Chapter 3 - Evelyn’s Sudden Defense And The Ugly Family Truth
The heavy oak door of the study swung open, and Evelyn strode into the kitchen with her chin tilted upward in defensive arrogance.
“Oh, stop being so dramatic, Elise,” Evelyn snapped, crossing her arms over her expensive cashmere sweater.
“Daniel works eighty hours a week trying to maintain a lifestyle that your father’s handouts only partially covered anyway!” Evelyn hissed.
Elise turned her gaze slowly toward her mother-in-law, a look of profound pity replacing the shock that had initially gripped her.
“Evelyn, do you even know where the down payment for this house came from?” Elise asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“It came from Daniel’s signing bonus at Vanguard Capital, everyone in the family knows that!” Evelyn retorted sharply.
“Daniel never received a signing bonus from Vanguard Capital,” Elise said quietly, pulling a certified bank document from her folder.
“Vanguard rejected his application three weeks before we closed on this property because his credit score was in the gutter.”
Daniel turned chalk-white, staring at the paper in Elise’s hand as if it were a venomous snake ready to strike.
“How... how do you have that?” Daniel whispered, his voice trembling as the foundation of his fabricated life began to crumble.
“Because my father’s attorney structured the mortgage privately to save you from public humiliation at the closing table,” Elise answered.
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Evelyn scoffed loudly, refusing to accept the reality unfolding right before her eyes. “She’s lying, Daniel! Don't listen to her manipulation!”
“She isn't lying, mother,” Daniel said, his voice dropping into a hollow, defeated whisper that made Evelyn freeze instantly.
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