CHAPTER 2: THE SECRET BEHIND THE TRUST FUND
Arthur stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the woman he once trusted more than anyone.
Elena.
The same woman who had promised him years ago that family came first.
The same woman who had held his hand when they built their life together.
But now, standing beneath the expensive chandelier of their mansion, Arthur felt like he was looking at a stranger.
“Arthur, you are making a huge mistake.”
Elena’s voice became softer.
She knew anger would not work anymore.
So she changed tactics.
“I’m your wife. I have been by your side through everything.”
Arthur looked at her without emotion.
“And Benjamin is my son.”
Those words cut through the room.
Maria quietly stepped back, sensing that this was no longer just an argument.
This was a family falling apart.
Elena noticed Maria watching.
Her expression turned bitter.
“You.”
She pointed directly at Maria.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Maria remained calm.
“I only did what was right.”
Elena laughed.
“Right? You think you understand this family because you take care of my son every day?”
Maria’s eyes narrowed.
“I understand Benjamin better than someone who would risk his future.”
Arthur lifted his hand.
“Enough.”
Both women stopped.
Arthur picked up the documents again.
“I want answers.”
Elena looked away.
“What kind of answers?”
“The truth.”
His voice became firm.
“Why were you transferring money from Benjamin’s trust?”
Elena took a deep breath.
“It wasn’t stealing.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Then what was it?”
“It was temporary.”
Maria immediately shook her head.
“Temporary withdrawals don’t happen in secret.”
Elena turned sharply.
“You don’t get to speak.”
Arthur stepped between them.
“She has every right to speak.”
Elena looked at him in disbelief.
“You are defending her again?”
“I’m defending my son.”
That sentence destroyed whatever confidence Elena had left.
For years, she believed she controlled the family.
She believed Arthur loved her enough to ignore anything she did.
But she had underestimated one thing.
A father’s instinct.
Arthur walked toward the staircase.
“Where is Benjamin?”
Elena quickly answered.
“His room.”
“Go nowhere near him.”
The warning was clear.
Arthur went upstairs.
When he opened Benjamin’s bedroom door, he found his eight-year-old son sitting on the floor with his favorite toy in his hands.
The boy looked up.
“Dad?”
Arthur forced a smile.
“Hey, buddy.”
Benjamin immediately noticed something was wrong.
“Are you and Mom fighting?”
Arthur sat beside him.
“Sometimes adults make mistakes.”
Benjamin looked worried.
“Is Mom leaving?”
Arthur’s heart broke.
“No one is taking you away from me.”
The boy hugged him tightly.
“I heard Mom yelling.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Because he knew Benjamin had already felt the tension.
He had already felt the damage.
And that made him even more determined.
A few minutes later, Arthur returned downstairs.
Maria was still standing near the table.
But Elena was gone.
“Where did she go?” Arthur asked.
Maria looked nervous.
“She went to her office.”
Arthur immediately felt something was wrong.
“Elena has an office?”
Maria nodded slowly.
“There’s something you should know.”
Arthur turned toward her.
“What?”
Maria hesitated.
“I found the documents because I was looking for Benjamin’s medical records.”
Arthur frowned.
“Why would his medical records be connected to this?”
Maria reached into her bag and pulled out another envelope.
“I found this hidden behind a drawer in Elena’s office.”
Arthur took the envelope.
His name was written on the front.
But underneath it was another name.
A name he had not heard in years.
Arthur’s face changed.
“Where did you get this?”
Maria swallowed.
“I think Elena didn’t want you to ever see it.”
Arthur slowly opened the envelope.
Inside was an old photograph.
And a letter.
The first line made his blood run cold.
"Arthur, if you are reading this, it means Elena’s plan has already begun."
Arthur stopped breathing for a moment.
Because he knew that handwriting.
It belonged to someone who was supposed to be gone forever.
Someone who knew Elena’s darkest secrets.
Someone who could explain why Benjamin’s trust fund was being targeted.
Arthur looked at Maria.
“Who else knows about this?”
Maria shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Arthur looked back at the letter.
Then toward Elena’s office upstairs.
And for the first time that night…
He wasn’t just angry.
He was afraid.
May you like
Because the enemy inside his house might not be his wife alone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
