When Melissa’s MIL coldly kicks her out of a family party, she thinks it’s just another act of spite — until her niece calls, voice trembling. “You need to come back — with a lawyer.” A desperate cover-up, and a web of lies unravel. Now, Melissa must fight for what’s rightfully hers.
I stood in front of Kara’s sprawling home, my fingers clutching the small gift bag I had brought.
The knot in my stomach tightened.
In the two years since Mark’s death, his mother had only rarely included me in anything.
Usually, Mark’s siblings invited me to family events, even though, strictly speaking, I wasn’t part of their family anymore.
It was nice to be included though, and I always made an effort to go. When I received Kara’s invitation to her birthday party, I knew I had to attend.
“You can do this, Melissa,” I whispered to myself, taking a deep breath. “For Mark.
For Eleanor.”
Eleanor. The thought of her made my heart ache all over again.
Mark’s grandmother had been my rock after he passed, treating me like the daughter she never had. She’d only been gone three months, and I still found myself reaching for the phone to call her whenever something good or bad happened.
I rang the doorbell, plastering on what I hoped was a convincing smile.
The door swung open, and there stood Kara, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Melissa. You made it.” Her tone suggested she had hoped otherwise.
“Happy birthday, Kara,” I said, handing her the gift bag.
She took it without a thank you and turned away. “Everyone’s in the backyard.”
I followed her through the house, noting how nothing had changed since I was last here.
There were photos of Mark everywhere: as a child, as a teenager, as a college graduate — but notably, none of our wedding.
Kara had always made it clear what she thought of me.
The backyard was filled with family, friends, and relatives.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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