Helen pulled her shoulders back, attempting to regain her composure.

“Your father left that trust to support the family legacy,” she said, her voice rising. “Not to be squandered on your military career.”

“The trust was left explicitly to me,” I replied. “To fund my recovery and my future.”

“You didn’t need it,” she hissed, finally looking at me with pure venom. “You have the Marine Corps. Michael needed the backing. He is a Rogers. He represents our future in the Navy.”

General Drummond frowned, his brow furrowing deeply.

“And to secure that future, you committed federal fraud, Mrs. Rogers?” Drummond asked.

Helen did not answer immediately.

She looked at the tablet held by the second investigator, which now displayed a PDF of the bank transfers from my trust account to Michael’s personal investment portfolio.

“I did what was necessary,” she said, her voice dropping to a low, defeated register.

“Say it clearly for the record,” Agent Vance commanded, pointing to the active recording device on the table.