She complained when Roy spent holidays with my family. She criticized my cooking, questioned my decisions, and reminded him that he had visited her more frequently before our wedding.
Roy usually changed the subject.
He hated confrontation, especially with his mother.
For years, I had tolerated her behavior because I believed that keeping peace in the family was worth the discomfort.
Now I wondered whether my patience had allowed something much more dangerous to grow.
Why was Tessa so close to Margaret?
And why did she seem so determined to make Roy accept a pregnancy he insisted had nothing to do with him?
I took screenshots of the messages, closed the applications, and returned the phone to its exact position on the nightstand.
Then I went downstairs and called Margaret.
It was late, but I needed to hear her reaction.
“Vanessa?” she answered sharply. “Do you know what time it is?”
