“I’ll get it,” my mom said, relieved for the distraction. But I stepped forward.
“I invited someone,” I said.
Brian scowled. “You don’t invite people to my house.”
I opened the door. Officer Delgado walked in, expression firm.
“Good evening. We received a report about financial misconduct and a welfare concern.”
My mom’s face drained. “Financial… what?”
I handed the officer the folder. “Proof Brian’s been moving money out of Mom’s retirement account into an offshore account under a different name.”
My mom turned toward him, horrified. “Brian?”
He exploded. “This is a lie—she’s making this up!”
Officer Delgado skimmed the documents. “These are serious transfers. Sir, we need to speak with you.”
Brian stood, pointing at me like he’d lost his mind. “You did this!”
“I protected her,” I said. “Something you never did.”
The room erupted—my mom crying, Paige dropping her phone, officers escorting Brian outside.
The moment that stayed with me was my mom whispering, “Emma… how long?”
“Long enough,” I said. “And long enough to stop pretending we’re a real family.”