I pressed Play on my phone.
The sharp, crystal-clear audio filled the dining room.
“She’s driving me insane. Texting pictures of the baby, asking when I’ll be home… I just want her to leave me alone.”
My mother-in-law’s smile vanished instantly. My father set his napkin down, his brow furrowing into a dangerous scowl.
The recording continued, echoing off the dining room walls:
“Of course I hate her. I barely touch her anymore. Just wait. I’ll divorce her, and then I’ll marry you.”
Then came the wet, distinct sound of a kiss, followed by the giggling voice of his twenty-four-year-old junior associate, Chloe.
Julian went paler than the fine china plates on the table. He scrambled to his feet, knocking his chair back with a loud clatter against the hardwood floor. “Nora! Shut that off! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
My father stood up next, his chair scraping back with violent force. “Julian… what the hell was that?”
