As soon as we step through the door of the lake house, I feel it, the shift in the atmosphere. The lake house has always been a place of beauty and serenity, but today it feels heavy, almost suffocating. Helen’s pristine appearance and polite smile do nothing to hide the tension lurking beneath the surface. She’s watching me closely, as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
I brace myself, knowing all too well that this weekend will be a test. Helen has never made things easy for me, and with the baby on the way, I can only imagine what she has in store.
“Well, well,” Helen starts, her voice laced with a familiar condescension, “I must admit, Tess, I never imagined you would be one to get pregnant.” She glances at my belly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Especially consider
