Every word out of her mouth was a lie.
But Leon didn't believe me.
No matter how I explained, no matter what I said, Leon refused to believe me.
I was so furious that I grabbed Pamela by the throat. Leon kicked me to the ground and had me committed to the psychiatric facility.
My medical license was revoked. My reputation, destroyed. The entire internet tore me apart.
Inside the facility, I was shocked and beaten, over and over, until I didn't have the strength left to fight back.
When I came to, the air reeked of disinfectant.
Two nurses stood by the door, chatting. "Mr. Vance is so sweet to his sister-in-law. And the boy is such a good kid."
They rolled their eyes in my direction. Their voices dropped to a murmur pitched just loud enough for me to hear.
"The woman in that bed? I heard she's a quack who got her own daughter killed. She deserves to rot."
"Mr. Vance is too soft-hearted. Someone like her should be locked up for life."
I fumbled for my phone and typed out a message.
Dad, the ten-year pact is up. I lost the bet. I'll be home soon.
I endured a week in the hospital before I was finally discharged.
Meanwhile, Pamela was out enjoying herself, with Leon by her side.
When I saw Pamela's social media posts, I felt nothing. Not a flicker.
There was a time when Leon's tenderness toward Pamela would have sent me into a jealous frenzy. I'd scream. I'd cry. I'd lose myself completely.
Leon only ever had one response: "My brother died young. His widow has no one. Can't you just be a little more understanding?"
We'd fight. We'd argue. It always ended the same way.
His scales had never tipped in my favor. Not once.
I dragged my hollowed-out body to the front door and heard Hayden throwing a tantrum inside.
"I don't want that awful woman at my parent-teacher conference! She'll embarrass me!"
The moment he saw me, Hayden kicked a soccer ball straight at me.
I couldn't dodge in time. The ball slammed into my arm, and I sucked in a sharp breath through my teeth.
"Idiot! Can't even catch a ball!"
I looked down at my hands, hanging limp and useless at my sides. A bitter ache spread through my chest.
These hands had once been called the Golden Hands. Inside the psychiatric facility, every finger had been broken. I would never hold a scalpel again.
Something strange flickered across Leon's face as he watched my expression crumble.
"Hayden! That's rude!" he snapped, though the reprimand barely had any teeth.
Hayden pouted and tugged at Pamela's arm, whining. "But I want Mama Pamela to go! If that awful woman shows up, I'll die of embarrassment!"
Leon's expression softened immediately. "Fine. They'll both go. How's that?"
I stood rooted in place, pale-faced, swaying on unsteady legs.
Leon took it as defiance.
His gaze swept over me, cold as a blade. "Gloria, stop playing the victim. If you refuse to go, every single person on staff in this house loses their pay this month."
The words had barely left his mouth before every housekeeper by the door turned to stare at me, resentment burning in their eyes.
I clenched my fists, said nothing, and got in the car.
At the school, a teacher was selecting participants for the parent-child relay race, a one-mile run.
Pamela spoke up without hesitation. "Let Hayden run with his mother."
Hayden's small face scrunched in obvious disgust.
"Go on," Leon said flatly.
Hayden didn't dare disobey. He settled for glaring at me with all the venom a child could muster.
I hesitated. "I just got out of the hospital. I can't run."
Before the last word left my lips, someone shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled forward, nearly falling.
I spun around. Pamela stood there, smiling at me, triumph glittering in her eyes.
The starting gun fired. I gritted my teeth and managed a few staggering steps before my foot slipped out from under me. I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring through every bone.
Cold sweat poured down my face. I tried to push myself up, but my arms wouldn't obey.
Laughter erupted all around me.
