“Do you want me to buy you a new stove so you can actually cook?”

“I want you to leave,” I said.

The hallway went completely silent.

Sarah and Dan had followed us out of the kitchen and were standing near the archway.

“Annie, wait,” Dan said softly.

“No, Dan,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on his mother.

“She needs to go.”

“And she can take her catered food with her.”

Juliette’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, hard stare.

“This is my son’s house,” she said.

“He pays the mortgage.”

“With my help,” she added, lying smoothly once again.

“He wouldn’t even have this place if I hadn’t loaned him the down payment.”

“That was a gift, Mom,” Dan said, his voice barely a whisper.

“And you made us pay it back with interest.”

Juliette ignored him, keeping her eyes locked on mine.

“You’re trying to ruin this family,” she said.

“You’ve always been jealous of us.”

“Jealous of what?” I asked.

“Your misery?”

“Your lies?”

“I have nothing to be jealous of.”

“You’re a bitter, lonely woman who has to buy her friends.”