I rubbed my temples, my last bit of patience gone. I pulled out my phone and called the driver, Bentley. “Bentley, come home and take my mother-in-law back to her hometown.”

The crying stopped abruptly. Rebecca looked at me in disbelief. “Hannah? Are you kicking me out?”

I sighed, feeling somewhat helpless and replied, “Didn’t you say you were going back home? It’s late and it’s unsafe to take a taxi. I’ll have the driver take you.”

She froze in her tracks and stared at me for a long moment, making sure I wasn’t joking. Her expression shifted from shock to shame and indignation. She suddenly grabbed her suitcase and stormed out.

“Okay! I’m leaving! Let’s see what you’ll say when Sebastian gets back!”

***

Two days later, Sebastian returned from his business trip. As soon as he entered the house, before he’d even put down his luggage, his phone rang.

From a distance, I could hear Rebecca’s wailing, accusations on the other end. “Sebastian, wahhh, help me!”

Sebastian listened for a long time with furrowed brows, his expression growing increasingly grim. Finally, he reluctantly hung up.