I marched over and pinched her hard right under the nose.
She yelped. Ow! Skyler, stop, that hurts!”
The couch cover slipped down, showing the marks Bryre had left on her skin.
“Good, you’re awake. You had us worried.”
“Now, reporters are asking questions–you should answer honestly.” I grinned at her and winked.
“Don’t misunderstand! He forced me! If I didn’t give in, he said he’d kill me!”
“Skyler, sweetie, I’d never do this to you, you have to believe me!” she babbled.
Bryce froze, staring at her like he’d been slapped.
1… I was forced, really!” Vanessa stammered.
Vanessa, what the hell did you just say?”
Say it again–was it me forcing you, or you throwing yourself at me?”
She scrambled off him, ran behind me, and clutched at my shirt like I was her savior.
Skyler, you have to protect your aunt–we’re family!”
I burst out laughing. Family, huh?
Funny, she didn’t treat me like family when she was plotting insurance fraud and murder.
‘Auntie, you sure looked like you were enjoying yourself.”
And what about that baby you’re carrying–did Bryce ‘force‘ that on you too?”
Her whole body went stiff, stammering, “Wh–what baby?”
Skyler, you–you can’t just accuse me like that. Even if you hate me, don’t smear me.”
just smiled, pulled out the remote, and fired up the living room projector.
Oh really? Then explain this.”
In screen, the video played: Vanessa and Bryce in the hospital room, then later back home plotting murder and money.
The reporters gasped, voices rising, some outright shouting at Bryce for treating me like a servant.
Vanessa looked like she’d seen a ghost.
Neighbors spilled out onto the lawn to watch.
Online, the livestream chat was exploding–comments flying in, people cursing Bryce and Vanessa, demanding justice.
Congrats, Bryce. You finally went viral.
“You bitch, you bugged the house? Are you out of your damn mind?”
Bryce’s bloodshot eyes burned into me.
I didn’t even flinch.
“My house, my rules. Now tell me–why did you want me dead? Was it all for money?”
Bryce suddenly threw his head back and cackled.
“Why? Because you and your old man owe me! Why do you two get to live shiny and perfect?”
You don’t deserve it! Wait when the hell did you call the cops?”
Before he could finish, officers stormed in and cuffed him.
I smiled. I’d filed attempted murder charges the night of the fire.
The only delay was repairing the burned surveillance hard drive.
Those tapes, plus today’s footage, were more than enough to take him down for arson fraud, attempted murder, and God knows what else.
Reporters swarmed after the cops, leaving me alone with Vanessa.
She finally spoke, “When did you find out? Does your father know?”
“Does it matter? He loved you, and you betrayed him with my husband. You even helped plan the fire.”
After all, the whole arson scheme had been her idea.
So what? He had money and I never saw a dime.”
He married me but still carried a torch for your dead mom.”
‘He didn’t even want more kids. Why shouldn’t I look elsewhere? Anyway, you got proof?
Still–I should thank you.
If it weren’t for you, I’d never have gotten rid of that ugly bastard Bryce.
I’ll divorce your dad and walk away clean. As for Bryce, let the cops deal with him.”
She spat those words and bolted.
But my gut screamed something was off.
A greedy snake like Vanessa wouldn’t just walk away penniless.
And in my last life, she was the one who handed my dad the poisoned bowl that killed him.
This wasn’t over.
Later, the news cycle blew up with headlines like Stepmother and Son–in–law Caught Red–handed and Real–Life Family Betrayal.
Public outrage hit the roof.
Everyone wanted Vanessa punished too.
And they damn well should.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.