Chapter 5 - The House of Cards
Taking care of four kids while working full-time was the hardest thing I had ever done. But my job was incredibly supportive, allowing me to work fully remote. My house, once a quiet, pristine sanctuary, was now filled with toys, laughter, and sometimes, tears.
One evening, after putting the younger ones to bed, I found Tommy sitting on the kitchen counter, kicking his legs.
“Auntie Maya?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah, bud? What’s up?” I asked, pouring him a glass of milk.
“Are Mom and Dad going to take us back?” His voice was tiny, laced with a fear no ten-year-old should possess.
“I don't know yet, Tommy. But I promise you, I am fighting as hard as I can to keep you here.”
He looked down at his hands. “I don't want to go back. Mom is always yelling, and Dad is never home. And when he is home, they fight about money. Dad said the new baby was supposed to fix everything.”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean, fix everything, sweetie?”
“Dad told Mom that Grandpa promised to pay off their credit cards and buy them a bigger house if they had a fifth baby. To carry on the family name.”
May you like
I felt physically sick. My parents were bribing Liam to have children they couldn't afford and didn't want to care for, purely for their own narcissistic image of a large, traditional family. Liam and Chloe weren't just neglecting the kids; they were using them as financial pawns.
The next morning, I called Sarah, my lawyer, and told her everything. She immediately filed a motion for a forensic audit of Liam and Chloe’s finances, as well as a subpoena for my parents' financial records. The house of cards was about to burn down.
