A year ago, I told Lewis I wanted a baby. He refused immediately—then bought prenatal vitamins for her the very next day.
His voice pulled me back to the present.
"Babe, stop messing around. I'm driving."
I asked who he was talking to before I could stop myself.
"Jill, I was just responding to the GPS. Do you have to be so paranoid all the time? You're acting insane."
In the livestream, the woman played a voice message from a contact labeled "Hubby."
It was exactly what Lewis had just said to me.
The comments exploded.
[They're so cute together!]
[Rich AND treats his girlfriend like a queen? I'd get on my knees for a man like that.]
I quietly started screen recording and captured the entire stream.
Then I sent a message to my family.
For the rest of the drive, I pressed my back against the seat, swallowing the nausea, and didn't say a word.
We arrived at the Whitney house soon after.
Watching my mother-in-law rush out to greet us, I took a deep breath and steadied myself.
Whatever else was true, she had always been good to me.
I didn't want to cause a scene in front of her.
But in the next moment, the woman on the livestream pushed up her sleeve, revealing the jade bracelet on her wrist.
"It's not just my boyfriend who treats me well—his family adores me too."
"His mom even gave me the family heirloom!"
The bracelet on her wrist was unmistakably the Whitney family heirloom.
It wasn't particularly valuable, but it had always been passed down to the daughter-in-law.
My mother-in-law once told me she'd give it to me after I had a child.
Lewis noticed me frozen, staring at my phone. He shoved my arm.
"My mom came out to welcome you. Can't you even greet her? All you do is play on your phone."
"Lewis!"
My mother-in-law shot him a look of mock disapproval, then turned and took my hands in hers.
"Jill, you're here! Are you hungry? I'll make you braised pork ribs."
The words were directed at me. Her eyes drifted toward the trunk.
I understood instantly what she was waiting for.
She expected me to unload hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of gifts, like I did every year.
She was going to be disappointed.
I'd been busy restructuring a new company before the holiday and hadn't had time to shop for her. This year, Lewis had handled the gifts.
When he pulled two cases of milk and a fruit basket from the trunk, my mother-in-law's smile froze solid.
She slid me a look, then walked over to her son.
"What is this? This is all you brought?"
"Jill said she was too busy. If you ask me, she's just cheap—doesn't want to spend money on our family!"
My mother-in-law nodded vigorously, agreeing with every word.
I almost laughed.
The one who didn't want to spend money on the Whitneys was her precious son.
I didn't bother explaining. I walked straight inside.
Lewis's sister, Desiree Whitney, was watching the livestream with her husband.
"Honey, look—that's Beth, the one I told you about. She's the sister-in-law I want. As for Jill? If it weren't for her family's money, my brother would've dumped her ages ago."
"You don't need to be nice to her."
She tore me apart like I was nothing—while watching the stream on the brand-new phone I'd bought her last month.
So the whole family knew Lewis had another woman.
I was the only one kept in the dark.
I didn't say anything. I just recorded every word and saved the file.
At dinner, predictably, not a single dish was something I liked.
"Jill, times have been hard for us this year. I hope you understand."
