Chapter 3
Helen's POV
Walking out of the law firm, I checked the email from my attorney. One hundred fifty million dollars, now safely locked away in an ironclad trust fund.
David wouldn't get a single penny. Not even if he begged on his knees.
As for his money? I didn't want a cent of it. I just wanted out. Clean and final.
Back home, I retreated to the guest room. Down the hall came the crashes of David tearing apart his closet looking for cufflinks. From the bathroom, Luke was retching—apparently expired milk was today's breakfast choice.
In the old days, I would have rushed to help them both. Now I slipped on noise-canceling headphones and played some smooth jazz, completely blocking out their chaos.
Saturday evening, David came home early for once. Even better—he wasn't alone.
He walked through the front door carrying a small gift bag, followed by a young woman.
I knew who she was. Lily. David's "brilliant research assistant," and the mysterious "L" from those Hawaii vacation texts.
"Helen, I brought you something." David approached the couch where I sat reading a magazine.
Inside the gift bag was a cheap drugstore hand cream.
"I noticed your hands looked a bit dry last week," he radiated fake concern. "Lily suggested this treatment."
"How thoughtful," I said flatly, not touching the bag.
Lily stepped forward with a practiced sweet smile. "Mrs. Peterson, it's such an honor to finally meet you! David talks about you constantly—how loyal and capable you are, dedicating your entire life to this beautiful home."
Her eyes greedily surveyed the living room. The antique side tables, Persian rugs, the oil paintings I'd collected over the years. She was already redecorating in her mind.
Enjoy it while you can, I thought. It'll all be yours soon enough.
David seemed irritated by my lack of enthusiasm. "Helen, Lily went out of her way to help me choose this gift. You should at least show some appreciation."
I turned a page without looking up. "Oh. Thanks."
"You—" David gritted his teeth.
"Mom!" Luke jogged in from the backyard, sweaty from practice. His whole face lit up when he saw Lily. "You came! Dad said you might stop by."
"Luke! Look how tall you've gotten!" Lily pulled an elegant gift box from her designer bag. "I brought you that collectible you wanted."
Luke excitedly unwrapped it. "The limited edition Jordan figurine! This must have cost a fortune!"
"Nothing's too good for my favorite student," Lily beamed.
Luke turned to me. "Mom, since Lily's here, why don't you make that barbecue dinner? Fire up the grill by the pool?"
David's face instantly brightened. "Great idea. Helen, since Lily helped pick out your gift, she should stay for dinner. Make your signature herb-crusted chicken. Remember, Lily's allergic to shellfish."
He spoke as if our week-long cold war had never happened.
I turned another page. "Sorry, I'm exhausted. Not in the mood to cook."
The temperature in the room plummeted.
"Helen, we have a guest," David said through gritted teeth.
"Then you cook for your guest."
Luke used his practiced wheedling tone. "Come on, Mom. Don't be difficult about this. Lily hasn't even seen our pool setup."
"I said no."
"Helen!" David's voice exploded. "You're being incredibly rude!"
"Rude to whom? Your special friend?" I looked directly at Lily. "We all know why you're really here."
Dead silence. Lily's smile froze.
David's face turned purple. "How dare you—"
"How dare I what? State the facts?" I closed my magazine. "Or am I just tired of pretending?"
"Mom, what the hell are you talking about!" Luke frowned. "Lily's just Dad's colleague—"
Just then, Lily stepped forward to interrupt. "It's okay, it's okay. Mrs. Peterson looks tired. She should rest. I'd be happy to cook for everyone!"
David's face softened instantly. "Lily, you don't have to—"
"I insist!" She smiled and gripped his arm, as if I didn't exist. "I make amazing barbecue—my own secret recipe."
Luke's eyes lit up. "That would be awesome, Lily!"
Just like that, I was replaced.
Twenty minutes later, they were all by the pool. I watched from the kitchen window as Lily played the perfect hostess, flipping burgers while David and Luke hung on her every word.
"This is incredible, Lily!" Luke's voice carried through the glass. "Way better than Mom's dry burgers."
"You're such a natural," David said fondly. "Helen never seasons the meat properly."
Lily glowed under their praise, even though I could see she'd burned half the food.
I couldn't watch anymore. I went upstairs to pack.
As I passed the patio door, Lily called out sweetly, "Mrs. Peterson! Could you bring us some napkins? These boys are such messy eaters!"
I ignored her and kept walking.
"Mom!" Luke's voice was sharp. "Lily asked you for something!"
"Get them yourself. You have legs."
David and Luke exchanged frustrated looks, then stomped off to the garage for more charcoal, muttering about my "embarrassing behavior."
That left me alone with Lily.
After they left, her mask completely slipped.
"You know, Mrs. Peterson, I really don't understand what David still sees in you." She crossed her arms. "You're bitter, you're old, and frankly, you're holding everyone back."
I turned to face her. "Is that so?"
"David deserves someone who appreciates him. Someone who can keep up with his intellectual needs." She stepped closer, malice glittering in her eyes. "Someone who can still turn heads at faculty dinners."
"And that someone is you?"
"Obviously." She smirked. "Face reality—your time is over. Twenty-five years of it. Now it's someone else's turn."
I laughed. Actually laughed. "You're absolutely right, Lily. It is someone else's turn."
Her confident expression flickered. Something in my tone unsettled her.
I started to walk away, then paused. "Oh, and Lily? When you redecorate this place, you might want to start with the pool. It's seen better days."
Before she could respond, she let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Help! She's attacking me!"
I turned as David and Luke came running at full speed.
"Get away from her!" Luke roared, charging straight at me.
He slammed into me like a linebacker, sending me stumbling backward. I reached out to steady myself and landed right on the scattered hot coals from the overturned grill.
Pain exploded up my arm. I screamed.
"What happened?" David rushed to Lily's side as she clutched her arm, tears streaming.
"Your wife—she shoved me into the grill!" Lily sobbed dramatically. "She just snapped! Started screaming that I was stealing her family!"
"Mom, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Luke pointed at me angrily.
"I didn't touch her—" I gasped, cradling my burned hand.
"Shut up!" David cradled Lily's slightly burned palm, his face turning steely.
"You're fucking crazy!" His hand flew toward my face.
The slap sent me reeling backward. Right toward the pool.
I hit the water hard. The impact knocked the air from my lungs. Chlorine burned my throat as I sank, my burned hand useless, head spinning from the slap.
Water pressed down on me like a weight.
No, I can't die. I have one hundred fifty million dollars waiting for me.
Survival instinct kicked in. I clawed my way up with one good hand, gasping and choking as I broke the surface.
By the time I hauled myself out, they were gone. Probably rushing to the emergency room.
I sat by the pool's edge, water dripping from my clothes, staring at my blistered palm.
Twenty-five years. Twenty-five years of sacrifice and dedication. What had it gotten me in the end?
They chose her over me. In that critical moment, they abandoned me without hesitation.
I was done. Completely, utterly done.
I walked upstairs, threw my essentials into a suitcase, and walked out the front door without looking back.
