Chapter 3

The perfect love I thought I had was nothing but an elaborate scam, all set up from the start.

And today was just the opening act of this whole con.

I took a deep breath. That heavy feeling in my chest was gone, replaced by a cold that seeped right into my bones.

I wasn't shocked, didn't cry, and was not even much disappointed.

I just thought my dad was right. This notarization wasn't about buying insurance. It was more like clearing landmines. And now, the first landmine just exploded.

The doorbell was blaring nonstop, the urgent, furious ringing so intense it sounded like it might bust right through the door.

I looked through the peephole. My mother-in-law's face, flushed red with rage, was pressed so close to the lens it nearly filled my vision.

Standing behind her was Caleb, arms folded, impatience written all over his face.

I knew the reinforcements Damien had called in had arrived. It had only been two hours since he slammed the door and left.

I didn't open the door right away. Instead, I went back to the living room, carefully set my backup phone under the fruit bowl on the coffee table, and pressed record.

Only then did I unhurriedly walk over and open the door.

The moment the door opened, a huge force shoved me backward, making me stumble a step.

My mother-in-law, Mattie, stormed in like an enraged lioness.

She didn't even look at me, making a beeline for the living room. She grabbed Damien, who had just strutted in with a smug grin, and then unleashed a wail.

"My poor son! I'm so sorry! I let you suffer so much in this city! You married a woman with a heart of stone, always turning her back on her own family!" she wailed.

All the while, she was pounding Damien's back.

Damien supported her with a troubled look, but his eyes kept flicking toward me, carrying a hint of warning and threat.

Caleb sprawled out in my favorite armchair like he was the king of the place, legs crossed, foot bouncing, and held out his hand to me without a care.

"Connie, don't make this harder than it needs to be. My brother already told you. The money's for me first. He'll pay you back eventually. Just transfer me the money. Quit dragging your feet. My house payment's waiting," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Those eyes, almost a mirror of Damien's, were full of undisguised contempt.

Like he was saying, "You're married now, so whatever you have is ours. Who are you trying to impress with this act?"

I ignored him, went over to the other sofa, sat up straight, and just watched the drama play out, cool as ice.

"This money is what I had before I got married. I'm not giving it to you," I said. My voice wasn't loud, but it was still easy to hear over Mattie's wailing.

My words hit like a blast of ice water thrown onto boiling drama.

Mattie's wailing stopped dead. She snapped her head toward me, her eyes narrowed with pure malice, glaring so hard it felt like she wanted to bore holes straight through me.

"What did you just say? You shameless thing! Say it again!" she screeched.

She tore herself away from Damien, stormed right up to me, jabbed her finger in my face, and her spit flew everywhere.

"You jinx! You scheming witch! You were plotting against the Rowe family before you even set foot in the house! What's your problem, huh? Did the Rowe family offend you or something? Why are you out to ruin us?" she howled.

Mattie slapped her thigh, cursing me with the nastiest words she could think of.

She continued, "My son must've been blind to ever fall for you! He slaves away for you every day. He rushes home after work just to cook, wash your feet, and treat you like royalty!

"And you? Did a dog eat your conscience? His brother's in trouble, and you act like giving up a little cash is the end of the world! A woman like you ought to be struck by lightning!"

Damien just stood there in silence, head down, his expression unreadable.

He didn't say a word to stop her, just let his mom rip into me, saying whatever she wanted and tearing me down without even trying to step in.

When Mattie finally ran out of steam and paused for breath, he "kindly" handed her a glass of water.

He said, sounding disappointed, "Mom, don't be mad. Connie is just not thinking straight right now. Her dad only ever cared about money, so of course she picked up his bad habits."

Picked up his bad habits. I was stunned by his words.

With just that one offhand comment, he threw my dad under the bus and acted like he was totally blameless.

That chill inside me had frozen solid.

I watched the mother and son put on their whole loving family routine, then glanced at Caleb sprawled on the couch like a grown man-child, just waiting for his payday.

I couldn't help but find it all ridiculous.

I took out my phone, unlocked it right in their faces, and coolly tapped the record button.