Chapter 2
The next morning. Marcus left f wink
fod work
Vy wait up Binner with clients
Boor slammed
I sat on the couch and opened last night’s screenshots.
Groups Member R
Katy Mary
I didn’t look her up yet. First, I went through the clint history from 2019 om
Over three hundred screenshots.
I looked at every single one.
- Thankgiv
Patricia posted: “Family dinner at our place this year! Lily’s making her faghous mac and che
Marcus “Don’t let her stress about it.”
Vanessa “OMG YES I’ve been craving that all year!!”
That same Thanksgiving. Marcus told me: “Mom’s sick. We’re keeping it small this year, just go to your mom &
1 bought a fruit basket and went to check on Patricia.
She answered the door in full makeup, oven mitts on
“Oh sweetie! You didn’t have to come by! Just a little stomach bug, nothing serious.”
I actually felt relieved. Thought good, she’s recovering well.
Marcus came home past midnight that night.
Said he’d been “helping Mom with stuff around the house,”
Stole My Sanuk Suite Claiming You’re the Heiress? CUTE Own the Whole Building, Sweetheart!
Chapter 2
I scrolled to that day’s messages.
6 PM. Lily posted a photo.
Full Thanksgiving spread. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac and cheese piled high in the center.
Marcus. Patricia. Robert. Vanessa. Derek. Lily.
Everyone around one table.
Everyone grinning like a holiday card.
I zoomed in..
There was a dish I recognized-honey-glazed ham.
Marcus told me years ago he hated ham. Said it was too sweet, made him nauseous.
I’d never made ham. Not once in eight years.
In that photo? His fork was halfway through a thick slice of it.
I kept scrolling.
March. Emergency appendectomy.
Marcus drove me to the hospital, signed the forms, then said work was blowing up and he had to go.
I waited alone.
Got wheeled into surgery alone.
Woke
up
alone.
Nurse asked, “Where’s your husband?”
“He had an emergency.”
Marcus showed up that evening. Twenty-minute visit.
“Doctor says you’re good. Get some rest. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
I said okay.
15 46
Stole My $900k Suite Claiming You’re the Heiress? CUTE Owm the Whole Building Sweetheart!
9.5%
g
I screams ININ
“Come at any wew! 1 made in
Chapter 2
Food went cold. I reheated it.
Nine-thirty, he stumbled in smelling like bourbon.
“Client drinks ran late. I’m wiped. You eat without me?”
Went straight to shower.
I sat at that table by myself and forced down cold pot roast.
Scraped the rest into the trash.
No one remembered.
Marcus didn’t say a word. Patricia didn’t call. Vanessa didn’t text.
I checked the group.
5 PM that day. One message.
Vanessa: “Wait isn’t it sis-in-law’s-”
She typed “sis-in-law.” But not me.
4
”
”
”
“Isn’t Lily’s birthday today? Or is that next month?”
4
Lily: “Lol no not mine!”
Then Marcus sent one reply.
Just one.
“Today’s Mia’s birthday.”
Silence for a few seconds,
*
4
”
”
a
Then Patricia: “Oh. Well she can grab herself a cupcake or whatever.”
Marcus didn’t respond.
Didn’t say “I’m going home.”
Didn’t say “I’ll pick something up.”
Conversation died.
Chapter 2
Next message came forty minutes later-Vanessa sharing some TikTok.
My birthday got ten seconds of airtime in their family chat.
I sat on that couch until my phone hit 2%.
I plugged it in, kept scrolling.
Didn’t eat lunch. Didn’t eat dinner.
Not because I wasn’t hungry.
Because I forgot I was supposed to matter.
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