“Veronica told me it was temporary, while we remodeled the main rooms.” “She turned our parents into prisoners in their own home,” Alvin said coldly.

“And you let her, because you were terrified of your own debts.” And Derek, at last, told the truth.

After his business failed, Veronica had taken absolute control of their finances, and had convinced him that their parents’ house was their only safety net, that Alvin would eventually persuade the parents to sell it and leave Derek with nothing.

She had begun routing Alvin’s monthly checks into her company to cover Derek’s old business loans.

“I tried to stop her last month,” Derek said, his voice cracking.