I followed him.
Margaret was sitting in the front room when we returned. She looked up, surprised.
“Roy? Did you forget something?”
He stood in front of her.
“Did you arrange for Tessa to come to Vanessa’s office and pretend she was carrying my child?”
Margaret blinked.
“What an absurd question.”
Roy took out his phone.
“Then you won’t mind hearing this.”
He played the recording.
For the first few seconds, Margaret’s face remained still.
Then her eyes darted toward Tessa’s empty chair.
When the recording ended, the room fell silent.
Roy stared at his mother.
“Tell me it’s not true.”
She stood abruptly.
“You shouldn’t have been listening to private conversations!”
“That’s your answer?”
“I was trying to save our family!”
“By destroying my marriage?”
“Your marriage has changed everything!” she shouted. “You barely visit anymore. Every decision revolves around Vanessa. You used to tell me everything, and now I hear about your life from other people.”
