Chapter 6 - THE PRICE OF KNOWING WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM
Emma left the bungalow that afternoon.
She did not return to her father’s former apartment or ask Margaret for money.
She stayed with a classmate near Loyola University Medical Center and stopped answering family calls.
Margaret stood inside Emma’s nearly empty bedroom, looking at the faded stars Harold had painted on the ceiling when Emma was ten.
She had always considered herself the safe adult in Emma’s life.
Now she understood that safety built on ignorance could still cause harm.
Gabriella advised Emma to obtain a formal accounting of the custodial funds. Margaret offered to pay for the legal work.
Emma refused.
“I don’t want another person using money to decide what I should feel.”
The sentence reached Margaret through a text message forwarded by Gabriella.
Edward continued defending the old transfer.
He said the house had increased in value far beyond $86,000. He planned to borrow against that value, repay Emma, stabilize his business, and leave the rest untouched.
“You were going to solve one theft with an unauthorized loan,” Margaret said.
“I was going to make everyone whole.”
“Without telling anyone what you broke.”
Linda began sleeping in Noah’s room.
She had spent years believing Edward’s business problems came from bad luck: pandemic losses, supply costs, restaurant closures.
Now she asked for company statements.
Edward refused.
Their loyalty shifted from united entitlement to mutual suspicion.
That night, Margaret heard them arguing in the basement.
Linda asked whether her name appeared on the loan inquiry.
Edward said no.
She asked why the lender had called the house.
He said Margaret’s bank created unnecessary panic.
Then Linda asked the question that ended the argument.
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“What else did you borrow from Emma?”
Edward walked upstairs without answering.
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