Chapter 2 - The Mother-in-Law's Hubris
The next morning, I left Delilah sleeping soundly and drove directly to the house I had purchased five years ago.
I parked down the street, watching as a luxury landscaping crew worked on the front lawn.
Evan and his mother were already spending the money they had stolen from my daughter.
I walked up the driveway, my heart pounding, but my face a perfectly unreadable mask of stone.
I didn't bother knocking; I simply used my master key to unlock the front door and stepped inside the foyer.
The house smelled of expensive perfume and freshly brewed espresso, a stark contrast to the stale air of the parking lot where my family had slept.
Brenda was sitting on the expensive leather sofa I had bought for Delilah, flipping through a high-end home decor magazine.
She looked up, her smug face dropping in shock for a fraction of a second before a nasty smirk replaced it.
“Well, look who decided to trespass,” Brenda sneered, crossing her legs elegantly.
“Evan and I were wondering how long it would take the trash to come looking for leftovers.”
I kept my voice dangerously low and completely even.
“Where is Evan, Brenda?”
“My son is at work, providing for his future, now that he finally got rid of that useless weight dragging him down,” she replied with incredible arrogance.
“You mean the wife who paid all the bills while he maxed out credit cards in her name?” I countered smoothly.
Brenda stood up, pointing a manicured finger at my face.
“This is our house now, legally signed over, and if you don't leave immediately, I will have you arrested for breaking and entering.”
I looked around the beautiful home, noting all of Delilah's personal touches that were already being replaced by Brenda's gaudy taste.
“You should really enjoy the new landscaping, Brenda,” I said with a terrifyingly polite smile.
May you like
“Because this is the last week you will ever spend breathing free air in a house you do not own.”
I turned and walked out, leaving her sputtering in anger, fully knowing she had no idea what was coming.
