Chapter 4

I set my phone down on the coffee table, screen facing them, and said calmly, "Mattie, I recorded everything you just said, plus Damien's comments.

"That was some top-tier roasting. I might replay it whenever I need a laugh. If you're not done yet, go ahead. My battery's got plenty of juice."

The living room went dead silent.

Mattie's face was still red from all that cursing. She was totally stunned. Bet she'd never seen a daughter-in-law flip the script like I just did.

Damien's face shifted, and for the first time ever, I caught real panic in his eyes when he glanced my way.

Only Caleb, the blockhead, still hadn't caught on. He said dismissively, "Recording? Who do you think you're scaring? Cops don't give a damn about family squabbles."

Spurred on by Caleb's words, Mattie instantly got her swagger back.

She said, "Go on! You think I'm scared of you? Every word out of my mouth is the truth. You're a two-faced witch! You were scheming to suck us dry before you even set foot in this house, and now you're hell-bent on wrecking this family for good!"

Her voice got even sharper, and she went for my hair like a wildcat.

I shot up from my seat, backing away as my voice rose, sharp and clear.

I said, "First off, this is my house. The property deed has my name on it. It is my premarital personal property. Right now, you are in my private residence, harassing me and attacking me personally."

I pointed straight at the door, spelling it out, word by word.

I continued, "Second, you've got one minute to get out of my house. If you don't, I'm calling the cops. Maybe they don't care about family business, but I know for sure they deal with breaking in and trying to hurt someone."

I turned to Damien, who'd been silent the whole time. "And as for you, you're my legal husband, but you're letting your family insult and threaten me. That's neglect and emotional abuse, and the recording I just made? That's prime evidence in court."

My words hit them like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads.

Mattie's rant died in her throat, her hand frozen mid-air.

Caleb's usual cocky swagger vanished, and he stared at me in disbelief.

As for Damien, he frowned and looked conflicted, his lips moving but no words coming out.

He probably never imagined that the gentle, obedient wife who barely ever raised her voice would suddenly bare her claws like this.

A deathly silence hung in the air. In the end, Damien was the first to back down.

He walked over and took hold of his stunned mom, his voice rough. "Mom, let's... let's just head home for now. Let Connie calm down a bit."

Mattie let herself be pulled out, still muttering under her breath about how I was an ungrateful brat and never raised right.

Caleb got up too, shooting me a venomous glare before he left.

The door shut behind them, but this time, there was no dramatic slam.

The living room was quiet again, with only the scent of the lilies clinging to the air. It was almost mocking, and so out of place.

I walked over to the coffee table and stopped the recording.

Looking at that ten-minute-long audio file, my finger paused over the delete button. But in the end, I hit save.

I felt numbed, furious, and now, utterly resolute.

I knew the real fight was only just starting. There'd be no more backing down from me. Not ever again.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by my phone buzzing nonstop.

It was Damien, blowing up my phone with a flood of texts, so many that my screen was packed with them.

No accusations, no anger. Just one long, heartfelt wall of apology messages.

He wrote: [Honey, I'm so sorry. I messed up. I shouldn't have lost it with you last night, and I shouldn't have let my mom and Caleb stir things up. I was a complete asshole, a bastard. I just got so worked up. You know how Caleb is. He's my only brother, I can't just turn my back on him.]

[And my mom, she never went to school, spent her whole life in the countryside, so she's just old-fashioned. But she doesn't mean any harm. She cares about us in her own way. I'm sorry, and I'm sorry for my mom and Caleb, too.]

[Connie, please don't stay mad at me, okay? We've been together for so long. Don't you know how much I love you? I can't live without you. We made a vow, remember? Just you and me, forever. Have you really forgotten?]

[You've done so much for this family, and I remember every bit of it. I was just too impatient and ended up hurting you. Please, just give me one more chance. Can we sit down and really talk?]