Chapter 3

I couldn't sleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Patricia's voice: "Her little Mexican daughter will never be as important as American-born Johnson boys."

Sofia woke up twice for feeding. Each time, I looked at her perfect little face and felt this fierce protectiveness I'd never experienced before. She deserved better than this.

By morning, I started seeing things differently. Like puzzle pieces clicking into place.

I thought about our wedding two years ago. I'd been so grateful that Caleb's family accepted me after the accident. My parents had insisted on contributing to the reception, even though money was tight at the restaurant.

Patricia had pulled Caleb aside during the cocktail hour. I was close enough to hear.

"Well, at least Elena's family came through with the catering money," she'd said. "I was worried we'd have to pay for everything ourselves."

At the time, I thought she was just being practical. Now I realized she saw it as payment for letting me join the family.

Later that same night, she'd cornered Brett by the bar. "My sweet boy, when you get married, make sure you find someone better than this. Someone with proper American breeding."

American breeding. Like I was livestock.

I remembered last Christmas too. Chloe had just started dating Brett, and Patricia couldn't stop gushing about her.

"Look at that bone structure," she'd said, right in front of me. "Chloe's children will be absolutely gorgeous. Natural blondes always photograph so well."

She'd said it while I was sitting right there, holding my pregnant belly.

All those comments I'd brushed off as awkward small talk. They weren't awkward. They were intentional.

When Sofia cried for her morning feeding, I realized something else was bothering me. Money. We'd been tight on cash lately, and I couldn't figure out why.

Caleb made decent money as a firefighter. I had my teacher's salary. We weren't rich, but we should have been comfortable.

After feeding Sofia, I pulled out my laptop and logged into our bank account.

What I saw made my stomach drop.

Regular transfers to Brett. Five hundred here, eight hundred there. Over the past six months, it added up to almost four thousand dollars.

I scrolled through more statements. Brett's name appeared over and over. Emergency car repair. Security deposit for a new apartment. Credit card payment.

But the worst part was what I found in our savings account.

The college fund I'd been building for Sofia since I found out I was pregnant. Two thousand dollars, carefully saved from my paychecks. Gone. Transferred out three weeks ago.

The memo line said "B. Johnson - temp loan."

My hands were shaking as I kept searching. Found the real estate agent's invoice from last month. Brett's new apartment deposit. The exact amount that had disappeared from Sofia's fund.

My daughter's future education money was paying for Brett's rent.

I heard footsteps in the hallway and quickly closed the laptop. Caleb walked in carrying coffee and pastries from the café downstairs.

"Morning, beautiful. Thought you might be hungry."

"Caleb, we need to talk."

He sat down next to me, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I checked our bank statements."

His face went pale. "Elena—"

"Four thousand dollars to Brett in six months. And Sofia's college fund is gone."

"I can explain." He set down the coffee with shaking hands. "Brett was in trouble. His credit is shot, and he couldn't get approved for the apartment without help."

"So you stole from our daughter?"

"It's not stealing. It's a loan. He'll pay it back."

"When? With what money? He doesn't even have a steady job."

"He's working at the gym. And Chloe has her social media income."

I stared at him. "Chloe has two thousand followers. That's not income, that's a hobby."

"Look, I know it looks bad, but family helps family. Brett would do the same for us."

"Would he? When has Brett ever helped us with anything?"

Caleb ran his hand through his hair. "He's my little brother. I can't just let him fail."

"What about your daughter? Can you let her fail?"

"Sofia's a baby. She won't need college money for eighteen years."

"And what happens when Brett needs another emergency loan next month? And the month after that?"

"It won't happen again."

I'd heard that before. After the first loan. After the second. After every single transfer.

"You promised me that last time."

"This time is different. I told him this was the last time."

"Did you? Or did you just give him the money and hope it would be the last time?"

Caleb looked away. "He promised he'd pay it back with interest."

"When?"

"Soon."

"That's not an answer."

He stood up and walked to the window. "Why are you making this so difficult? It's just money."

"It's our daughter's future."

"She'll have plenty of opportunities. We both have good jobs."

"We had savings. Now we don't."

"We'll build them back up."

"How? By working extra hours while you keep giving handouts to Brett?"

Caleb turned around, his face flushed. "He's family, Elena. Family comes first."

"What about Sofia? Isn't she family too?"

"Of course she is."

"Then why does Brett's comfort matter more than her security?"

"It's not about that."

"Then what is it about?"

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "You wouldn't understand. You're an only child."

An only child. Like that made me incapable of understanding family loyalty.

"You're right," I said slowly. "I don't understand how you can steal from your daughter to fund your brother's lifestyle."

"I'm not funding his lifestyle. I'm helping him get on his feet."

"For two years? How long does it take to get on your feet?"

"As long as it takes."

The certainty in his voice scared me. This wasn't going to stop. Ever.

Two hours later, there was another knock on my door. Patricia again, but this time she looked angry.

"We need to have a conversation," she said, walking in without invitation.

"About what?"

"About your attitude. Caleb told me you're upset about family financial decisions."

Family financial decisions. Not our financial decisions. Family.

"I'm upset that Sofia's college fund was raided without my knowledge."

"Brett needed help. That's what families do."

"What about Sofia's needs?"

"Sofia is fine. She's fed, she's clothed, she has a roof over her head. Brett was about to be homeless."

"Because he can't manage money."

"Because he's young and still learning. Unlike some people, we don't give up on family members when they make mistakes."

Some people. Meaning me.

"Patricia, I want the money returned to Sofia's account."

"That's not your decision to make."

"It's my money. From my paycheck."

"Money earned during a marriage belongs to the family. And this family has priorities."

"Sofia is the priority."

"Brett is Caleb's brother. Blood family. That comes first."

Blood family. Not Sofia, apparently.

"I'm going to call my parents," I said. "They need to know what's happening here."

Patricia's expression turned dangerous. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Why not?"

"Because if you bring your parents into our family business, you'll force Caleb to make a choice. His family or you."

"I am his family."

"No, sweetie. You're his wife. Wives can be replaced. Mothers and brothers can't."

The threat hung in the air like smoke.

"Are you saying he'd divorce me?"

"I'm saying Caleb has never chosen anyone over his family. And he won't start now."

She walked toward the door, then turned back.

"Think carefully about what you do next, Elena. Your little Mexican daughter needs a father. It would be a shame if your pride cost her that."

The door closed behind her with a soft click.

I sat there holding Sofia, my heart pounding. Was she right? Would Caleb really choose them over us?

I looked at my phone, my parents' number ready to dial. But Patricia's words echoed in my head.

What if calling them really did force Caleb to choose? What if he chose wrong?

What if Sofia grew up without a father because I couldn't keep my mouth shut?