Chapter 4 - Exile and Alliances
The drive home was silent, but it wasn't the heavy, suffocating silence of the Vance household. It was a clean, clearing-of-the-air silence.
From the backseat, Khloe’s small voice broke the quiet. "Dad?"
Andrew looked at her in the rearview mirror. "Yes, sweetie?"
"Am I... am I bad?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Is that why Grandma said she wasn't proud of me?"
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I turned around in my seat, reaching back to take her hand. "Oh, baby. No. No, absolutely not. Your grandma said those things because she is a very selfish, very hurt person who wanted to hide her own bad actions by making you look small."
"Your mother is right, Khloe," Andrew said, his voice thick with emotion. "I am so incredibly proud of you. You are kind, you are smart, and you are ten times the person anyone in that house will ever be. What Grandma did had nothing to do with you. She was trying to cover up a big secret."
"What secret?" Khloe asked.
"She took some money that your Great-Grandfather Arthur left for your college," Andrew explained gently. "And she gave it to Aunt Britney without asking. We had to show everyone the truth so they could make it right."
Khloe digested this for a moment. "So... I still get to go to college?"
I laughed, a wet, emotional laugh, wiping a tear from my own cheek. "You are going to whatever college you want, my love. Even if your dad and I have to work three jobs to pay for it. But don't worry, Grandma is going to have to pay back every single cent."
By the time we got home, the storm had truly begun. Andrew’s phone started blowing up with texts and calls.
First, it was Britney. “You ruined my life! My kids are crying! Connor won't even look at me! I hope you're happy, you monster!” Andrew blocked her number without replying.
Then came the texts from Aunt Denise, William's younger sister, who had always been the black sheep of the family because she refused to kiss Margaret's ring.
Denise: Andrew, I am in absolute awe. I knew Margaret was a snake, but embezzling from Arthur's trust? Unbelievable. If you need a lawyer, my firm is at your disposal. I’ve got your back. Don’t let them bully you into dropping this.
Andrew stared at the message, a genuine smile finally breaking across his face. "Looks like we have an ally."
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The next morning, a knock came at our front door. I opened it to find William standing on our porch. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink. He was holding a large, manila envelope.
"Andrew," William said, his voice hoarse as my husband stepped up behind me. "Can I come in?"
