Once she knows, she will start hiding things.

Right now, she does not know you know.

That is your advantage.

Do not waste it.”

So I went to my bank and requested a full five-year audit of my accounts, and when the total came back, it made me dizzy.

Over five years, I had transferred nearly one hundred and forty thousand dollars to my mother.

Not all of it had been meant exclusively for Maya; some was intended to cover the property taxes on the family home, and some was genuine assistance for Evelyn herself.

But even after accounting fairly for every legitimate expense, tens of thousands of dollars were simply, completely unaccounted for.