Chapter 5

The assistant froze with the phone in her hand. Everyone was stunned by my laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Christian's voice was full of disgust.

I stopped laughing and stared at Barbara.

"Barbara, you said I steal from family?"

Barbara’s eyes flickered, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Isn't it true?"

"Sure," I nodded. "So I'm curious, how much have you stolen from this family?"

I turned to Christian. "Christian, I'll admit defeat on the watch."

Christian sneered but didn't speak.

"I'll return the allowance," I said slowly.

Hearing this, Barbara’s smirk widened.

"However," I pivoted.

"Before I return a dime, there's an account I want to settle with Barbara in front of everyone."

Barbara gasped, then yelled, "What lies are you trying to tell now!"

"Last month, the 15th, at 3 PM," I paused. "The VIP room at Chase Bank downtown."

Barbara’s face drained of color instantly.

Christian looked confused. "What was she doing there?"

"It doesn't matter if I was there," I stared at Barbara. "What matters is, Barbara, what did you do with Mom’s ID and her private signature stamp?"

Eleanor was stunned. "Barbara? My stamp is locked in..."

"You opened a joint account in Mom's name," I interrupted, my voice steady.

"And you transferred the five million dollars—the money meant to be saved for your trust—straight into it."

"You're lying!" Barbara shrieked in panic. "Dad! She's making things up! I didn't!"

"Do you want me to call Manager Johnson right now to check the security footage and wire records?"

I smirked at her. "The same Manager Johnson you always have high tea with?"

Barbara looked like she was being choked.

Eleanor looked at her in disbelief. "Barbara... that money was for your future! How could you..."

Christian glared at Barbara, his eyes sharp. "Is this true?"

Barbara collapsed to her knees, grabbing Eleanor’s legs, sobbing hysterically.

"Mom! I didn't mean to!"

"I just... I found an investment project and wanted to try it on my own..."

"I wanted to prove myself to you and Dad!"

She looked up with a tear-stained face.

"I just wanted to prove that I'm not worse than Maia! I can make money too!"

Eleanor softened, hugging her, and looked at Christian. "Barbara just wanted to prove herself..."

Christian’s expression softened too. "So that was it... I thought..."

"Oh, a great investment," I interrupted, walking over to Barbara.

"Is that why you wired three million from that joint account to your boyfriend Chris’s shell company? What project is that?"

The crying stopped instantly. Barbara looked up, complete terror on her face.

"Boyfriend?" Christian’s voice dropped to a whisper.

"Chris?" Eleanor’s voice was shaking.

"The same Chris Monroe whose family drove your grandparents to their graves?"

The office fell into a dead silence, save for Barbara’s frantic breathing.

Barbara shook violently, stammering. "No... I didn't... Dad, let me explain..."

"Explain what?" I looked at her. "Explain how he took that three million and lost every penny at a Las Vegas blackjack table?"

I took a step forward, looking down at her.

"Or explain the two-month-old baby in your stomach?"