She replied that she had contacted the agency to ask some questions and that they had explained to her how to modify the travelers’ data.
“What information did you provide?” I insisted.
My mother looked at Chloe before answering.
—The full names of your sister and Tomás, their IDs, and the dates they needed to travel.
—And what information of mine did you use to contact the agency?
His silence sent a chill down my spine.
I remembered the transaction of approximately two hundred and ten thousand pesos that I had found a week before the wedding.
I also recalled that the agency staff had mentioned recent inquiries related to travelers’ names.
But I didn’t expect my mother to have progressed so far without telling me anything.
“I only used the data necessary for them to travel,” he finally replied.
Daniel asked her to be more specific, because there was no authorization to use our personal information or our payment methods.
My mother claimed that we were turning a family matter into something resembling a criminal accusation.
“What I need to know is whether you used money from our account or tried to,” I replied.
Chloe immediately looked at Tomas.
He asked her quietly if the trip was really paid for.
My sister assured me that Mom had told her that all expenses were covered and that they only needed to pack their bags.
“Did you really think someone could give you a twelve-day vacation without the two original travelers agreeing?” Daniel asked.
Tomás admitted that it had seemed strange to him, but that Chloe insisted that I had offered to help them as a gift for the pregnancy.
My sister began to defend herself by saying that I had always paid for many things and that I had no reason to think that this time would be any different.
That confession hurt me because it confirmed that my years of helping had ended up building a completely disproportionate expectation.
“Just because I paid your rent or some emergencies doesn’t mean you can use our marital budget,” I replied.
My father tried to calm the conversation by suggesting that we all go back to the party and talk about money after the wedding.
I explained that I needed to clarify first whether there was any unauthorized movement that could affect our trip.
My mother claimed that I was obsessed with controlling every penny and that it was embarrassing to talk about money in front of the family.
For the first time, I felt no need to defend my professional career or justify why I kept detailed records of my expenses.
“The money we earn working deserves the same respect as anything else that’s important to us,” I replied.
Daniel asked me if I wanted to call the agency at that moment.
I nodded because I no longer trusted the incomplete explanations I was receiving.
While we were looking for the travel assistance number, my mother tried to convince Chloe to return to the lounge because the guests were waiting to congratulate her.
My sister refused to leave without knowing if she would really get the vacation she had been promised.
Tomás seemed increasingly uncomfortable and began asking about tickets, names, and hotel confirmations.
My mother replied that she had some documents saved on her phone, but she couldn’t find them among so many messages.
I asked him not to delete anything and to allow us to review the confirmations directly with the agency.
She finally agreed, although she said she felt like she was being treated like a stranger.
The agency had a helpline for upcoming bookings and we managed to get through to a representative after several attempts.
I identified myself as the holder of our itinerary and provided the necessary information to verify the reservation.
The agent confirmed that the original plane tickets were still registered in Daniel’s and my name.
I felt immediate relief.
However, he explained that there was a second operation associated with the file and that it was linked to a request for services for two other travelers.
“Who authorized that operation?” I asked.
The representative told us that she needed to verify certain documents before providing us with a complete answer.
I explained that I had found a charge close to two hundred and ten thousand pesos that I did not recognize and that no person had been authorized to use our payment methods.
The woman remained silent for a few seconds and then announced that she would open an urgent review.
My mother began pacing nervously around the small room.
Chloe insisted that their tickets must exist because she had received photographs of an itinerary with their names on it.
