Chapter 6 - The Confrontation at the Office
Armed with the bank records Brett had provided, I scheduled a meeting at my father’s accountant’s office the following Tuesday. I requested that both Dad and Diane be present, under the pretext of resolving the financial accounts tied to Mom’s estate once and for all.
Diane arrived first, wearing an expensive designer coat and an expression of cold disdain. Dad walked in behind her, looking older and more frail than he had a week ago.
"If this is about the restaurant bill, Kristen," Diane began, sitting down with her arms crossed, "I’ve already paid it. Though your petty stunt ruined Dad’s birthday."
"This isn't about the restaurant bill, Diane," I said, laying a thick manila folder on the center of the wooden table.
I opened the folder, revealing printed ledgers, wire transfer receipts, and bank statements highlighted in bright yellow.
"This is about the $47,200 you transferred out of Lucas and Mia’s educational trust fund over the last twenty-six months," I said quietly.
The room went completely silent.
Dad blinked, looking between me and the paperwork. "What? What are you talking about? Diane said those funds were moved to a high-yield certificate."
"They were moved to an LLC registered under Diane’s name," I said, pushing the document with the Secretary of State filing toward my father. "An LLC that filed for insolvency last month."
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Diane’s composure shattered. Her face flushed a deep, mottled red. "You had no right to dig into those files! I was managing those assets for the benefit of the family!"
"You were stealing from my children," I said, my voice dropping an octave, completely devoid of anger, carrying only absolute finality. "And you used Dad’s blind trust in you to cover your tracks."
