Chapter 9 - THE FAMILY MEETING
The police found Mason at Betsy’s lake cabin.
He claimed he was hiding because he was scared Teresa would blame him.
Teresa claimed Mason had invented everything.
Betsy claimed she knew nothing.
It would have been funny if they hadn’t nearly destroyed my life.
Then the family started choosing sides.
Uncle Frank sent me a ten-paragraph message about loyalty.
My cousin Jenna called Amy a gold digger.
Another aunt wrote online that Teresa had “sacrificed everything for an ungrateful son.”
Amy read the post.
Then quietly put her phone down.
“Maybe we should leave Nashville.”
I hated that she even had to say it.
“This is our home.”
“I don’t mean the house.”
She looked at me.
“I mean all of this.”
I understood.
Every grocery store had someone we knew.
Every holiday came with history.
Every street contained family.
Sometimes roots become chains.
But before we could decide anything, Caleb asked to arrange a meeting.
Neutral location.
My attorney present.
No Teresa.
He said several relatives wanted the truth.
I almost refused.
Rachel surprised me.
“Go.”
“Why?”
“Because people who believe a lie can become witnesses for the liar.”
So we met in a church community room.
Twelve relatives came.
Betsy didn’t.
Teresa didn’t.
I stood in front of them with Amy beside me.
No speech.
No drama.
I simply played the audio.
Teresa calling Amy temporary.
Teresa discussing making Amy look unstable.
Teresa saying I would sign anything if I was exhausted enough.
Then Rachel displayed copies of the fraudulent property documents.
My uncle Frank went pale.
Jenna stopped looking at Amy.
One aunt started crying.
When it ended, nobody spoke.
Then Frank said, “Maybe Teresa was desperate.”
I stared at him.
“She tried to take my house.”
“She was in debt.”
“She attacked my wife.”
“She never hit her.”
Amy stood.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
“She did something better.”
Frank frowned.
“What?”
“She made sure nobody saw bruises.”
The room went silent.
Amy pulled up her sleeve.
Faint marks remained near her upper arm.
My heart stopped.
I had never seen them.
“She grabbed me,” Amy said.
“When I tried to leave the kitchen on Frederick’s birthday.”
I looked at her.
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I was ashamed.”
I crossed the room.
“Amy…”
She looked at the family.
“She told me if I embarrassed her, Connor would choose her. She said she had proof I was a bad mother. She said she could take my baby.”
Nobody defended Teresa after that.
Not immediately.
Then the door opened.
Betsy walked in.
She looked like she hadn’t slept.
“I need to talk.”
Rachel stood.
“About what?”
Betsy held up her phone.
“About Teresa.”
My aunt looked directly at me.
“She’s planning to leave.”
“Leave where?”
“I don’t know.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why are you telling me?”
Because for the first time in my life, Betsy looked genuinely afraid.
“Because she has Frederick’s birth certificate.”
Amy went white.
May you like
Betsy continued.
“And she told me she still has one document that can ruin both of you.”
