Chapter 3 - Frozen Assets and Shattered Masks
The Miller household was in a state of absolute war.
I knew this because Ryan, the ever-foolish brother,
started livestreaming their "family meeting" on a private social media group.
I watched from the safety of Amy’s couch.
Jared was pacing the living room,
holding the legal papers as if they were poisonous snakes.
“She froze the account?” he roared.
“How? That money was supposed to pay the mortgage on the new building!”
Susan was sobbing,
not because she was sorry,
but because her dream of a live-in maid was evaporating.
“We have guests coming next week!” she wailed.
“Who is going to cook? Who is going to clean?”
Dwight sat in the corner,
his face white with terror.
He wasn't worried about the marriage.
He was worried about the 48,000 dollars.
“I can’t believe she found the video,” he muttered.
The room went silent.
Jared turned to his son.
“What video?”
“The one with Ashley,” Dwight whispered.
The explosion that followed was spectacular.
Gemma started screaming at her brother for being a fool.
Susan began throwing pillows.
It was a circus of the miserable.
And then, the doorbell rang.
It was the police.
They were there to escort Jared to the station for the assault charges.
Watching him being led away in handcuffs on the livestream was the most satisfying moment of my life.
The "King" of the household was now a common criminal.
The next morning, I went to the bank to finalize the transfer of my funds.
Christopher had secured an emergency order.
As I sat in the manager’s office, the door burst open.
Dwight stood there,
disheveled,
eyes bloodshot.
“Elizabeth, please!” he shouted.
“Don’t do this! We’re a family!”
I looked at him,
and for the first time, I felt nothing.
No love.
No hate.
Just a profound sense of boredom.
“You aren't my family, Dwight,” I said calmly.
“You’re a scam artist who happens to have a marriage license.”
“You and Ashley can have each other.”
“Though, I doubt she’ll want you now that the bank account is empty.”
His face twisted into a mask of rage.
“I’ll sue you! That money was a gift to the family!”
“No,” I replied, standing up.
“It was a down payment for a home that was supposed to be mine.”
“And according to the law, fraud voids the contract.”
I walked past him,
my shoulder brushing his,
and I didn't flinch.
I went to the teller and watched as the 48,000 dollars was moved.
It was moved to a new, private account in my name only.
I felt the weight of my future returning to my pockets.
I walked out into the sunshine.
Outside, Ashley was waiting by her car.
She looked frantic.
“Elizabeth, wait! Mark left me! He took the kids!”
She was crying,
real tears this time.
“You ruined my life!” she screamed.
I stopped and looked her in the eye.
“No, Ashley,” I said.
“You ruined your own life the moment you decided to steal mine.”
“I just gave you the map of the wreckage.”
I got into my car and drove away.
I didn't look back in the rearview mirror.
I didn't need to.
The path ahead was clear,
and for the first time in a year,
the air I breathed was clean.
May you like
The Millers were a sinking ship,
and I was the one who had finally pulled the plug.
