Gregory’s phone buzzed persistently in his pocket. He glanced at it, then ignored it. Cassandra no doubt wondering where he was and why he wasn’t following their carefully orchestrated plan.
You’ve always been calculating, Bianca. But this is cold, he said, trying a different approach. What about our history? Twenty-eight years together means nothing? I studied him.
This man I had loved for nearly three decades. The man who had held my hand through two miscarriages before we had Amelia. The man who had once surprised me with a weekend trip to Charleston for our tenth anniversary.
When had he changed? Or had he always been this person? And I had been too devoted to notice. Our history meant everything to me, I answered truthfully. That’s why your betrayal hurt so deeply.
His expression softened momentarily, perhaps seeing an opening. Then maybe we can fix this. I made a mistake.
People make mistakes. This wasn’t a mistake, Gregory. This was a calculated plan spanning more than a year.
You systematically moved our money. You looked at property with her. You planned to announce our separation publicly to humiliate me.
His face hardened again. You’re exaggerating. Am I? I picked up my phone, opened the recording app, and played his own voice.
After the graduation, I’ll tell her it’s over. A public setting is better. She won’t make a scene in front of everyone.
Then Cassandra’s voice. And she has no idea about the money. Gregory again.
None. Bianca trusts me completely. 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. But I never imagined— None of us want to see these things in people we love, Diana said gently. My phone buzzed with a text message from Philip Anderson, my attorney.
The emergency filing had been approved. The accounts I had identified were frozen, pending the divorce proceedings. Gregory now had limited access to funds.
Enough for living expenses, but not enough to follow through on the property purchases he had planned with Cassandra. I showed the message to Diana and Amelia. Good, Amelia said firmly.
He deserves it. My daughter’s loyalty warmed me, but I wasn’t naïve. He’s still your father, I reminded her.
Your relationship with him is separate from what’s happening between us. Amelia shook her head. Maybe someday, but right now I can’t even look at him.
He hugged me this morning and told me how proud he was, all while planning to blow up our family hours later. The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation. Diana went to answer it, returning moments later with a troubled expression.
It’s Gregory, she said. And he’s not alone. I steeled myself as Diana led Gregory and Cassandra into the living room.
Cassandra looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes darting around the room. She was 37. Not exactly a trophy wife, but still 17 years my junior, with shoulder-length blonde hair and the kind of confidence that comes from never having faced real hardship.