Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Truth Comes Out
Chapter 2: The Truth Comes Out
Thomas arrived the following afternoon.
The moment he saw Zoey's swollen face, he froze.
His suitcase dropped from his hand.
"Oh my God..."
He knelt beside her hospital bed.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Daddy's here, sweetheart."
Zoey reached for him.
"Daddy."
Thomas hugged her carefully and began crying.
Then he stood up and turned toward Carol.
For the first time in his life, he looked at his mother not with love—but with disgust.
"You did this?"
Carol crossed her arms.
"She took food that belonged to Jackson."
Thomas stared at her.
"You broke a toddler's nose over a sausage?"
"Don't exaggerate!"
Thomas suddenly shouted.
"No! You don't get to minimize this!"
The room fell silent.
Even Carol looked shocked.
Then Thomas said something that changed everything.
"Do you know why I left for Reno a day early?"
Carol frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Because I was meeting an attorney."
Now everyone was listening.
"I've been investigating our finances."
My heart skipped a beat.
"What finances?"
Thomas looked at me.
"The family account."
Over the next hour, a horrifying truth emerged.
For years, Carol had secretly taken money from accounts meant for household expenses.
She had used thousands of dollars to support Jackson's parents.
She paid their mortgage.
Their credit card debt.
Their vacations.
Even the expensive school tuition I thought I was covering alone had been partially paid using money Thomas had earned.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The attorney had discovered documents proving Carol had tried to change several inheritance arrangements.
She intended to leave everything to Jackson.
Nothing to Zoey.
Nothing.
Carol finally exploded.
"Of course I chose Jackson! He's the family's bloodline!"
The room went silent.
Thomas stared at his mother.
"So Zoey isn't family to you?"
Carol's silence became her answer.
At that moment, something inside Thomas broke forever.
"You need to leave."
Carol blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Thomas—"
"Get out."
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For the first time in decades, nobody obeyed Carol.
Instead, she was the one being shown the door.
