Chapter 4
I called my best friend staying in New Jersey.
“It’s late back home. Why are you still up?” she asked.N
“Nica, I need a favor.”
“What is it?”
I told her what happened–how my son called Jessica mom. She was furious and started cursing immediately.”
“Help me find a private investigator. I want to dig into Jessica’s time studying abroad. See if anything unusual happened.“W “Leave it to me. I’ll find someone right now. Ugh, what kind of disgusting woman does this?!”
By noon the next day, my inbox was full of videos and photos.
One clip showed Jessica visibly pregnant at a wild house party. Not long after, she lost the baby and
emergency hysterectomy due to severe bleeding.N
She could never have children again.
2000 to undergo an
Second thought, I threw a
I printed the photos and tucked them into my bag along with the divorce agreement. I hammer in too.”
When Wesley came to pick me up for the family gathering at the old estate, the cuts on his face were covered with band–aids.
Neither of us spoke.
The atmosphere at the old mansion was heavy and tense.
I didn’t know what Wesley had told Miles the night before, but today, when he saw me, he timidly called out, “Mommy.“W
I smiled and gently patted his head. “Good boy, Miles.”
Then Jessica walked in. Miles ran straight to her and called out, “Mommy Jess.”}
The tiny comfort I had just felt–the calm I had worked so hard to suppress–disappeared instantly.”
I stared coldly at Jessica. Wesley’s mother entered just then and broke the silence with a stern voice, “Everyone, sit down. Dinner is ready.“>
When we entered the dining room, all the chairs were still empty. I pulled out one and sat down without a word. Jessica hesitated to take her seat, wearing that phony look like she had something to say but didn’t dare. Then Wesley’s older sister walked in. Seeing Jessica’s troubled expression, she turned to me with a sneer.
“Emerie, you’ve been married into this family for years. You should learn some table manners. Don’t embarrass yourself like this.”
Wesley immediately looked at her, his tone sharp. “She’s my wife. Who do you think you are to lecture her?”
Keira’s expression changed. She scoffed and said with biting sarcasm, “Your wife? Who in this family acknowledges her as such? We told you to marry Jessica, but you didn’t listen. Instead, you brought home this mess and won’t let anyone say a word?“>
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Wesley’s eyes turned cold. “Seems like I’ve been too nice lately.”
Keira’s husband tugged on her sleeve, and though she was clearly upset, she fell silent.N
I chuckled softly and looked up at Keira. “Keira, are you saying that Jessica is more cultured than I am?“N
Keira glared at me but didn’t respond.
I laughed again, louder this time. “Well, it makes sense. Someone like me from a modest background wouldn’t have the nerve to attend group parties while pregnant, right, Jessica?”
The moment those words left my mouth, everyone’s face changed–Keira, her husband, my mother–in–law, Wesley, and Jessica herself.”
“Emerie, what nonsense are you spewing?” the old woman snapped.”
I ignored her and called for Maria, the housekeeper. “Please take Miles to the living room to play.“}]
Maria looked at Wesley. When he gave a silent nod, she took the child away.”
I closed the dining room door, pulled the photos from my bag, and flung them across the table.
Jessica’s face turned ashen. She lunged to grab them, but Keira and her husband were faster. They each took several photos and stared at Jessica in shock and disbelief.”
The old woman and Wesley turned to me with cold, venomous eyes.N
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3:47 PM
“Emerie, are you insane?! Where did you get these?” Wesley barked.”
I ignored him. Instead, I looked at Jessica and his mother.
“No wonder you’re so eager for my son to call her ‘mom. Turns out she’s broken. Can’t even have children.“%
“And you,” I turned to the old matriarch, “You’re such a good mother–shoving trash like this into your son’s arms.“%
The old woman was so enraged she could barely breathe. She turned to Wesley, shouting, “This is who you threw everything away for? Disgraceful! Divorce her. Now!“}
I shrugged, unbothered. “Gladly. I’ve wanted this for a long time. Your son’s the one who refused.“%
Wesley grabbed all the photos and barked at Keira and her husband, “Don’t look! Hand them over!“}
After snatching them all back, he turned to me and growled, “Where did you get these?”
“Does it matter?“}
“Emerie, my patience has limits!“}
“I’m giving you one last chance–apologize to Jessica.”}
I pulled out the hammer I had hidden in my bag.
“Patience?” I asked, raising a brow. “What exactly are you being patient about?”
With that, I brought the hammer down hard on the glass centerpiece of the dining table. It shattered into pieces, shards flying in all directions.
A chorus of screams broke out as chaos erupted in the room.}
Everyone scrambled in panic–except Jessica.
She had collapsed into her chair and was reaching for the broken glass. For a moment, I thought she was going to harm herself.”
But instead, she shoved a jagged piece into her mouth.
The old woman screamed, “Stop her! She’s having another episode–get her to the hospital, now!”
Wesley rushed over and yanked the glass from her mouth. It sliced his hand, but he didn’t even flinch. He scooped her up and ran out the door, with his mother right behind.
Only Keira, her husband, and I remained.
They looked at me with complex, unreadable expressions.
I didn’t pay them any attention.
In the chaos of the shattered home, no one remembered Miles.
I walked into the living room and asked him softly, “Everyone’s busy and no one’s looking after you. Do you want to come with Mommy?”
“Are you really my mom?”
Keira had just entered the room. When she heard his question, she frowned and snapped, “Miles, what are you saying? If she’s not your mom, then who is?”Ø
“But what about Mommy Jess?“}
Keira’s mind was full of those photos. Disgust flickered in her eyes.
“That woman is just an auntie. You only have one mother–the one who gave birth to you. Don’t forget that, little rascal.“%
3:47 PM
