Chapter 2: The Envelope
The dining room fell into complete silence.
Michael stared at the thick envelope in my hands.
His confident smile disappeared.
Jessica's fingers tightened around her wine glass.
"What is that?" Michael asked, forcing a laugh.
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"Everything."
I placed the envelope on the table.
One by one, I pulled out the photographs.
The screenshots.
The bank statements.
The document titled "Strategy."
Finally, I slid a single sheet of paper across the table.
Michael picked it up.
His face turned pale.
It was a copy of the power of attorney they planned to make me sign.
Across the bottom was my lawyer's handwriting.
DO NOT SIGN. FRAUD INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.
Jessica stood so quickly her chair scraped across the hardwood floor.
"Mom... this isn't what it looks like."
"No?" I asked quietly.
I opened another folder.
"This is the bank record showing thirty thousand dollars transferred from my account."
Another page.
"These are receipts for your vacations."
Another.
"Designer handbags."
Another.
"Your credit card payments."
Michael's voice cracked.
"We were going to pay you back."
"You never planned to."
Then I held up the final document.
Their five-step plan.
I read each line aloud.
"Convince her to sell her house."
"Control her money."
"Get power of attorney."
"Use her as a free nanny."
"When the money is gone..."
I paused.
"...put her in a nursing home."
The younger children looked at their parents in confusion.
Jessica burst into tears.
Michael reached toward me.
"Mom... please..."
I stepped back.
"My lawyer told me to let you finish your plan."
His eyes widened.
"You... have a lawyer?"
"I've had one for two weeks."
A knock echoed through the front door.
Three people entered.
My attorney.
A forensic accountant.
And two detectives.
May you like
Michael's legs nearly gave out.
The game was over.
