“They submitted documents declaring you as a financially dependent person with mental health issues. This allowed them to access government assistance programs, tax deductions for elder care, and preferential loans.”
My blood began to run cold.
“They financially benefited from pretending I had mental problems?”
“Exactly. Here are the tax returns for the last 3 years. They received deductions for medical expenses that never existed, subsidies for elder care they never really provided, and several loans they justified by saying they needed the money for your care expenses.”
I reviewed the documents in disbelief.
There were fake medical bills, receipts for medications I had never taken, even reports from a psychiatrist who was supposedly treating me for scenile dementia.
“How did you get all this?”
“I have contacts in various institutions. When a story like yours becomes public, sometimes people who were previously silent decide to speak up.”
Steven pulled out more papers.
“But there’s something more serious. Victoria has been running a blog for two years where she documents her heroic struggle caring for her mother-in-law with dementia.”
He showed me printouts of the blog. The title was Living with Margaret, a devoted daughter-in-law’s diary.
I read some entries with growing horror.
“Today, Margaret had another episode. She couldn’t remember where she put her medicine and blamed me for hiding it. It’s so hard to stay patient when the illness makes her so aggressive. Daniel is exhausted. Working all day and then coming home to deal with his mother’s mood swings is wearing him down. But we carry on out of love. The doctors say Margaret’s condition is only going to get worse. We’re considering professional care options. It’s heartbreaking, but perhaps it’s for the best for everyone.”
“Is all of this made up?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
“Completely fabricated. But here’s the interesting part. The blog has generated income. It has sponsors, affiliate links, even a donation account to help with Margaret’s medical expenses.”
“How much money have they made from this?”
“Approximately $15,000 over the last 2 years.”
I was speechless. They hadn’t just planned to get rid of me. They had been profiting from lies about my mental health for years.
“There’s more,” Steven continued. “Victoria also created a profile on a crowdfunding platform 6 months ago. They were raising money to renovate the house and make it safer for a person with dementia.”
“How much did they raise?”
“$8,000 so far.”
It was too much. I got up from my seat and walked to the window. The city view that usually calmed me now felt blurred by rage.
“What can I do legally with this information?”
“A lot. Fraud, swindling, misappropriation, defamation. We could build a solid case that could result in criminal charges.”
My phone rang at that moment. It was Daniel, probably calling for the 15th time that week. This time, I decided to answer.
“Yes?”
“Mom, thank God you answered. We need to talk urgently.”
“I’m busy, Daniel.”
“Mom, please. Victoria is having panic attacks. The harassers online are posting our address. Last night, someone threw eggs at the house.”
“What a shame.”
“Mom, we are your family.”
“My family? The family that diagnosed me with scenile dementia without my knowledge to obtain financial benefits?”
A long silence.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Victoria’s blog. I’m talking about the false tax returns. I’m talking about the loans you got by lying about my mental condition.”
“Mom, I don’t know anything about that.”
“You don’t know anything about the blog Living with Margaret, where your wife documents my supposed dementia episodes? You don’t know anything about the donations you’ve been receiving for my medical care?”
“I… I…”
“You don’t know anything about the fake medical bills you submitted to get tax deductions?”
This time, the silence was deafening.
“Daniel, I have an investigative journalist sitting right here with documents that prove everything I’ve just said. Do you want to keep lying?”
“Mom, if there was anything irregular, it was Victoria’s idea. I didn’t know the details.”
“You didn’t know the details of stealing money using my name? You didn’t know the details of inventing a mental illness I don’t have?”
“Victoria said it was legal. She said that since you lived with us, we were entitled to those benefits.”
“And the blog? Was it also legal to lie publicly about my mental health to make money?”
“Mom, I didn’t read the blog. Victoria handled those things.”
“Daniel, do you know what the difference is between you and me?”
“What?”
“When I make a mistake, I own it and take responsibility. You, on the other hand, always find someone else to blame.”
“Mom, please, can we fix this?”