"She'll do whatever I say, I promise."
"Once we're married, I'll get the house and the savings. She'll have nothing. It will be perfect. I can't wait to dump her, I'm tired of pretending to love these kids."
They laughed — easy, casual, as if my life was a solved problem.
My hands went numb.
I didn't speak. I didn't throw the phone. I just reached down and ended the call.
My body moved on instinct, walking out of my room and down the hall.
"Once we're married, I'll get the house and the savings."
In the living room, the kids were all asleep: Harry sprawled across one cushion, Selena curled up beside Mika, one of her feet still twitching like she'd been dreaming.
I stood in the doorway and looked at them for a long time.
"Okay," I whispered, exhaling slowly.
I didn't cry. Not then. There wasn't space for that — not yet. Instead, I went back to my room, opened my laptop, and started planning something Oliver and Sarah would never forget.
In the living room, the kids were all asleep.
It wasn't just revenge. It was proof of their behavior — in front of everyone, and on my terms.
"Okay," I repeated. "You're not marrying that man, Sharon. You're dodging a trap."
The room was too quiet. My phone buzzed with a text again.
"Hi, Aunt Sharon. It's Chelsea — Matt's daughter. You saved my number after Christmas. I'm sorry… I heard Oliver and Grandma. I recorded most of it. I didn't know who else to tell."
She'd attached the recording.
