Chapter 2

Tyler and I were the couple everyone envied. We went straight from college sweethearts to walking down the aisle.

Back when we were dead broke, our love was the only thing that kept us going.

He would survive on one meal a day just so I could have my favorite cupcakes whenever a craving hit.

He worked sixteen-hour shifts without complaint so I could feel safe staying home while I struggled to find a job.

Things eventually looked up for us, and we both started chasing our dreams.

I landed a job at a high-end local design firm, and Tyler launched his own startup.

We walked through fire together to get where we were.

Somehow, things changed about a year ago when Tyler's business hit a massive slump.

I turned down a promotion just to take on extra projects because we needed the money to keep him afloat.

We looked like the picture-perfect couple to everyone else, and my relatives finally started treating Tyler with some respect.

Lexi's family lives out of state. Her mom trusted us to watch over Lexi while she studied for the bar exam.

The vibe changed the moment Lexi moved in. Tyler used to be a workaholic, but suddenly he was finding reasons to race home early every day.

I knew I wasn't the reason.

I kept telling myself to just suck it up and ride it out until her exams were over.

*****

Weekend family dinners were our routine. That day, Tyler's parents, Gary and Brenda Foster, turned up exactly on time.

The doorbell rang, and Lexi sprinted to answer it like an eager puppy.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Foster. Come on in," she chirped. "It must be freezing out there."

I was the last one to walk into the living room, but I froze mid-step when I saw Lexi's outfit.

She was wearing my dress. It was the limited-edition designer piece I bought for my birthday last month, and I hadn't even cut the tags off yet.

Now it was on her body. She had taken in the waist to make it tighter and pulled the neckline down to show way more skin.

I shot daggers at Lexi, but she acted like I didn't even exist.

Lexi hooked her arm through Brenda's and flashed a sweet, innocent smile.

She cooed, "Mrs. Foster, you are glowing today. That outfit is just stunning on you."

Brenda beamed and patted Lexi's hand. "Lexi, you always know just what to say. You're such a sweetheart."

Her gaze swept over to me, and her smile faded. "Audrey, are you finally done working?" she said.

Tyler quickly jumped in to smooth things over. "Mom, Audrey's firm is swamped with projects right now. She has been pulling all-nighters constantly."

"Oh, definitely," Lexi added. "Audrey is so busy she barely has any time for Tyler.

"Tyler's always home alone, and honestly, it breaks my heart to see him like that."

As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward Tyler with a look of pure adoration.

When we sat down to eat, Lexi slid right into the chair next to Tyler like she belonged there.

She was all over him, cutting his steak, pouring his wine, and handing him napkins. She was playing the role of the perfect, doting wife in front of my face.

"Tyler, eat up," Lexi cooed. "You have lost so much weight lately."

Gary nodded as he chewed. "Lexi really knows how to take care of a man. Whoever snaps her up is going to be one lucky guy."

"Ain't that the truth?" Brenda chimed in. "Unlike some people who are so married to their jobs they forget they have a husband.

"A man busts his back all day. Coming home to a cold kitchen? That's just shameful."

She locked eyes with me the entire time she delivered that lecture.

Tyler just buried his face in his plate and didn't say a peep.

The smirk on Lexi's face grew wider.

She made a big show of standing up to serve me some chowder, but then her hand "slipped."

Hot soup splashed right onto my lap. It soaked through my skirt instantly.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry," Lexi gasped. "I am such a klutz."

She frantically grabbed some napkins. But as she leaned in to wipe the mess, she whispered in a voice only I could hear, "Don't lose your cool, Audrey. Be the bigger person."

I looked down at the greasy stain on my skirt and then up at the malicious joy dancing in her eyes.

Tyler finally looked up with a frown. "Lexi, seriously? How could you be so careless?"

Lexi's eyes welled up with tears instantly.

"Tyler, I swear I did not mean to. I was trying to be nice and serve Audrey some soup," she said, her voice trembling.

"Forget it," Tyler sighed. "Audrey, just go change.

"It is just a stain. It will wash out. Don't ruin the night for everyone, okay?"

In that moment, I felt like the loneliest person on earth.

Here I was, surrounded by "family," and not a single one of them asked if the boiling liquid burned my skin.

No one called Lexi out for her clumsy mistake. Instead, they made it clear that I would be the villain if I dared to complain.

Tyler didn't even glance my way. Tyler grabbed the napkin from his own placemat and gently handed it to Lexi.

"Stop crying," he said. "It is no big deal. Audrey isn't going to hold a grudge."

I looked at the face I used to adore, and in that moment, he felt like a complete stranger.

We had three years of marriage under our belts. Yet all my blood, sweat, and tears seemingly meant less to him than a few fake tears from Lexi.

I turned my gaze to Brenda. "You know what? You're absolutely right," I said. "I have been neglecting this house.

"But that is because I am too busy working to pay off Tyler's business loans and his maxed-out credit cards."

The room went dead silent instantly.

Gary and Brenda looked like they had just swallowed broken glass.

I pulled up my banking app, opened the transfer history, and flipped the screen around so they could see.

"Take a look for yourselves," I said, my voice dead calm. "Last month alone, I wired Tyler 100,000 dollars.

"His startup is bleeding cash. I couldn't just stand by and let my husband drown in debt, could I?"

I flashed a bright smile at Lexi while she turned ghost white, though my eyes remained ice cold.

"It must be nice, though," I continued. "Some people get to live in my house, eat my food, and spend my money. She even wears my dress while she plays house with my husband.

"I just don't have the luxury to be a freeloader like that."

I turned to Tyler and asked, "Honey, did I miss anything?"

Tyler opened his mouth, but no words came out. His face turned beet red.

He probably never imagined I would have the guts to rip off his mask and air his dirty laundry in front of everyone.

Lexi lost her grip on her fork. It hit the plate with a sharp clang that cut through the silence.

Her flawless makeup couldn't hide how pale she'd gone.

I dabbed the corner of my mouth with my napkin and stood up.

"I am full," I announced. "You all enjoy the meal."