Tessa’s voice became quieter.
“You said he would never choose her over you.”
“He wouldn’t, if she weren’t constantly turning him against me.”
“Then why did you promise me money if I got them to separate?”
“Because I wanted my son back!”
The words rang through the hallway.
Margaret continued.
“Once Vanessa was gone, Roy would have come back to me. He always does when things go wrong. Then I could have helped you and the baby without him interfering.”
I stood motionless.
All those years of criticism, guilt, and carefully timed tears suddenly looked different.
This wasn’t simply a difficult mother who struggled to accept her son’s marriage.
She had hired another woman to manufacture a betrayal, hoping the shock would destroy the trust between Roy and me.
And Tessa had agreed because Margaret had promised her financial support.
I stopped recording only when I was sure I had captured enough.
