Chapter 2 - The Gaslighting
The moment the front door clicked shut behind the last guest, Mark slammed his hands on the oak table.
“Have you lost your mind?!” he yelled, the veins in his neck bulging. “You humiliated Valerie in front of her boss! You ruined her birthday!”
“She tried to ruin the rest of my life, Mark,” I said calmly, untying my apron and draping it over the chair. “Did you know about her plan? Did you agree to sign the transfer papers?”
Mark faltered. His eyes darted to Valerie, then to the floor. The hesitation was all the answer I needed. My own son. The boy I had rocked to sleep, the boy whose scraped knees I had bandaged, had been willing to sign away my freedom for his wife's comfort.
A cold, heavy grief settled in my chest, but it hardened instantly into armor.
“You misunderstood, Mom,” Mark tried to backpedal, his voice softening into that patronizing tone he used when he thought I was just a frail old widow. “Valerie was just worried about you. You forgot where you put your keys last week. We were exploring options for your own safety.”
“I didn't forget where I put my keys, Mark. Valerie took them from my purse and hid them in the microwave to make me think I was losing my mind. I installed a hidden nanny cam in the kitchen three days ago.”
May you like
Valerie’s face turned the color of ash.
“Thirty days,” I repeated, picking up my purse. “I’m staying at a hotel tonight. When I return tomorrow, you will begin packing. If you take one item that belongs to me, I will have you both arrested for grand larceny.”
