All Chapters of Debt of Trust: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

The sun had barely risen when the clamor outside my door yanked me from sleep.I barely had a foot out of the bedroom when my mother-in-law, Zara, stormed up with a young woman in tow. My husband, Josh Lawson, and father-in-law, Paul Lawson, trailed behind her.They stood there, looking like a jury ready to pass judgment, and I could not help but arch an eyebrow."What's the big idea?"Zara glowered at me, thrusting a cancer diagnosis report in my face."Josh told you about Jasmine's illness yesterday. She needs the cash for surgery, and she needs it now. So, where is it?"I took a quick look at the young woman, her head hung low, the picture of vulnerability, and my brow furrowed.Josh did talk to me about the medical bills. He wanted me to transfer 7,500 dollars from his salary for his god sister, Jasmine Carter's treatment. I had control over his bank account, and I had shown him the balance.However, there they were, practically on a witch hunt.I whipped out my phone and

Zara was livid; her eyebrows shot up as she stomped and ranted."You've bled my son dry! And now you want him to rack up debt instead of coughing it up? Over my dead body!"Her relentless nagging wore me out. I stormed back to the bedroom and dug out Josh's card."If you really think I'm the one who spent it all, here, take the card back."Under Zara's doubtful gaze, I shoved the card back into Josh's hands with force."You know better than anyone if I've touched the money in there. I won't take the fall for this."Josh froze, then awkwardly looked away, pushing the card back to me. "Honey, I trust you with the money more than anyone."Then, he turned to Paul and Zara, trying to calm the waters with a peacemaker's tone."Mom, Dad, we're family. Why are we splitting hairs over money like we're strangers? I believe in Chloe. She's not the type to blow cash without thinking."Let's head home. Chloe and I will figure out the treatment costs."Josh's voice had a hint of alliance w

As everyone crowded around, I cracked a smile and started flipping through the ledger myself.We had barely gotten through this month's entries when everyone froze."How is it that this month's paycheck just came in and it's already gone?"Zara zeroed in on a line item, demanding answers. "The money just hit the account, and it's already used up. Who else could've been using Josh's money but you?"I whipped out my phone and pulled up PayPal."Mom, you've got it all wrong. This is obviously a PayPal transaction. I only link my own card to PayPal. I have never linked to Josh's. So how could it have been me?"I had Zara stumped with that one.The crowd was scratching their heads, too.Finally, Jasmine broke the silence. "Chloe, don't tell me you whipped up a fake ledger just to throw us off?"Zara's eyes widened as she got it, and she blurted out loud and clear. "Print it out again. This has got to be some cooked-up ledger you made!"The crowd around us buzzed with speculation.

"I genuinely thought of you as family, yet you treated me like a fool."Did you really think I'd stand here without proof? I know all about Josh buying her a car, getting baby supplies, and even mortgaging our property to buy her a house!"Zara was in a panic then.She just wanted a grandson. She treated her son's mistress like a goddaughter, thinking it would not raise eyebrows.She assumed Josh was on the same page, but to her shock, he was ready to buy Jasmine a house.She nudged her silent son, desperate for his denial."Son, is what she's saying true?"I pointed at Josh's shifty eyes and let out an icy laugh. "Is that even a question? You just promised to make a public apology and pay me back double. Time to cough it up."Alright, now that it's clear I haven't taken a dime of his money and have actually been the one paying out, are you all happy?"I did not even glance at Zara's pale face as I pressed her. "Come on, keep your word. Everyone's watching. You wouldn't want t