would never feel worthy enough to ask why she was treated differently."
"Shut up!" Britney yelled at me. "You married into this family! You have no right—"
"Britney, be quiet," William said.
It wasn't a shout, but the absolute flat authority in his voice silenced the room instantly. William stood up, holding the folder. He looked at Margaret, his face a mask of profound disappointment and disgust.
"Is it true?" William asked her.
"William, I did what was necessary to protect Britney's family from bankruptcy—"
"So it is true," William interrupted. He looked down at the table, then over at Khloe, who was staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. The older man seemed to shrink. "You stole Arthur's legacy. You stole from our granddaughter."
"We are leaving," Andrew said. He stood up and took Khloe’s hand. "Khloe, go get your coat, sweetie."
Khloe didn't hesitate. She practically flew from her chair. I stood up next to Andrew, my hand slipping into his. His fingers were shaking slightly, the adrenaline finally catching up to him, but his grip was solid as iron.
"This isn't over, Andrew!" Margaret snarled, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and sheer terror. "You will destroy this family! You will be written out of my will! You'll get nothing!"
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Andrew paused at the doorway, looking back at the woman who had spent his entire life making him feel second-best. He gave a small, sad smile.
"I already have everything I need, Mother," Andrew said. "Merry Christmas."
