I exhaled deeply, tapping open the video Megan had forwarded.
Every evening before I returned home from work, a shadowy figure would slip out our front door. He'd pause provocatively in front of the doorbell camera, flaunting panties of various styles and colors like trophies.
Two days were too long. I wanted to expose them all immediately.
At the dinner checkout, the server informed me my card was bone-dry.
For years, the Potters had micromanaged my finances with an iron fist, claiming it prevented reckless investments. In truth, it was a measure against my rising above my station.
Martha doled out my allowance monthly, her mood dictating the amount.
Since the lock swap, my account had gathered dust.
The next morning, I set out early to collect my belongings.
Before I could even breach the gates, a group of gossipy women pointed their fingers at me.
"Isn't that the married-in son-in-law of the Potter family?"
"That's him, the spineless freeloader who snagged a wealthier woman and dumped his wife."
"Poor Martha, battling sickness from childbirth and now suffering this betrayal. What a tragedy!"
They pelted me with sunflower seed shells, their venomous remarks echoing down the street.
I wheeled around, ready to fire back, when a sugary voice cut through. "Honey!"
A Porsche pulled up, revealing Martha inside.
"I knew you'd swing by," she continued. "I bought you a new tie. Come home with me and try it on."
Expressionless, I climbed into the back seat and glanced at the tie.
The flashy label glared back at me. I grabbed it and flicked it out the window without a second thought.
Martha's lips parted, but she clamped them shut, swallowing her words.
"Good lord! That must've cost a pretty penny."
"And he just threw it away?"
The women outside scrambled like vultures to claim the discarded luxury.
"Drive," I said, gesturing toward the garage.
Martha simmered in silence but complied, trailing me up to the front door.
The lock clicked open, revealing Sean in the living room. He was gently swaying the baby's stroller.
Martha paled, stammering, "Dr. Lynch is here for my scheduled therapy session."
I brushed past their awkward tableau, heading straight to the bedroom to retrieve my mother's heirloom bracelet, which Martha no longer deserved.
Sean wheeled the stroller into my path, a grin playing at his lips. "I'm glad you found your way back. The baby needs her father. Come say hi."
He tugged at my arm toward the stroller. I shrugged him off, but he latched on again.
My patience snapped, and I shoved him aside. "Back off!"
Dashing into the room, I rifled through the nightstand drawer and snatched the bracelet.
Sean tailed me, swiping for the heirloom but grasping air.
"Hands off my family treasure!" I growled, pushing him back.
In a flash, Sean's pained yelps and the baby's terrified shrieks echoed through the room.
He lay sprawled on the floor beside the toppled stroller.
Martha burst in at the commotion, surveying the wreckage and roaring at me. "If my daughter so much as bruises from this, I'll make you pay dearly."
She scooped up the baby, inspecting every inch with frantic urgency.
"This is my fault," Sean piped up. "I figured the baby was pining for her dad, but he couldn't care less. He just shoved us aside."
While I was distracted, Martha yanked the jewelry box from my hand and smashed it to the ground.
"All this havoc over some worthless bauble?" she snarled. "You'd hurt your child for it?"
My mind reeled as I checked the bracelet. It was intact, thanks to the sturdy box.
Sean railed from behind me, "You're a monster! Your daughter hits the deck, and you blow her off to check some stupid bracelet? Is it even more precious than her life?"
Martha steadied the stroller, her face streaked with tears. "You'd better hope she's fine. Grab your trash and get out of my house! Don't ever come back!"
She glared at me and added, "Once we settle this in court, you'll walk away destitute. I will make sure your family is left in ruins. Out!"
She raged like a madwoman, hurling objects in a frenzy.
I cradled the box and escaped the suffocating place.
I was barely out of the complex when Megan called, urging me to check out the trending topics.
A digital tsunami of hatred hurtled my way, labeling me as a greedy scumbag, a leeching loser, and a patriarchal pig who valued sons over daughters.
Fabricated sins piled on, bolstered by doctored images.
"Remove anything about my mom and slap them with lawsuits," I said, ending the call.
Other than that, I let the storm fester.
After lunch, I teased an afternoon live stream, igniting further buzz.
Martha bombarded me with calls, but I didn't answer any.
Desperate, she planted herself downstairs at Megan's place, unfurling a banner and blaring a megaphone.
"Jerome, the web is tearing you to shreds as we speak," she shouted. "Streaming won't help. Apologize now, and I'll give you a second chance."
I observed the scene silently from the lofty vantage of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Sean wrested the megaphone, positioning himself as the voice of reason. "What are you waiting for? Martha is offering forgiveness. Streaming will only amplify the backlash. Own up, and we'll help your mom."
Under a parasol, Robert piped up, "Don't be impulsive, son. What kind of husband ends a marriage over a changed lock?"
Their pleas rang hollow, laced with veiled intimidation.
As the clock struck the hour, my stream flickered to life.
Predictably, the chat erupted with vitriol.
Martha launched her stream via the company channel, pinging for a split-screen showdown.
"Since you won't back down, don't expect mercy," she hissed.
Her feed looped damning evidence of my tabs at private lounges and raunchy message threads.
[Total scumbag. Filthy as hell!]
[Martha, you've suffered enough. Divorce his ass!]
[Lawyer here. This clown is getting stripped bare in court.]
"See? The internet gets to play judge." Martha lounged in a chair, fluttering her fan.
I nudged the AC and drawled, "891."
Martha stiffened, then fanned more furiously. "Spare me the mumbo-jumbo. You're no lawyer."
"Are you sure it's a clause?" Megan chuckled, ready to unveil the surprise.
