Chapter 4

They gathered in the living room, a united front of entitlement.

"Sarah," Mark began, his tone serious, "Jessica is very upset. We think you should reconsider your stance on her college fund."

Brenda nodded. "She's worked so hard, Sarah. It's her dream."

A dream of parties and irresponsibility, I thought.

"Actually," I said, my voice steady, "I've made some decisions. Jessica, your expensive private college is no longer an option. If you want to go to college, it will be state school, and you'll get a part-time job."

Jessica gasped. "You can't do that! It's my money!"

"Is it, Jessica?" I asked softly. "Or is it money earned from my career, before any of you were a permanent fixture in my finances?"

This house, I remembered, was bought with my pre-accident earnings and a small inheritance from my grandmother. Not Mark's modest university lecturer salary.

"And speaking of this house," I continued, "I'm going to be selling it. So, Mark, Brenda, you and the children will need to find alternative accommodation."

Silence. Then, uproar.

"You're kicking us out?" Mark spluttered, his charismatic facade cracking. "This is our home!"

"It's my home, Mark. And I'm reclaiming it."

"You can't just do this!" he yelled. "We're married! What's yours is mine!"

"Are we, Mark?" I asked, my eyes locking with his. "Legally and properly married?"

He faltered for a second. In our original state, we were common-law, a setup he' d exploited. But then he' d produced that other certificate.

"Of course, we are!" he blustered, reaching for his wallet. He pulled out a folded paper. "Here! Our marriage certificate! From Nevada! See?"

He waved it triumphantly. A forgery. I knew it now. He thought it gave him more power, more control, especially after the accident when he managed my affairs. Or perhaps he' d just lied about a formal marriage all along, and this was his desperate attempt to prove it.

"That piece of paper," I said calmly, "is a fake, Mark. And you know it. We were common-law here. That Nevada certificate is worthless, probably illegal."

His face went pale, then red. "How dare you!"

Just then, my laptop, still on the coffee table from my earlier work, pinged. An email notification.

Oakhaven Urban Renewal Project - Interview Confirmation & Tentative Offer.

Mark' s eyes darted to the screen. He lunged for it, but I was faster.

He saw the subject line.

"Oakhaven? What the hell is this? You're leaving?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and fury.

The power dynamic had shifted. He knew I was serious.

Brenda looked horrified. The gravy train was derailing.

Jessica started to wail. "My college! My life! You're ruining everything!"

Kevin just stared, dumbfounded.

"Yes, Mark," I said, standing up. "I'm leaving. And I'm taking my life back."