Chapter 5 - THE MONEY UNDER HIS FATHER’S NAME
Marcus obtained emergency access to Frank and Teresa’s brokerage records after they revoked David’s power of attorney.
The missing funds had not gone into a protected retirement account.
One hundred and eighty thousand dollars had been transferred to Hayes Relocation Services.
Seventy-five thousand had paid off a business line tied to David’s personal consulting company.
Another forty-two thousand had covered deposits on a furnished apartment in Tokyo.
The remaining amount had been divided among travel agencies, luxury retailers, and Northbridge-related vendors.
Teresa read the records at Eleanor’s dining table.
“He said the Tokyo apartment would belong to us,” she whispered.
Frank looked at her. “You knew about the apartment?”
“I knew he was buying something overseas. He said it was an investment.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Frank’s expression changed.
For the first time, Teresa heard her own excuse the way Eleanor had been hearing it.
David had given each person a different version.
To Eleanor, he claimed a corporate assignment.
To Teresa, an overseas family investment.
To Frank, a protected retirement strategy.
To Northbridge, a household relocation supported by signed dependents.
The stories overlapped just enough that no one asked the same question at the same time.
Teresa’s anger shifted toward Eleanor because it had nowhere safer to go.
“You encouraged him to be ambitious,” she said.
“I encouraged him to stop asking me to finance every ambition.”
“You always made him feel like he married above himself.”
Eleanor stared at her.
David had complained for years that her successful design studio embarrassed him. Eleanor had responded by separating their finances more aggressively and correcting him publicly whenever he exaggerated his achievements.
She had not caused the theft.
But she had mistaken exposing his insecurity for resolving it.
Frank closed the brokerage statement.
“Did you know about Lila?” he asked Teresa.
Teresa looked away.
Eleanor leaned forward.
“You knew?”
“I knew there was a woman who would be traveling with him.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Teresa rubbed the edge of her robe between two fingers.
“David said his marriage had become an arrangement. He said you cared more about accounts than affection.”
“And you moved into my house anyway.”
“He said you agreed.”
“You believed I agreed to care for you while he left with his mistress?”
Teresa’s voice dropped.
“I believed you wanted the house and the marriage without the inconvenience of him.”
The cruelty was quieter now because shame had entered it.
Frank pushed himself upright with the walker.
“I want my own attorney,” he said. “And I want to know whether my son used my name at his office.”
May you like
His loyalty had moved.
Teresa remained at the table, surrounded by documents proving that the son she had defended had also prepared to leave her without access to her own money.
