Melissa rolled her eyes and said, “We’re a family. Why make such a big deal out of money?”
I laughed once, because the absurdity of this statement was undeniable.
“A family doesn’t secretly empty their bank accounts and then arrive with their luggage hoping to be housed for free,” I said.
Patrick tried to regain control by lowering his voice. “Natalie, we should discuss this privately, inside.”
“No,” I replied immediately.
He approached and said, “You transferred the deposit from a joint account, which means the money belongs to both of us.”
“That only proves that you don’t understand anything about financial law,” I replied.
I picked up my phone and continued talking.
“I also contacted your workplace this morning to confirm something.”
Patrick’s eyes widened slightly.
“That bonus you boasted about paying for this house never existed,” I said. “Your employer has confirmed that you haven’t received any bonuses for over a year.”
Deborah turned abruptly towards him as Harold’s face darkened.
I continued calmly: “After discovering the wire transfers, I also checked your credit history using the authorization you signed when financing our previous car, and I discovered that you had used loans and lines of credit, secretly covering them with my money.”
Melissa stared at her brother and whispered, “Thirty-eight thousand dollars in two weeks?”
Patrick tried to defend himself, but his words crumbled under the weight of the evidence.
