Two weeks later, Ross filed a small-claims lawsuit demanding $1,800. He claimed he’d deposited twelve payments of $150 into the family account. But the bank records showed only four deposits, totaling $600. I contacted a legal adviser, collected certified statements, and discovered that I was the account’s sole legal owner. Ross had merely been an authorized signer. I filed a counterclaim seeking $3,140, representing the disputed expenses after deducting his actual contribution. I also discovered a particularly important receipt connected to his anniversary gift.

At Marcus’s birthday celebration, Ross made another mistake. He stood before relatives and proudly announced that he’d personally contributed $350 toward our anniversary trip. I recognized the exact transaction from my banking records. Before I could challenge him, his daughter Jillian questioned which money he’d used. Ross quickly changed the subject and started a family slideshow. Suddenly, photographs from his New Year’s party appeared on the screen. In the window’s reflection, two small figures were visible outside. They were Calvin and Molly.