Chapter 5 - The Math on the TableGarrett stared at me in total shock. "Maya... what are you talking about?"
"The HELOC documents in Arthur's briefcase," I said, looking straight at Lorraine. "The ones designed to transfer eighty thousand dollars of my home's equity to pay off Tabitha's failed clothing business in San Diego."
Lorraine’s face turned white, then rapidly flared into an angry crimson. "Garrett! Have you been talking to her?!"
"No! I didn't say anything, I swear!" Garrett stammered, looking frantically between his mother and me. "Maya, how do you know about that?"
I pulled my iPad from my bag, tapped the screen, and set it face-up in the center of the dining table.
Displayed on the screen was a printed, itemized breakdown of our joint checking account over the last six months, accompanied by high-resolution screenshots of the group chat titled Family First—a chat that included Garrett, Lorraine, Tabitha, and Arthur, but excluded me.
"Forty-seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty dollars," I said, my voice cutting through the silent room like a razor. "That is the exact amount Garrett has transferred from our joint account into Tabitha’s business account since March."
Tabitha gasped, dropping her wine glass onto the rug. Red wine pooled into the beige fibers.
"That joint account," I continued, "was funded eighty-five percent by my salary as a senior software architect. Garrett’s income as a mid-level sales associate barely covers his personal car loan and club membership."
"How dare you!" Lorraine shrieked, slamming her palm onto the table. "You come into this family with your arrogance and your tech money, counting every penny like a accountant! Marriage is about sharing! What’s yours is Garrett’s!"
"Actually, Lorraine," I replied, pulling out the single-page document Elena Ruiz had given me, "under Arizona law, property acquired prior to marriage remains sole and separate unless explicitly gifted."
I slid the paper across the table to Garrett.
He picked it up, his hand shaking violently as his eyes scanned the text.
"What... what is this?" Garrett whispered, his face draining of all color.
"That is a formal Notice of Separate Property and Revocation of Power," I said softly. "As of four o'clock today, your access to my bank accounts has been revoked. The joint account has been closed."
I turned my gaze to Uncle Arthur, who was backing toward the door with his briefcase.
May you like
"And if anyone attempts to present a loan document using this address as collateral," I added, looking Arthur straight in the eyes, "Ms. Ruiz will file a complaint for attempted mortgage fraud before nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Here are Chapters 6 through 10, detailing the immediate fallout of the birthday dinner, Garrett's desperate attempts to manipulate and regain control, and Maya's unwavering stand.
