Part 5-I was eight months pregnant when my husband…
Evan had taken it.
Tilly handed me a card. “Read it.”
“You didn’t leave a marriage. You abandoned a family.
Build your new life without any of our money, our blessing, or our name.”
I looked up at them. “You want this delivered there?”
Evan had taken it.
“During the livestream,” Tilly said. “At the altar. In front of everyone.”
Norman nodded once. “Maximum effect. Minimum mess.”
***
The morning of the wedding, Margot sat beside me at the kitchen table as the livestream loaded. I rested one hand over Wren when the usher stepped forward.
“Delivery for the groom.”
Brielle laughed. “Babe, maybe it’s from a sponsor.”
Evan opened the box.
The smile fell first. Then the color.
“Maximum effect. Minimum mess.”
Brielle leaned in. “What is that?”
Tilly stood before he could answer. “You didn’t leave a marriage,” she said. “You abandoned a pregnant wife, seven children, and tried to steal the money keeping them afloat. We’re ashamed of you.”
Norman rose beside her. “Build your new life without our blessing, our money, or our name.”
Even through the screen, I saw guests turn. The officiant stepped back.
“You abandoned a pregnant wife.”
“You told me they were taken care of,” Brielle said. “You never said she was eight months pregnant.”
“Go grandma,” Margot whispered, scrolling through the comments.
I laughed and held my stomach when Wren rolled hard. “Thank God we’ve got them, honey.”
“You have all of us, Mom,” she said.
He walked away from the noise.
We stayed and made a life without him.
