I looked at Mark for a second because it honestly sounded rehearsed. Like they’d all had this conversation already without Dad there.
My stepsister jumped in fast. “Nobody’s saying Rachel can’t help.”
“Right,” Mark said. “Just not with the financial stuff.”
Dad was sitting there turning his water glass slowly between both hands while they talked about him like he’d already left the room.
Usually that’s the part where I backed off.
Not because they were right. Just because Dad always looked so tired when people argued.
But something about Mark saying I’d “never really been part of the practical side” finally got under my skin.
I said, “That’s interesting coming from somebody who changed Dad’s banking passwords without telling him.”
The whole table went still.
My stepsister immediately laughed too loud. “Oh my God, here we go.”
“No,” I said. “Let’s actually go there.”
Mark’s face changed right away.
Dad finally looked up.
I asked him, “Did you know Mark moved your savings account last month?”
Mark cut in fast. “Rachel, stop.”
But Dad was already staring at him now.
“What savings account?” he asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
You could hear silverware clinking from the kitchen.
Then my stepsister started doing that fake calm voice again. “We explained this already, remember? We consolidated things.”
Dad kept looking at Mark. “You moved my money?”
Mark sighed like HE was exhausted. “Dad, this is exactly why we simplified everything.”
That’s when Dad pushed his plate away.
Not hard. Just done.
And for the first time all night, he actually spoke over them instead of waiting politely.
He looked straight at Mark and said, “Give me my account passwords back before dessert.”