Elena studied her brother.
Julian had always been confident. As children, he was the one who spoke first, volunteered for everything, and convinced their parents that every idea he had was brilliant.
Elena had always been the quiet one.
The observer.
The person who remembered details.
“Everything is fine,” she said.
Chloe smiled.
“I told you. He gets emotional sometimes.”
Elena sat down.
“Maybe.”
One word.
Nothing more.
Julian glanced at her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means Dad has had a difficult year. Maybe we should talk about how things have been handled.”
The room became quiet.
Julian leaned back.
“We already talked about this. We have legal authority. Everything has been done properly.”
“Good,” Elena said. “Then you won’t mind showing me all the records.”
His expression changed slightly.
Only for a moment.
But Elena noticed.
“What records?” Chloe asked.
“Medical appointments. Financial statements. Care schedules. Anything related to Dad’s well-being.”
Julian laughed softly.
“Elena, this isn’t a business investigation.”
“No,” she replied. “It’s our father.”
The words hung in the room.
Thomas looked at the floor.
Julian stood.
“I don’t appreciate being treated like a criminal after everything I’ve done.”
Elena watched him carefully.
“I’m not accusing you of anything.”
“Sure sounds like it.”
“I’m asking questions.”
“Because you came back after years and suddenly think you know everything.”
That sentence hurt more than Elena expected.
Because there was some truth hidden inside it.
She had left.
Not because she didn’t love her father.
But because after their mother died, being home became painful. Every room carried memories. Every conversation reminded her of what they had lost.
She buried herself in work because work was easier than grief.
“I should have visited more,” Elena admitted.
Her brother looked surprised.
“I should have called more. I should have noticed things were changing.”
Thomas reached for her hand.
“You were living your life.”
Elena looked at him.
“And you were my father.”
The room became quiet again.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Julian’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen and walked into the kitchen.
Elena waited.
When he returned, his face was different.
“Who did you call?”
Elena didn’t answer.
“You contacted someone.”
“I spoke to a professional.”
“What professional?”
“Someone who can help us understand the situation.”
Julian looked at Chloe.
Something passed between them.
