Robert placed the agreement on the bedside table.

“Stay here, Mom.””

I stood up.

“No. If this concerns your house and your business, I’m not going to hide in a bedroom while you face it.””

He looked torn.

“I’m afraid this is going to get ugly.””

“Then keep your voice calm and your documents in front of you.””

We walked downstairs together.

Holly stood in the living room with her purse still over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were red. She looked from Robert to me, then noticed the agreement in his hand.

“Where did you get that?””

“Your desk.””

“You had no right to go through my things!””

Robert held up the document.

“Why is there an agreement involving the sale of our house?””

Holly’s expression changed.

She placed her purse on the sofa and rubbed her forehead.

“I was going to tell you.””

“When?””

“When the time was right.””

“When would that have been?””

She stared at him.

Then she turned toward me.

“This is between my husband and me.””

Robert stepped forward.

“I’m asking the questions, Holly.””

She looked startled.

Perhaps she was accustomed to him avoiding confrontation. Perhaps she expected him to apologize for making her uncomfortable.

Instead, he opened the agreement and placed it on the coffee table.

“Explain this.””

Holly sat down slowly.

“The condominium was an investment.””

“An investment you funded with money from my company?””

“It wasn’t like that.””

“Then tell me what it was like.””

She pressed her hands together.

“Your father approached me months ago. He said your business was doing well, but you were too conservative with your money. He thought I should have something of my own.””

Robert stared at her.

“My father approached you separately?””

“Yes.””

“When?””

“Last year.””

“And you never told me?””

“I didn’t want another argument about him.””

Robert laughed bitterly.

“So you hid a financial arrangement with the man who was consulting for my company.””

“He said it was perfectly normal to separate business finances from personal finances.””

“Did he tell you that money from my company could be used to buy a condominium?””

Holly looked away.

“I thought it was reimbursement for expenses.””

“What expenses?””

She swallowed.

“Household expenses. Travel. Things I paid for while you were putting money into the business.””

“Can you show me the receipts?””

“I don’t have them all.””

“Why not?””

“Because I wasn’t expecting to be interrogated!””

Robert’s voice rose.

“I’m not interrogating you! I’m trying to understand why my company is nearly broke while money is disappearing into your personal account!””

Holly stood up.

“Don’t you dare accuse me of taking advantage of you. I supported you when you started that business. I looked after Ethan while you worked late.

I hosted clients. I helped you make connections.””

“I know what you’ve done for our family.””

“Then stop treating me like a stranger!””

Robert fell silent.

I watched him carefully.

This was the moment when he might retreat. He might decide that the emotional cost of asking questions was too high. He might apologize simply to restore peace.

Instead, he took a breath.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done. But that doesn’t explain these payments.””

Holly looked at him for a long time.

Then she sat down again.

“The condo was supposed to be a backup plan.””

“For what?””

She rubbed her palms against her skirt.

“Your father said your company might collapse. He told me I needed to protect Ethan.””

Robert’s face drained of color.

“My company might collapse?””

“He said there were risks you weren’t telling me about.””

“Did he show you financial statements?””

“Yes.””

“Which ones?””

“I don’t remember.””

“Did he tell you how much debt the business had?””

She nodded.

“Did he tell you I was personally responsible for some of it?””

Another nod.

Robert stared at her.

“So you knew the company was in trouble.””

“I knew there were problems.””

“And you helped my father move money into a condominium instead of telling me?””

“I didn’t move anything! The transfers were arranged through Sterling.””

“Whose account received the money?””

“Mine.””

“Who bought the condo?””

“I did.””

“Then how is this not your responsibility?””

Holly began to cry.

For a moment, I felt sorry for her. Whatever she had done, she was frightened, and I knew what fear could do to a person.

But tears could not replace answers.

She wiped her cheeks.

“I was trying to protect Ethan. If the business failed and we lost the house, I wanted somewhere we could go.””

Robert sat down opposite her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?””

“Because you always believed you could fix everything yourself. You never listened when I said we were spending too much. You kept putting money into projects, and I was afraid we’d lose everything.””