After my brother’s wedding emptied my bank account, my mother smiled and said, “You’re still young—you’ll earn it back,” so I calmly set down my fork, made one phone call, and watched her confidence disappear before dinner ended.
What my mother had no idea about, and what Jackson was too arrogant to ever ask, was the true nature of my job. I did not just stare at spreadsheets. I was a forensic auditor dealing with corporate financial crimes, and the account she had so carelessly cleaned out did not contain my private savings at all. I looked at my mother, noting the smug satisfaction radiating from her entire posture. She expected me to start crying. She expected me to beg or fly into a rage so she could call me unreasonable and thereby justify her actions. “I did none of those things. I simply closed my laptop with a quiet click.” “You have until 500 p.m. today to return every single cent to me,” I said, lowering my voice to a whisper that instantly filled and dominated the entire room.
My mother laughed out loud, throwing her head back. Or what, Darcy? What exactly are you going to do? Ruin your brother’s honeymoon. You are so incredibly selfish. I stood up, took my empty coffee mug, and carried it to the sink. I did not raise my voice. I did not show an ounce of fear. I turned to look at her one last time before leaving the kitchen. I am not going to do anything at all, Mom, I replied softly. But law enforcement certainly will. Before my mother could even register the weight of my words, the kitchen doors swung wide open. Jackson and Khloe walked in looking like they were cut straight out of a luxury lifestyle magazine spread. They were literally beaming with their post-wedding bliss.
Jackson wore a crisp linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to show off his tan and Khloe looked flawless in a silk resort set that probably cost more than my first car. But what immediately caught my eye was the heavy gleaming metal resting on both of their wrists. matching massive matching luxury watches. Well, look who it is. Good morning to the early birds,” Jackson announced, walking over to kiss our mother on the cheek. He did not even look at me. “Mom, that catering was amazing. The caviar buffet was an great success with Khloe’s clients.” Khloe practically glided toward the espresso machine, sweeping a look of practiced cool superiority over me. I was wearing my standard travel outfit, a simple, tailored navy suit I had bought at a regular department store years ago.
