And they had decided their granddaughter was the easiest person to exploit.
But there was still one thing that didn’t make sense.
“If you’re twenty-eight thousand dollars behind,” I said slowly, “why did you spend thousands on Mateo’s birthday party?”
Renata looked down.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Mom?”
She wiped her face.
“His parents said they couldn’t afford it.”
Daniel stared at her.
“So you were going to make Valentina pay for it?”
“We’re family!”
“Family doesn’t make children feel guilty for keeping their own belongings.”
Valentina suddenly spoke from behind me.
“Grandma said Mateo deserved it more because he’s a boy.”
The room went silent.
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Victor looked away.
Renata whispered,
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
But Valentina wasn’t finished.
“She also said Daddy wouldn’t understand because he always chooses me over Mateo.”
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he opened them.
And when he spoke, his voice was steady.
“She’s right about one thing.”
Renata looked up.
“I will always choose my daughter when someone tries to hurt her.”
Valentina burst into tears.
I pulled her into my arms.
Daniel walked over and knelt beside us.
He kissed the top of her head.
“You don’t owe anyone your dreams.”
She buried her face against his chest.
“What about Grandma?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Being someone’s grandmother is not something you earn by receiving gifts.”
He paused.
“And it’s not something you can take away as punishment.”
Valentina nodded through her tears.
Daniel stood.
Then he looked back at his parents.
“Tomorrow morning, I’m going to the bank.”
Renata’s face turned white.
“Daniel, please.”
“I’m also going to speak with the bank about the unauthorized withdrawals.”
Victor immediately stood.
“There’s no need for that.”
“There is.”
“Son—”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice was quiet.
“But I’m not doing it to destroy you.”
His parents stared at him.
“I’m doing it because my daughter needs to know that adults are responsible for their own choices.”
Renata began crying harder.
Daniel continued.
“We’ll help you find a financial counselor. We’ll help you contact the mortgage company. If there’s a legitimate way to restructure the debt, I’ll help you understand the options.”
I looked at him.
He wasn’t cutting them off out of anger.
He was drawing a line.
A very clear one.
“But we will not give you Valentina’s money.”
He looked toward his mother.
“And we will never again use our daughter to solve an adult problem.”
Renata covered her face.
Victor slowly sat down.
For once, neither of them had an argument.
Daniel ended the call.
The room became silent.
Valentina looked at the wrapped MacBook lying on the floor.
“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
