Chapter 5

Early on Saturday morning, I flew back to Oakridge.

This time, I didn't tell anyone I was coming.

I went straight to the condo where Eric lived.

Southgate Estates was a high-end residential complex. Ginkgo trees lined the entrance, and the underground garage was packed with luxury cars.

At the gate, I gave the security guard Eric's condo number.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"His sister," I replied.

The guard made a call to confirm, then let me in.

I took the elevator up to the eighteenth floor.

The door opened.

Eric's wife, Lily Brown, was standing there in silk pajamas, her hair down, with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Nina? What are you doing here?"

"Is Eric here?" I asked.

"He's in the study. I'll get him for you."

I didn't bother waiting for her. I walked right in.

Eric was sitting behind a large mahogany desk, three monitors in front of him, all flashing stock prices.

"Nina? I thought you were still in Veridian Bay," he said, surprised.

"You've got four units under your name. Its total value is about 5 million dollars. A Porsche, worth 500 thousand dollars. And your company? Zero business activity." I slapped Henry's file down on his desk. "Did Dad give you all that money?"

Eric's face went pale. "Nina, let me explain..."

"Yes or no?"

He stood up, gripping the desk. "Yes, Dad gave it to me, but it was his money."

"Dad's money? His company went bankrupt and got shut down three years ago. Where did he get the money?"

Eric swallowed hard. "Nina, Dad said he saved it up from his business."

"Do you believe that?"

He fell silent.

I stood in front of that mahogany desk, staring at the thirty-year-old man across from me.

Ever since I turned twenty-eight, I gave pretty much all the money I made to my parents.

And Dad passed every dollar straight to him.

"Eric, how much did you ask Dad for when you got married?"

Eric lowered his eyes. "1 million dollars."

"How much did you spend on your first condo?"

"1.7 million dollars."

"And the Porsche?"

"500 thousand dollars."

I laughed.

Lily stood in the doorway, holding her coffee, her face looking pretty grim.

"Nina, what's so funny?" Eric asked, sounding a bit panicked.

"I'm laughing at myself," I said, dropping the smile and locking eyes with him. "Nine years, more than 13 million dollars.

"I thought I was helping Mom and Dad retire, but all that money went to you. You used it to buy condos, cars, and pay for your wedding."

"Nina, Dad said it was his money, and he could do whatever he wanted with it."

"His money?" I stepped closer, locking eyes with him. "His company shut down with a loss of 300 thousand dollars. Tell me, where did he get all that cash?"

Eric took a step back, bumping into his chair.

Lily suddenly chimed in, "Nina, you gave money to your parents on your own, right? Nobody made you do it. Once you handed it over, it was theirs to spend however they wanted."

"Shut up." I didn't glance her way.

Then I turned to Eric. "Eric, I'm asking you one last time. Out of the 13 million dollars, after everything you've spent, how much is still with Dad?"

He opened his mouth, but couldn't get a word out. Finally, he said, "I don't know."

"Don't know, or won't say?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. Dad never told me how much there was. Whenever I needed cash, he'd transfer some over."

I stared at him for several seconds.

His eyes darted away, but he didn't look like he was lying. He didn't know because he never needed to. All he had to do was ask, and Dad would give him whatever he wanted.

"Fine," I said, turning to leave.

"Nina! Don't go confronting Dad. He had surgery—"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to make a scene." I paused at the door, not bothering to look back. "But I'm going to settle this debt. Not a single cent missing."