Chapter 6 - The Golden Son Panics
Brandon discovered the alerts first.
The bank froze the account connected to his truck payment.
One lender sent a fraud notification.
Then the dealership called because the automatic payment had been rejected.
That was why he ran into Ava’s room.
Not because he regretted stealing her identity.
Because the system had finally stopped protecting him.
Robert followed him downstairs and saw Melissa holding their mother’s trust records.
“Why are you in my office?”
Melissa looked at him.
“Why did you drain Mom’s trust?”
Robert shifted immediately into authority.
“You don’t understand the arrangements.”
“I’m co-trustee.”
“You never handled the finances.”
“That doesn’t make theft legal.”
Diane sat on the staircase, crying.
She claimed she had not understood the loan documents.
Claire asked one question.
“Did you sign as a witness?”
Diane’s crying stopped.
Her name appeared on two applications.
She had watched Robert sign Ava’s name and then certified that the signature was genuine.
Brandon pointed toward Ava.
“She was going to leave anyway.”
Ava looked at him.
“That was my education money.”
“You always get scholarships.”
“You sold the computer I used to apply for them.”
Robert turned toward Claire.
“We can resolve this privately.”
“The reports have already been filed.”
Robert’s face hardened.
“You’re destroying your family over money.”
Ava shook her head.
“You used my name because you thought I would protect the family from what you did.”
May you like
She rolled her suitcase over the scattered papers.
“I’m protecting myself now.”
