He slammed his hands against the wall in frustration, startling Jenny and sending a fresh wave of fear through her.
She stared at him, completely lost for words.
Thousands of questions raced through her mind.
"Can someone please explain to me what the hell is going on here?" she cried, her voice trembling with anguish.
She turned toward her mother.
"Mom, even you? What did you do? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you keeping me in the dark?"
Megan remained silent, unable to meet her daughter's eyes.
Jenny grew increasingly anxious. Her mind raced as she desperately tried to make sense of what was happening. Yet no one seemed willing to give her a straight answer.
"I'll do the talking," Josh finally said, breaking the heavy silence. "I doubt your mom has the courage to tell you what she did."
He stepped closer and gently took Jenny's hands, looking directly into her eyes.
"But you have to promise me something."
"What?" Jenny asked nervously.
"Promise me you won't do anything reckless when I tell you what happened."
"Anything reckless? What are you talking about?" Jenny's voice trembled. "Your suspense is killing me. I need to know. What the hell is going on?"
She stared at Josh anxiously, desperate for answers.
Josh took a deep breath.
He knew that whatever he told her next would change everything.
"I stole a check worth one million dollars from his pocket at the bank," Megan finally confessed, breaking the tense silence and saving Josh from having to explain everything himself.
"Who was that? I just heard a familiar voice."
Jenny looked around, pretending she hadn't heard her mother.
"I did it, Jenny. I'm sorry. I had no choice," Megan repeated, lowering her head in shame.
"No way," Jenny whispered, tears filling her eyes.
"I heard you with my own ears, and I was still hoping you would deny it. Why, Mom? You're not a thief. What could have pushed you into doing something like this? And were you really alone?"
"I wasn't alone," Megan confessed. "I got help from one of the cashiers."
"You what?"
Josh, who had remained silent throughout Megan's confession, finally snapped.
"I thought you told the police earlier that you were alone! Are you trying to shift the blame onto someone else?"
"Don't you dare yell at my mother like that!"
Jenny stepped between them, her voice trembling with anger.
"My mother isn't a thief. I know her. Something must have pushed her into doing this. There has to be a reason."
"Fine," Josh sneered. "Then let's hear it from her."
He folded his arms, waiting for Megan to explain herself.
"I know I should have told you this earlier," Megan began, her voice trembling. "But your late father owed the bank a huge loan—five hundred thousand dollars. Now the bank wants to confiscate the house."
Jenny stared at her mother in disbelief.
"I couldn't stand the thought of us becoming homeless, so I had to do something," Megan continued. "I overheard Josh's conversation before he entered the bank. That was when I discovered he had a one-million-dollar check in his pocket."
She wiped away her tears.
"I intentionally bumped into him to carry out my plan. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't see any other way out. And honestly, I'm not afraid of going to jail anymore. Spending a few years behind bars is better than becoming homeless."
"Excuse me, folks," one of the police officers interrupted. "Who's Josh?"
"I'm Josh. Is there a problem?" Josh asked, turning toward the officer.
"We just got off the phone with Mr. Alvin from Royal Gold Mine. He's already been informed about the stolen check and wants the culprit prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Jenny's expression immediately changed.
"Josh? Is this true?" she asked, her voice filled with anger. "I thought we were friends! Why would you do this to me?"
"What are you talking about?" Josh protested. "I didn't do anything."
"Stop looking at me like that. I'm not guilty of anything," he added defensively.