Chapter 2

Suddenly, everything went so quiet that I could hear the kitchen exhaust fan humming in the background.

I looked at Mom, but she wouldn't meet my eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. Under the table, I gripped the hem of my dress.

"It's just... having a meal, getting to know each other," Mom said.

Mavis jumped in, speaking quickly. "Mr. Black is a big shot. He just wants to have a talk with you. It's not like you're losing anything."

I stared at her. "Then why don't you go?"

Mavis froze. "What did you say?"

"You're Eric's mom. He owes Mr. Black money. Wouldn't it make more sense for you to go?"

Mavis's face flushed. "Rachel, what the hell are you talking about? I'm in my forties. Why would Mr. Black be interested in me?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she'd let something slip.

The whole room fell silent again.

I slowly released my grip on the hem of my dress and looked at Dad. "Dad, is that what you want, too?"

Dad avoided my gaze. He picked up his fork, stabbed a piece of fish, and chewed it quietly.

After a long moment, he finally muttered, "Eric is your uncle's only child. If something happens to him, your uncle wouldn't make it."

"So you're sending your daughter to please a casino owner over dinner?" I asked.

"It's not like that!" Dad suddenly raised his voice. "It's just a meeting, just a meal. What are you thinking?"

I didn't say anything else. I glanced down at my phone.

Mom had already received the 30,000 dollars I'd just sent.

No, it was more than that.

I checked the payment record.

After receiving it, she sent the exact same amount to Eric.

30,000 dollars. She didn't even blink.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Mom asked, looking nervous.

"Nothing," I said, getting up. "The food's cold. I'll ask them to get it reheated."

Once I stepped out of the private room and into the hallway, I called my colleague, Lucy Grant. "Lucy, can you help me look up someone?

"His last name is Black, he runs a casino down south, is in his forties, and drives a black Land Rover."

Lucy was silent for a couple of seconds. "Something up with you?"

"Not really, just some family mess."

"Alright, I'll have the risk control team check it out. I'll get back to you in ten minutes."

After hanging up, I slumped against the wall.

At the end of the hallway, there was a window. The moon outside was quite bright.

My phone buzzed. Lucy sent me a screenshot.

Victor Black, 47 years old. Three detention records. Suspected of unlawful confinement and running casinos. Four companies under his name, all empty shells. In 2021, he was reported for sexual assault, but the case was dropped.

At the bottom, Lucy added: [Keep your distance from people like him.]

I saved the screenshot, turned around, and pushed open the door to the private room.

All eyes were on me.

Mom was still dabbing at her tears. Mavis clutched her glass, pretending to sip water. Eric still kept his head down, avoiding everyone's gaze.

I walked back to my seat and put my phone face-up right in the middle of the table. Victor's rap sheet was clear for everyone to see.

"This is the guy you want me to meet," I said. "Three times locked up, runs casinos, and got accused of sexual assault."

Mavis reached for my phone, but I kept it firmly in place.

"Mom, check this out. This is the person you want your daughter to meet," I said.

Mom's hand trembled. "Rachel, this... Maybe it's not true."

"This is straight from the police records."

The room went dead silent. Only Dad was still chewing on that piece of fish.

When he finished, he poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.

He finally spoke up. "So, you've got all the info now? Then tell me, are you going to take care of the one million dollars or not?"

I stared at him. This was my real father.

"No," I said.

"What did you say?" Mavis shot up from her seat, her chair banging into the wall. "Rachel, say that again!"

"No, I'm not taking care of it," I said, picking up my juice and taking a sip.

It was icy.

I went on, "It's not that I won't help, it's that I can't. One million dollars isn't pocket change. And even if I hand over the money, it's like pouring it into a black hole. Today it's one million, tomorrow it'll be more."

I turned to Eric. "Eric, tell me, how many times has it been now?"

He finally looked up.

His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks sunken. He looked at me with a mix of emotions.

There was resentment and guilt in his gaze.

He said, "Rachel, I swear, this time I really got scammed. It wasn't gambling..."

"So what's with those rope marks on your neck?" I asked.

He instinctively reached up and touched his neck.

"The debt collectors hung Eric by the neck over the balcony railing," Mom said. "Mavis begged them and they finally let him down. Eric nearly died, Rachel. Are you really going to stand by and do nothing?"

I set my glass down. "The first time, Eric said he got scammed in business and asked for 100,000 dollars. I gave it to him.

"The second time, he claimed a friend screwed him over and needed 240,000 dollars. I handed that over, too.

"The third time, he said his investment tanked and he wanted 150,000 dollars. I gave him that as well.

"And with all the odds and ends over the years, I've poured more than 600,000 dollars into Eric in the past six years."

I turned to Jack. "Uncle Jack, are you aware of all this money?"

He kept his head down, not saying a word.

"You don't know? Let me break it down for you."

I pulled up a spreadsheet on my phone—dates, amounts, transfers, notes, all crammed together.

"I have a habit of keeping records. Every transaction is right here," I said.

Mavis's face changed. "Rachel, who keeps track of money between the family? Isn't that a bit..."

"A bit what? Too calculating? Too stingy?"

I looked up at her. "Mavis, I don't keep records because I expect the money back. I know once it's gone, it's gone for good. I just want to have a clear record.

"So if anyone ever says I don't do enough for family, I've got the evidence."