A Family Built on Lies

I was a real estate agent. My mother, Jenna Bennett, approached me privately and asked me to sell her property. "Your dad is having a hard time with his business. I want to help him out." The property had been left to Mom by my grandmother, Renna Patterson, so she'd always have a small refuge of her own, a place where she could feel safe and secure. Now, for my father's sake, Mom was selling that refuge at a bargain price. It didn't take long for a buyer to contact me. The woman asked, "Hi, could you hold the property for me until next week? I'd like my partner to give it to me for my birthday." I caught sight of a photo of her and her "partner" on her phone screen, and froze. It was Dad. I smiled and nodded at the woman. "Of course. I look forward to seeing your partner next week." Chapter 1 After that, I double-checked the buyer's information with the woman several times. "Could you leave me your contact information and phone number so I can reserve the property for you?" It wasn't until I saw the information she'd filled out and confirmed that the buyer's name and ID number matched my father's that I finally gave up hope. It really was my father, Austin Bennett. The woman handed me the paperwork and smiled. "Young man, I hope you treat your partner just as well someday. It's not easy being a woman in this world. "Next week is my thirty-fifth birthday. He said he'd give me anything I wanted. "The apartment is a little old, but it's right in the city center. Once I renovate it, it'll be just right for the two of us to live in." The woman's "kind" words pierced my heart like a needle. The property my grandmother, Renna Patterson, had left my mother, Jenna Bennett, as her own little refuge was now about to become a gift from Dad to another woman. I suppressed my discomfort and tentatively asked, "What if... what if your partner can't come up with that much money? "I don't mean anything by it. Buying a property is a big expense, after all. It would be a problem if something went wrong at the last minute..." But the woman burst out laughing as if she'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "If he can't even come up with two million for a property, why would I stay with him? "Young man, I'll tell you something. Several of my partner's business projects have made a fortune recently!" As she spoke, she waved the Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet on her wrist. "See this? He casually bought it for me last weekend," she said smugly. I stared at the bracelet, hatred threatening to consume me. "Your partner sounds very romantic." My voice tightened. "For my mom's birthday, my dad gave her an insulated mug from a supermarket promotion." The woman raised her eyebrows smugly. "Men have to know who's worth spending money on." She stroked her new bracelet. "Last week, I casually mentioned that I wanted Japanese, and he immediately booked a restaurant that cost $200 per person. Has your mom ever been to a place like that?" My stomach churned. I remembered how, on Mom's birthday last month, Dad had claimed he was busy with work and told her to make herself a bowl of bolognese. I took a deep breath and swallowed the questions threatening to spill out. "Your partner sounds very considerate." I forced a businesslike smile. "I'll prepare the paperwork in advance for the contract signing next week." The woman tossed her hair smugly when a notification suddenly sounded on her phone. She glanced at the screen, the corners of her mouth lifting. "Oh, he's reminding me to go for a test drive." She deliberately turned the screen toward me. "He insists on getting me a Porsche. Says my old car isn't good enough for me." On the chat screen, Dad's contact was saved as "Husband," and his latest message contained the location of a car dealership. I dug my fingernails into my palm. The day before, Mom had asked him to accompany her to get her electric bike repaired. He'd said he had to meet a client. The woman swayed away, leaving the scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Before she left, I added her on social media under the pretext of making future communication easier. That evening, she updated her social media. [Test-Drive Surprise! Someone says white will match my new dress.] The photo showed Dad smiling as he held the car door open, with the dealership in the background. I scrolled down. Last Wednesday: [Late-Night Feast.] Dad stood in an apron, cooking an elaborate seafood dinner in a luxuriously decorated kitchen. When Mom's arthritis flared up and left her unable to get out of bed to cook, he'd told her to make do with mac and cheese. Last Sunday: [Unboxing My Gifts.] Luxury shopping bags were piled all over a sofa. Meanwhile, our household accounts from the same period showed that he'd refused to buy Mom a new refrigerator. In every photo, Dad wore a doting smile, a stark contrast to the gloomy expression he wore at home as he complained that "business was tough." I took screenshots of everything, saving them as evidence. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. Dad was calling. "Evan, how's the property coming along?" His voice sounded tired. "Your mom's been nagging me lately. Try talking some sense into her." I stared at the photo on her social media of him with his arm around his mistress as they tried out the car. "Dad," I asked softly, "what time are you coming home today? Mom made pot roast." He paused. "No, I have to entertain a client." He sighed. "Business is tough these days." Then the call ended. I opened the social media post Mom had just shared. The photo showed her standing in front of our old refrigerator. The caption read: [The fridge suddenly stopped cooling, and the meat smells a little off. Does anyone know how to save it?] The first comment was from Dad. [Don't waste it. Just cook it longer, and it'll still be fine.] I saved all the screenshots and turned off my phone. When the day came to sign the contract next week, I'd have a substantial "present" of my own to give him—one that carried plenty of weight. Chapter 2 When I pushed open the door, Mom was crouched in the kitchen, scrubbing the floor. The dirty water she wrung from the rag mixed with dish soap, and her fingers were red from the cold. Her sleeves were still stained from the tea she'd brewed that morning. "Mom." My voice was hoarse. "Stop scrubbing. Has the refrigerator been fixed?" She looked up and forced a smile. "Your dad says we should make do with it a little longer. We'll get a new one once business picks up." I stared at her cracked fingernails, feeling as though someone had grabbed my heart and squeezed. Last year, when Dad's arthritis flared up, Mom had even cracked walnuts by hand to prepare his remedies, splitting one of her fingernails in the process. All Dad had said was, "Women are just too delicate." And Mom had actually begun to wonder whether she really was too delicate. "How did the property deal go?" Mom pushed herself upright, one hand braced against her lower back. "Your dad was coughing half the night. I need to hurry up and raise the money..." I cut her off and handed her my phone. "Look at this first." Confused, she took it and began scrolling through the screen. Kendra Hayes's social media posts appeared one after another before her eyes. [Test-Drive Surprise] showed Dad smiling with one hand on a car door. [Late-Night Feast] showed Dad cooking seafood in an apron. But the most shocking was her latest post: [Someone said my bracelet was too plain to go with my new dress.] The photo showed the Van Cleef & Arpels counter, where a sales associate was wrapping up a necklace from the same collection. "I checked the prices," I said coldly. "Even the cheapest one costs at least $10,000." "W-What is this?" Mom's fingers trembled. "This is the woman who came to look at the property today. And guess what? The person buying her a house is none other than Dad!" As I explained everything, I watched Mom's reaction closely. "Dad cries poverty in front of us every single day, but he's been spending all his money on someone else! "Yesterday, he said he was meeting a client. He was actually accompanying her to pick out a necklace!" She staggered and grabbed the kitchen counter, nearly collapsing to the floor. "Impossible..." Her lips trembled. "Your dad said money was tight. He wouldn't even pay for my health insurance..." I pulled up the screenshots of his bank transactions. "Tight?" I pointed to the transfers he'd made to Kendra. "He transferred $100,000 to her over three months. Every transaction was labeled as a 'wellness investment.'" Mom suddenly rushed into the bedroom and came back carrying an iron box. Inside was a stack of yellowed receipts: Dad's arthritis therapy bills, orders for nutritional supplements, and more. Every receipt was covered in Mom's neat handwriting: "Austin's health comes first." Looking at them now, the words were painfully ironic. At the very bottom lay a photocopy of Grandma Renna's will. "The property is bequeathed to Jenna Bennett, with the hope that it will serve as a place where she can establish a secure and independent life." Mom looked at the receipts, then at the will, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. "H-How could he do this to me? He lied to me, took my money, and stole years of my life. I could almost accept that. But does he have to cheat me out of the last thing I have to fall back on, too? "Your grandmother repeated the same instructions over and over before she died..." Mom choked up as she gently stroked the will. "This house is my home. It's my foundation..." I picked up one of the receipts. Last week, Dad had taken $700 from her, claiming he needed to buy supplements. Around the same time, Kendra had posted a photo showing off her new designer bag. "Mom, look at this." I held up my phone beside the receipt. "The supplements he bought with your money are being worn by someone else!" She suddenly snatched the phone from me and began scrolling frantically. Every photo of Kendra showing off her gifts was like a whip lashing across Mom's face. Dad cooking seafood in an apron. Dad accompanying Kendra to pick out jewelry. Dad holding her close as she tried out a new car... "Last year, when I was in the hospital for surgery..." Mom stared at Dad's indulgent smile in one of the photos. "He said the signal in my hospital room was terrible... All this time, he'd been playing chef for someone else..." Her tears splashed onto the screen. Then, suddenly, she laughed. "No wonder he always complained that the tea I made him was bitter..." She grabbed the stack of receipts and hurled them violently against the wall. "He took the money I nearly worked myself to death to earn and spent it keeping some little mistress!" As the papers scattered through the air, her hunched back slowly straightened. "Evan." She wiped away her tears. "Next week, when we sign the contract, I'm going with you." Chapter 3 The next day, I went to Dad's company under the pretext of delivering some documents, intending to gather more evidence. But I was stopped before I even made it through the entrance. The new receptionist didn't even look up. "Do you have an appointment?" "I'm here to see Austin Bennett." I held up the insulated lunch container in my hand. "I'm bringing him lunch." She let out a mocking laugh and shot me a scornful glance. "Mrs. Bennett just brought him food. She's in his office with him right now. Who are you? Looking for a sugar daddy? Well, our CEO isn't into that kind of thing!" I froze. Mrs. Bennett? But my mom was clearly at home. Before I could react, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened. Kendra stepped out carrying a Hermes bag. Several employees gathered around her, calling her "Mrs. Bennett." When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks. "What are you doing here?" She looked me up and down, taking in my work clothes. "I told you I'd buy it, and I will! Following me to the office won't change anything!" The receptionist hurried to ingratiate herself with Kendra. "Mrs. Bennett, he says he's here to bring lunch to Mr. Bennett!" Kendra paused, as if she'd suddenly thought of something. She gently ran her fingers over her necklace and said smugly, "Young man, my husband spoils me rotten. Whatever I say goes. There's no need for you to suck up to him." She leaned closer, her perfume overwhelming. "But if you make a scene in front of him, you might lose your job." Snickers broke out around us. I tightened my grip on the lunch container. "You've misunderstood. I'm..." "I'm what?" she interrupted. "Jealous that he's buying me a house? What? You want to steal my man? Next time you get an idea like that, maybe check your own gender first!" One of the employees chimed in sycophantically, "Everyone knows how much Mr. Bennett dotes on his wife! He even rented out an entire restaurant for her birthday!" I stared at the diamond watch on Kendra's wrist. It was exactly the same as the imitation Dad had given Mom last year. "Did you hear that?" She flicked my name badge. "You're a real estate agent? You could sell houses your entire life and still not earn enough to buy even one of the diamonds on my watch." Before I could react, Kendra suddenly snatched my phone away. "Let's see... How many pictures have you secretly taken of my husband?" I lunged forward and snatched it back. "Give it back!" She staggered backward theatrically. "Security! This lunatic is trying to attack me!" A uniformed security guard grabbed my shoulder and pinned me in place. Kendra toyed with her car keys, the Porsche logo glaringly obvious. "Poor people are so pathetic." She sighed. "They have to spend their lives fantasizing about other people's husbands." Outside the glass doors, Dad's assistant walked past carrying some documents. He bowed to Kendra. "Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Bennett asked you to choose the color for your new car." I was shoved through the revolving door and thrown out. Under the scorching sun, I opened my phone. Kendra had just updated her social media. [Some little punk harassed me. He said he wanted to buy me an even more expensive car to make up for the shock.] The photo showed a chat with Dad. [Baby, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Tomorrow, I'll take you to look at a Rolls-Royce.] Meanwhile, in our family group chat, Mom had asked: [Austin, the refrigerator is completely broken. Can you transfer $100 so we can get it repaired?] Dad hadn't replied at all. The next second, a text from Kendra came through. [The location for signing the property contract has changed. We're doing it at the Bennett Group midyear conference instead! I want to give him a surprise!] [You little cheek. You must be furious, huh? Too bad being angry won't help you.] [I'll be receiving my gifts in front of everyone, while you'll be sitting below the stage, staring up at me like a pathetic loser.] As I read her messages, I didn't feel the slightest bit of anger. Instead, I felt a flicker of excitement. Perfect. The stage would be big enough, and there would be plenty of people watching. And the gift I'd prepared would be more than big enough. Chapter 4 On the day of the Bennett Group's midyear presentation, the venue was packed with prominent figures. Even television reporters had arrived to livestream the event. Dad stood at the podium, looking confident and full of himself. Kendra stood close beside him in a red dress, her smile more dazzling than the crystal chandelier overhead. For years, Dad had used the excuse that he didn't want to bring work-related troubles home to keep Mom and me from attending a single company event with him. Back then, Mom had thought he was an exceptionally good husband. "Your dad never brings his work problems home! I'm so lucky to have married him." Looking back now, it was nothing short of a cruel joke. The evening gala soon got underway, and Dad stepped onto the stage under everyone's watchful eyes. "Next, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank someone very special." His voice boomed through the microphone, reaching every corner of the banquet hall. A spotlight fell on Kendra. She put on a demure, bashful expression at just the right moment, but clung tightly to Dad's arm, as if staking her claim on him. "During the most difficult time in my life, she was the one who stayed by my side, giving me support and warmth." With every word Dad spoke, my hatred for him grew. The money he'd used to launch his business had come from Mom working day and night washing dishes at a restaurant. The work had left her with lasting joint problems that she still suffered from to this day. When his first business venture failed, he was left drowning in debt. Mom had gone from door to door, kneeling and begging his creditors to give him more time. Without her, he might have been taken to court. During his darkest days, Mom had even sold her blood for money. Time and again, she had been the one to bail him out. And just a few days ago, she'd been willing to sell the only inheritance her mother had left her to cover Dad's business losses. Now, he was standing onstage and giving Kendra all the credit. Dad continued his speech, exchanging loving glances with Kendra. The audience applauded and cheered him on. Kendra basked in the attention. She gently tugged at Dad's sleeve and whispered something to him, her eyes full of hints and anticipation. Dad understood immediately. He smiled knowingly and patted her hand before turning back to the audience, his voice rising. "So, on this special day, I'd like to give her an extraordinary birthday present!" He paused deliberately, making sure he had everyone's attention. Kendra held her breath, her eyes fixed on Dad. "I've prepared a home for her right in the city center!" Dad swept his arm out grandly, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "The property gift agreement is already prepared! Whichever property she chooses, I'll give it to her unconditionally! I hope this gift is worthy of everything she's done for me over the years!" "Wow!" Gasps of astonishment erupted throughout the hall, followed by even louder applause. Overcome with excitement, Kendra covered her mouth with her hand before throwing her arms around Dad. Her voice trembled with emotion. "Austin! Thank you! I love you!" Dad hugged her back proudly, basking in the admiring and flattering looks from the audience. "There's something else," he added, pressing his advantage. He pulled a velvet box from his inner jacket pocket and dropped to one knee in front of Kendra. "Kendra, will you marry me?" Inside the box, a massive diamond ring glittered under the lights, its brilliance almost blinding. "Say yes! Say yes!" The cheers rose from every direction, pushing the atmosphere to its climax. Kendra held out her hand, so excited she could barely speak. "Yes! Austin, yes!" Just as Dad was about to slide the ring onto her finger, a calm female voice rang out from behind them. "Austin Bennett." The spotlights instinctively swung toward the sound. The massive doors had opened at some point. Mom and I stood side by side in the doorway. Her back was perfectly straight, and her eyes, sharp as knives, were fixed on the two figures frozen onstage. "Do you really think a gift bought with my mother's life savings..." Mom spoke slowly, each word striking the silent room like a hammer, "...is something she deserves to wear?"