She was telling the girls not to get too comfortable because they might not stay with me forever. She said the responsibility was overwhelming and that she didn’t want her future tied to children who weren’t hers. Later, I listened as she admitted on the phone that she wanted the house and the stability—but not the actual caregiving. Realizing her kindness had been an act broke something in me. I knew I couldn’t let someone with those intentions stay in our lives.
I arranged what Jenna thought would be our wedding celebration and invited everyone. Standing beside my sisters, I revealed the truth using audio from an old home camera my mom had installed. The room fell silent as her own words echoed through the speakers, exposing how she really felt about Lily, Maya, and our future. She tried to explain, but trust was already gone. My priority became protecting the girls.
