Chapter 2 - Watch the Camera
Within forty minutes, the estate no longer looked like a dinner party.
It looked like a crime scene.
Alex called the police after Maya finally showed him her hands.
The burns weren't superficial.
A doctor had treated them the previous day, but Maya hadn't told Alex.
“Why didn't you call me?” he asked.
Maya looked at Chloe sleeping beside her on the couch.
“Because your mother took my phone.”
Alex turned toward Evelyn.
She was seated across the room beside her attorney.
“You took her phone?”
“I prevented an already emotional situation from escalating.”
Maya laughed bitterly.
“You locked it in your office.”
Evelyn’s attorney leaned forward.
“Mrs. Vance should stop speaking until—”
“No.”
Evelyn stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
A detective named Rachel Torres looked up from her notebook.
“Then the security footage should clear everything up.”
Evelyn said nothing.
Torres turned to the technician.
“Play it.”
The kitchen appeared on the monitor.
Timestamp: Tuesday, 10:14 a.m.
Maya stood beside the sink.
Evelyn entered carrying a white folder.
“Sign it.”
Maya didn't touch it.
“I told you yesterday. I'm reading everything first.”
“There is nothing to read.”
“Then why do you need my signature?”
Evelyn turned on the water.
Steam rose from the sink.
Maya reached toward the faucet.
“That’s too hot.”
“Then wear gloves.”
“The gloves are torn.”
Evelyn pushed the folder closer.
“Sign this and we're finished.”
“No.”
“Maya.”
“I said no.”
Maya tried to walk away.
Evelyn blocked her.
“Move.”
“Not until you sign.”
“I’m calling Alex.”
“You're going to drag my son into something he doesn't understand?”
“He understands the foundation.”
“He understands business. You understand spreadsheets.”
Maya stared at her.
“That spreadsheet found $1.84 million nobody can explain.”
Alex slowly looked at his mother.
Evelyn didn't meet his eyes.
Onscreen, Maya attempted to pass.
Evelyn grabbed her arm.
“Let go.”
“Sign it.”
“Let go of me!”
Maya pulled away.
Her hand plunged into the steaming sink.
She screamed.
Alex stood abruptly.
“Stop.”
Detective Torres paused the video.
Alex's breathing was heavy.
Maya spoke quietly.
“Keep watching.”
The footage resumed.
Maya tried to pull away.
Her second hand struck the water.
She screamed again.
Then Chloe came running into the kitchen.
“Mommy!”
Evelyn released Maya.
Chloe began crying.
And Evelyn said something that made everyone in the room go silent.
“See what happens when Mommy turns everything into a problem?”
Alex stared at the screen.
“No.”
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“There’s more.”
Later footage showed Chloe beside the sink.
Maya warned Evelyn from across the room.
“The water is too hot.”
“She needs to wash her hands.”
“I'll do it.”
“No.”
Evelyn guided Chloe toward the faucet.
“She has to learn.”
Chloe put her hands beneath the water.
Seconds later, she cried.
Alex walked away from the monitor.
He put both hands against the wall.
His daughter.
His wife.
Inside his own family home.
Behind him, Evelyn spoke.
“You're seeing this without context.”
Alex turned slowly.
“What context makes that acceptable?”
“She was manipulating you.”
“Maya?”
“Yes.”
Alex pointed toward the screen.
“My three-year-old daughter was manipulating me too?”
Evelyn hesitated.
Detective Torres stepped between them.
“Mr. Vance.”
Alex backed away.
Torres approached the white folder visible on the kitchen counter.
“What exactly was she supposed to sign?”
Maya answered.
“A management representation.”
“For what?”
“The foundation audit.”
Alex looked at her.
“You were helping with the audit?”
“For four months.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your mother asked me not to involve you until I knew whether the numbers were wrong.”
Evelyn interrupted.
“The numbers aren't wrong.”
Maya faced her.
“Then explain Arden Social & Events.”
The room became silent.
Alex noticed his mother's reaction.
It lasted barely a second.
But he saw it.
“What is Arden?”
Maya looked at him.
May you like
“That’s the $1.84 million question.”
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