My Fiancé Left the Phone Line Open One Day Before Our Wedding, and I Heard Him Tell His Mother He Planned to Take My House, My Savings, and Then Get Rid of Me. So I Changed a Few Details About the Ceremony—and When the Final Wedding Gift Appeared on the Screen, Nathan Learned He Had Never Been the One Running the Con.

“Listen.”

At first he looked confused.

Then Nathan’s voice filled the kitchen.

Especially with those little freak kids of hers.

Ben’s expression changed.

I watched his jaw tighten.

Then came the part about Ben.

He’ll disappear once Sharon starts choosing me over him.

Ben’s eyes lifted toward mine.

I could not read them.

When Nathan said he planned to take my house and savings, Ben looked almost unsurprised.

That bothered me.

When the recording ended, I asked, “Why do you look like that?”

He rubbed both hands across his face.

“Mom.”

“What?”

“I need to tell you something.”

My pulse quickened.

“What?”

“I never liked him.”

I nearly laughed from exhaustion.

“That’s your revelation?”

“No.”

Ben stood.

“I mean I never trusted him.”

“You were always friendly.”

“For you.”

“Ben.”

“Mom, I’m serious.”

He walked toward the hallway, then stopped.

“Wait here.”

“Where are you going?”