Chapter 8: The Lie Patricia Created
The video kept playing.
I wanted to turn it off.
I wanted to disappear.
But Michael didn’t move.
He watched every second.
And I watched him.
Not the screen.
Him.
Because I knew the moment he realized the truth, something between us would change.
On the video, Patricia sat beside my hospital bed.
She looked calm.
Almost gentle.
That was the worst part.
She knew how to appear kind when she wanted something.
“Sarah,” Patricia said in the recording, “I’m only asking because I care about my son.””
My younger self looked exhausted.
“Please stop.””
Patricia leaned closer.
“I need to know.””
“Know what?””
“That there isn’t something you’re hiding.””
My hands shook as I watched.
Because I remembered that moment.
I remembered feeling trapped.
“I’m not hiding anything.””
Patricia smiled.
“Then you won’t mind answering.””
The video ended.
Michael looked at me.
“What happened after that?””
I took a deep breath.
“She kept pressuring me.””
“What was she trying to find?””
I looked at him.
“Nothing.””
He frowned.
“Nothing?””
“She wanted me afraid.””
Michael was quiet.
Then he asked:
“Why did you say, ‘Please don’t tell him’?””
That was the part I knew he would ask.
I looked down.
“Because she made me believe you would leave.””
“Sarah.””
“She told me you had already been through enough pain after the miscarriage.””
Michael’s face changed.
“She said that?””
“She said you needed a wife who could give you a normal family.””
His jaw tightened.
“She said that to you after you gave birth to our son?””
I nodded.
“And then she asked me for a favor.””
“What favor?””
I hesitated.
“She wanted me to tell you I was uncertain about the baby.””
Michael froze.
“What?””
“She wanted me to create doubt.””
“Why?””
“Because she wanted you to depend on her.””
The realization hit him slowly.
Like a wave.
Michael sat down.
“My mother wanted me to doubt my own wife.””
“Yes.””
“And she used Noah.””
“Yes.””
He covered his face with his hands.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then Michael whispered:
“I should have seen it.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“I should have protected you.””
“You didn’t know.””
“But I trusted her.””
His voice cracked.
“And I questioned you.””
I didn’t answer.
Because that was the truth.
He had.
Not completely.
Not intentionally.
But enough.
My phone suddenly rang.
Both of us looked at it.
The number was unknown.
Michael reached for it.
I stopped him.
“What if it’s her?””
He looked at the screen.
Then answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a woman’s voice.
Not Patricia.
Someone else.
“Is this Michael?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Laura.””
Michael frowned.
“Who is this?””
The woman hesitated.
Then said:
“I used to work for your mother.””
My stomach tightened.
Michael stood.
“What does this have to do with my mother?””
Laura’s voice became quieter.
“She has been doing this for years.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Doing what?””
There was a pause.
Then Laura said:
“Creating problems in people’s marriages.””
Michael looked at me.
“What are you talking about?””
“I have proof.””
The room went silent.
“What proof?””
Laura took a breath.
“The reason Patricia targeted Sarah was not because of Noah.””
My heartbeat increased.
“Then why?””
Laura answered:
“Because Sarah was the first person who ever made her lose control.””
Michael frowned.
“How?””
Another pause.
Then Laura said:
May you like
“Because Sarah found out what Patricia had done to her first daughter-in-law.””
The call ended.
