Chapter 5 - Uncovering the Truth
While Gordon sat in jail awaiting his bail hearing, Colin and I hired an independent financial auditor and a family law attorney. If we were going to sever ties completely, we needed to make sure our financial contributions over the past decade were accounted for.
What we discovered during the financial audit left us completely speechless.
For seven years, Colin and I had been transferring $1,800 every month to Gordon under the agreement that it was covering half of the property tax, home insurance, and mortgage payment. However, when our lawyer subpoenaed the house's financial records, we learned the truth: The mortgage had been fully paid off eight years ago.
Gordon and Brenda hadn't been using our money to pay off the house. They had been taking our $1,800 a month and dumping it directly into a high-yield trust fund established exclusively for Richard’s daughter, Madison.
We weren't just paying our fair share; we had been secretly forced to fund Madison’s future private school tuition and college fund while living in the basement suite, being treated like third-class citizens in our own living space.
"They used us," Colin whispered as he sat at the lawyer's conference table, holding the bank statements. Tears of betrayal finally welled in his eyes. "Every single cent I earned working overtime... it didn't go to our home. It went to my brother's kid. And they made Sophie feel like she was a burden for taking up space."
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"This is grand theft and financial fraud," our attorney, Mr. Vance, said, tapping the documents. "Because you paid via documented bank transfers labeled 'Mortgage/Housing,' and because we have written text messages from your father confirming these were for 'joint property expenses,' you have a slam-dunk civil lawsuit. We can freeze that trust fund immediately and sue for full restitution plus damages."
I placed my hand over Colin’s shaking fingers. "We aren't just suing for the money, Colin. We are taking back everything they took from us."
