Chapter 2: The Marks and the Truth
Later, Julian sat me down and explained how much he and Chloe had supposedly given up to take care of Dad.
He produced grocery receipts.
Medication lists.
Financial documents.
Then he showed me paperwork giving him control over many of Dad’s affairs.
Chloe stood nearby with her arms crossed.
“He should be grateful we put up with everything,” she said. “You disappeared into your career, Elena. Don’t suddenly come back and act like the devoted daughter.”
They expected me to feel guilty.
Instead, I smiled.
“You’re right,” I said calmly. “I should help while I’m here.”
That evening, I offered to help Dad prepare for a bath.
The moment I moved closer, he jerked away so fast that the glass he was holding slipped from his fingers and hit the counter.
“Please,” he whispered. “Don’t take off my coat.”
That was when I knew my instincts had been right.
I locked the bathroom door.
Then I turned on the shower so anyone downstairs would have difficulty hearing us.
“Dad,” I said quietly, “I need you to trust me.”
His eyes filled with fear.
Very slowly, I removed the coat.
What I saw underneath made my stomach twist.
There were dark marks along his shoulders and sides.
Around his wrists were visible signs suggesting someone had held or restrained him far too forcefully.
I looked at him.
“Dad… who did this?”
His mouth trembled.
Finally, he answered.
“Julian.”
My heart sank.
He told me that whenever he questioned what was happening to his money, Julian would prevent him from getting out of bed.
Chloe pressured him whenever he refused to sign documents.
And both of them repeatedly told him the same thing.
Nobody would believe him.
After all, he was an elderly man who occasionally forgot things.
Then Dad told me it went much further.
His lake cabin had been sold without him truly agreeing to it.
Money had vanished from two investment accounts.
Julian and Chloe had pressured him into signing a new will that left almost everything to Julian.
Dad had even tried calling me twice.
But Julian had taken his phone away.
Then he told Dad that I was too busy with my career to care about him anymore.
Chloe had made another threat.
May you like
If Dad told anyone what was happening, she said they would tell authorities he was no longer capable of living independently.
Then they would place him somewhere he never wanted to go.
