That’s her weakness. The blood drained from his face. You recorded our conversations? That’s illegal.
Not in Georgia when one party consents, I responded. And not when it’s in your own home. I didn’t record your private moments with Cassandra.
I’m not cruel. Just the conversations about your plans to defraud me. Gregory stood suddenly, agitated.
I need to make some calls. Of course, I said. Your attorney might be a good start.
I’ll be staying at Diana’s tonight. Diana’s? He sputtered. My sister’s house? I nodded.
She’s quite upset with you, actually. She was the one who first spotted you and Cassandra together last Christmas. She didn’t tell me immediately.
She confronted you first. You promised her it was nothing, that you would end it. When she realized you hadn’t, she came to me.
This was another blow he hadn’t anticipated. Diana and I had always been close. But Gregory never imagined his own sister would choose my side.
Everyone’s betraying me, he muttered. Ironic, isn’t it? I gathered my purse and a small overnight bag I had packed earlier. You have until tomorrow evening to remove your things from the house.
After that, the locks will be changed. As I headed toward the door, Gregory called after me, desperation in his voice. What about Amelia? Have you thought about how this affects her? I paused, anger finally breaking through my calm facade.
Don’t you dare use our daughter as a shield, Gregory. You certainly weren’t thinking about her when you were planning your new beachfront life with Cassandra. His phone buzzed again.
This time, he looked at it and groaned. Problem? I asked. Cassandra is at the apartment already.
She’s moved her things in. I couldn’t help but smile. The apartment you put in both your names? The lease you signed last month? Gregory nodded, looking confused.
You might want to check with the leasing office. That application was flagged for credit issues and never completed. The agent called our home phone to verify information.
I handled it myself. I walked out the door, leaving Gregory to face the first of many consequences. His perfectly planned new life was unraveling faster than he could process.
Diana lived in a charming bungalow across town, close to the university where she taught literature. When I arrived, she greeted me with a fierce hug. I just heard from Amelia, she said, pulling me inside.
Are you okay? I’m better than I expected, I admitted, following her to the kitchen, where a bottle of wine was already open. I never thought Gregory would make such a spectacle, Diana said, pouring two glasses. The restaurant? In front of everyone? He’s lost his mind.
It was meant to humiliate me, I explained, accepting the glass. A public rejection so I couldn’t fight back without looking hysterical. Diana’s face darkened.
My brother always did have a flair for drama, but this is beyond anything I expected from him. We settled in her sunroom, surrounded by potted plants and bookshelves. Diana had never married, preferring her independence and academic pursuits.
Over the years, I had sometimes envied her freedom. What did you put in that envelope that made him so upset? She asked. I explained the contents, the divorce filing, the evidence of his financial deception, and most importantly, the prenuptial agreement that would leave him with far less than he had planned.
The prenup, Diana mused. I remember when he insisted on it. Father had just given him that money for his first business, and he was so worried about protecting it.
She laughed bitterly. The irony is delicious. My phone rang.
Amelia. I took a deep breath before answering. Mom, she said immediately, her voice strained.
I’m coming over to Aunt Diana’s. Honey, you don’t have to- I’m already on my way, she interrupted. Dad is telling everyone you’ve lost your mind, that you’ve been planning this for months.
He’s saying horrible things. Of course he was. Gregory always rewrote narratives to cast himself as the victim.
Let him talk, I said. The truth will become clear soon enough. Twenty minutes later, Amelia arrived, still in her graduation dress, but with her makeup smudged from crying.
She fell into my arms like she used to as a child after a nightmare. Why didn’t you tell me? She asked, her voice muffled against my shoulder. I didn’t want to ruin your final semester, I explained.
You worked so hard for this day, she pulled back, wiping her eyes. Well, Dad took care of ruining it anyway. We moved to Diana’s living room, where Amelia finally got the full story.
How I had discovered the affair, the financial deceptions, and the plans Gregory and Cassandra had made. I knew something was off with Dad, Amelia admitted. He’s been different, distracted, always on his phone.