On my wedding night I heard my husband whisper, “She’s fallen for it”… and when his mother slipped me some papers to take what was mine at breakfast, I smiled as if I knew nothing, because my revenge was already on its way.

I wanted to head straight to the cottage we had rented to start our new life, but his mother, Martha, insisted we spend the first night at her old estate in Belle Meade to receive a family blessing. It felt strange to me, but Wyatt squeezed my hand and told me it was just one night to make his mother happy.

I gave in once again. In the early hours of the morning, I woke up feeling parched. The house was dark and silent, except for a low murmur drifting up from the kitchen.

I walked downstairs quietly, thinking Martha was just getting a glass of water, but I stopped at the base of the stairs when I heard Wyatt speaking. “She’s already fallen for it. Tomorrow she signs, and her dad’s house will be ours.”

The air felt thick in my lungs. Martha replied in that sweet, toxic tone she used to manipulate everyone. “Don’t let her overthink it. First, bring up the power of attorney, then the joint account. If she gets suspicious, tell her it’s just for taxes and the marriage filing.”

I gripped the banister so hard my knuckles turned white. “What if she tries to call her brother?” Wyatt asked.