The refrigerator was empty. My wife’s hands were trembling. And upstairs, my daughter was livestreaming her new designer bag, bought with the money meant for food. “Dad won’t do anything,” Mia whispered to her boyfriend.

The real plan.

Over the next two days, I became exactly what Mia expected: harmless, distracted, overly trusting.

While she kept partying upstairs, I worked quietly downstairs.

Elena finally told me everything.

At first Mia borrowed Elena’s bank card “for groceries.”

Then she changed passwords to delivery apps and financial accounts.

Then she fired the housekeeper because Elena supposedly “needed rest and privacy.”

After that, the spending exploded.

Designer clothes.

Jewelry.

Luxury dinners.

Champagne