Straightening Affairs - 22. Chapter 22

The Dinner Setup

The big day arrived. Sarah’s parents were the first to arrive, immediately heading into the kitchen to help Sarah. True to form, Sarah had everything under control. Her sister arrived a few minutes later, coming straight from work.

“Oh, you didn’t have to come in here!” Sarah said with a smile as her parents started tidying.

“Nonsense,” her mom replied. “This is what we do. You’ve done all the hard work.”

Michael joined them shortly after, stepping in from his home office. “Sarah did an amazing job with dinner!” he announced, his voice warm but strained.

Sarah waved him off. “Oh, Michael, you helped too. Don’t be so modest.”

Michael chuckled. “What did I do? All I did was keep the twins occupied. You did the heavy lifting.”

Privately, Michael felt nauseated by the need to keep up appearances. Why had he agreed to this? He could have come up with an excuse, but no—blowing it off might have raised suspicions. He plastered on a smile, reminding himself to stay in control.

Preparing for Dinner

With Sarah’s parents playing with the twins, Michael and Sarah focused on setting the table. They brought out their finest dishes, silverware, and glassware. Michael carefully placed the expensive wines he had selected at the center of the table, noting how perfectly everything was coming together.

“This looks amazing,” Sarah said, standing back to admire the dining room.

Michael smiled faintly, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Upstairs Moments

Sarah stepped into the family room to tell her mom they were going upstairs to change. Her parents nodded, distracted by the twins’ antics.

Michael followed Sarah upstairs. As they reached the top, he playfully slapped her lightly. “Michael!” Sarah said, laughing as she glanced over her shoulder. “My parents are downstairs!”

Michael grinned. “Don’t be so shy. I’m sure they—”

“Michael, stop it!” she interrupted, though her tone was playful.

Her face lit up with the biggest smile. This was everything Sarah had ever wanted—a happy, stable family life after years of struggle. Michael had worked so hard, going to school, working part-time, and managing to make ends meet. He had become the man she always believed he could be.

For Sarah, the moment felt perfect. For Michael, it felt like a fragile house of cards, one wrong move away from collapse.

Finally, Nate and Ryan arrived. The trap was set, and soon afterward, Michael’s parents would show up.

Nate let himself into the house, Ryan trailing behind. His nerves were frayed, but he wasn’t going to chicken out now. He had to see this through.

“Sis! We’re here! Where’s the food? We’re starving!” Nate called out, his voice light, masking the tension underneath.

Michael, sitting in the family room, perked up at the sound of Nate’s voice. Who else is here? He wondered.

Jennifer stood and headed toward the front entrance.

“Well, look who it is! My baby brothers!” Jennifer greeted, her voice warm and playful. “Hi Ryan, haven’t seen you in a while. How are you keeping? Has Nate been neglecting you?”

“Hi Jenn. Not at all—he’s the perfect boyfriend. If anything, I’m the one at fault,” Ryan replied with a small, nervous smile.

“Nonsense! You’re such a sweetheart!” Jennifer said, brushing off his comment. “Come on, let’s go. We’re in the family room with the twins. Sarah has something to share with us later—we’re all in suspense. I think she’s pregnant.”

Nate shot Ryan a look as they walked in. Could Sarah be pregnant? For a brief moment, Nate considered abandoning the plan. Was this really the right time? But no—he had to go through with it. Sarah needed to see the truth, no matter how much it hurt.

“Guys, look who showed up! Just in time for dinner—and they’ll be doing the cleaning!” Jennifer called out cheerfully as they entered the room.

“You’re on, Jenn!” Nate replied with a smirk, but Ryan stayed quiet, his stomach churning. This—this right here—was what family was about, and he had betrayed them all.

Sarah and Michael had come downstairs, their hands brushing against each other as they descended. They looked so beautiful together—radiating the effortless charm of a couple deeply in love. For a fleeting moment, Nate felt a pang of guilt, questioning if he should go through with the plan.

How could Michael throw this all away? Nate thought to himself. The family they had built, the life they shared—it should have been everything Michael ever wanted. But now, Nate could only see the cracks beneath the perfect facade, and he knew those cracks would shatter everything once the truth came out.

When MIchael stepped into the family room, his heart sank. Ryan was sitting there, holding Samantha. As soon as their eyes met, Michael froze.

What is he doing here? Michael’s thoughts raced as his gaze locked on Ryan. That little shit.

When Sarah saw Nate and Ryan, her smile widened and she gave Nate and Ryan hugs. “I’m so glad you came, Ryan! We’ve missed you. The twins love spending time with you and Nate. You haven’t been coming around?”

“Hey, Sarah… yeah, sorry. Just been busy,” Ryan mumbled.

“Well, OK—this time. No more excuses! I like having my baby brothers around,” she said with a wink.

Every word from Sarah, every smile from her family, felt like a knife twisting in Ryan’s gut. How could he have been so cruel? How could he have betrayed them like this? And Michael… Michael’s glare felt like daggers, sharp and unrelenting.

After some light chatter, Sarah and Jennifer got up to bring out the rest of the food. Once the table was set, they called everyone over.

“Let’s go, everyone! Dinner is ready!” Sarah announced, her voice cheerful as ever.

As Sarah’s parents carried Shawn and Samantha into the kitchen, Michael followed behind, walking close to Nate and Ryan. Ryan could feel Michael’s piercing gaze on his back, even when he wasn’t looking. The tension was suffocating.

The stage was set. The players were here. The evening had only just begun.

The clatter of cutlery against plates filled the room as everyone began to settle into their seats. Sarah’s parents helped cut up food for Shawn and Samantha, who giggled as they tried to scoop mashed potatoes onto their tiny forks. Michael poured wine into glasses, his movements precise and deliberate, but his eyes remained fixed on Ryan, who avoided his gaze.

The soft hum of conversation mingled with the occasional scrape of a chair or the cheerful clink of glasses. Ryan focused on his plate, trying to ignore the tension that seemed to buzz just beneath the surface of the otherwise warm family gathering. Sarah smiled, her hand resting lightly on Michael’s arm as she chatted with Jennifer, the warmth of her voice a contrast to the storm brewing within Ryan.

The mood shifted abruptly as the doorbell rang, its chime cutting through the tranquil atmosphere like a sharp knife.

“Who could that be?” Sarah asked, looking at Nate.

The doorbell rang, interrupting the quiet hum of conversation at the table. Sarah looked up, puzzled. “We’re all here, aren’t we?”

Nate glanced at Ryan briefly, their shared look unnoticed by everyone else. Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I’ll get it,” he said quickly, standing before anyone else could move.

Michael frowned. “Who else is coming?”

Ryan ignored the question, heading for the door. He opened it, and there stood Helen and Fred Evans. “Ryan? What are you doing here?” Helen asked, her voice sharp. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing—just an early Christmas dinner,” Ryan replied smoothly, a small smirk playing on his lips.

“You better not be up to something, you little shit,” Helen muttered under her breath.

“Nope,” Ryan replied, his smile widening.

As the Evanses entered, they scanned the house with barely concealed disdain. Their eyes lingered on the family photos adorning the walls and the tasteful decor. Jealousy simmered just beneath their polite facades. To them, this wasn’t Sarah’s success—it was Michael’s hard work, and she was taking credit for everything.

“These are for the twins, Ryan—make sure they get them,” Helen said, handing him two neatly wrapped packages.

“Of course,” Ryan said, taking the gifts and hanging their coats with care. His thoughts, however, were cold and resolute: You’re going to get everything you deserve tonight.

In the dining room, Sarah looked toward the entryway, her brow furrowing. “Who was it?”

Before Ryan could answer, Helen and Fred entered, their presence casting a heavy shadow over the room. Michael stiffened, his jaw tightening. Sarah’s face paled, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

“Michael’s parents,” Ryan said, his voice carefully neutral as he returned to his seat.

“Helen , Fred …” Sarah stammered, rising slowly. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Oh, we wanted to surprise you,” Helen said, her tone light but her smile anything but warm. “We’ve heard so much about these wonderful family dinners you host and we’ve lost so much time - just look at the twins! I hope it's not too much of an inconvenience?”

The unspoken question hung in the air: who had invited them? Sarah? Michael? Perhaps Nate? No one dared to ask, choosing instead to silently accept their presence. Whatever the reason, they were here now, and everyone seemed to agree—better to make the most of it.

“No, not at all,” Sarah replied warmly. “I’m glad you came. Actually, I have an announcement to make after dinner.” Her voice carried a hint of excitement, leaving everyone curious.

Sarah shot a questioning look at Nate, her confusion clear. Nate met her gaze evenly and offered a small shrug, his expression calm and composed. “It will be good for everyone to sit down together,” he said casually, his tone steady, as though nothing about the situation was out of the ordinary.

Michael’s expression, however, was anything but composed. His shoulders were rigid, his jaw tight as his eyes darted between his parents and Sarah.

The room fell silent. Sarah looked at Nate, her expression unreadable, while Michael’s face turned pale. Nate glanced at him, wondering what was running through his mind.

Sarah’s mom interjected warmly, breaking the awkward silence. “We’ll have plenty, Sarah. I’m glad Michael’s parents are here.”

In her mind, she hadn’t forgotten the torment Michael’s parents had put her through. While it was true they’d had a good conversation the last time they met, she wasn’t ready to have them over. But this was her house. She wouldn’t let anyone push her around. Right?

“It wouldn’t be a family dinner without you. Right, Michael?” Sarah said warmly, turning to her husband.

“Huh? Yeah, right—of course. Thanks for coming, this means a lot,” Michael said, though his voice was flat. His eyes darted to Ryan, suspicion darkening his expression.

“Well, we had to invite ourselves, it’s not something we usually do,” Helen said pointedly, “but that’s okay. I can imagine how busy home life must be with twins running around the house.”

“Oh, they have a nanny to help out,” Jennifer chimed in. “She couldn’t make it tonight, but she’s amazing, and the kids adore her.”

The tension in the room thickened. Fred and Helen exchanged a glance, their disdain barely masked. A nanny? In their eyes, Sarah clearly wasn’t cut out for motherhood. Having children didn’t make her a mom.

With the greetings over, everyone sat down to eat. Sarah’s parents tried to keep the conversation light, but Margaret couldn’t resist taking a jab at Sarah.

“Well, I suppose you’ve done your best with Michael, considering where you came from,” Helen said with a tight smile.

The room tensed. Sarah’s parents, old-fashioned but protective, tried to defend her without escalating the situation. Still, they couldn’t hide their disappointment that Michael remained silent, failing to stand up for Sarah.

Ryan exchanged a glance with Nate. It was time.

“Funny you should say that,” Ryan said casually, his voice cutting through the tension. “It’s amazing how far someone can go when they’re not being sabotaged at every turn. Sarah, this is for you. I’m sorry.”

Sarah turned to him, puzzled. “Ryan? What do you have to be sorry for?”

The room fell silent. Helen's eyes narrowed. “What exactly are you implying?”

Ryan’s voice was steady but firm. “I think you know. Sarah has been nothing but supportive of Michael, despite all the ways you’ve tried to tear her down. She’s been there for all of us.”

“Ryan, what are you doing?” Nate asked, his voice filled with confusion and alarm. This wasn’t part of the plan.

Michael sat frozen, his gaze locked on Ryan. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He just watched.

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago,” Ryan said, pulling his phone from his pocket. He looked at Michael. “You’ll want to stay for this.”

Ryan pressed play.

The recording began. Margaret’s voice filled the room, followed by Fred 's chilling admission of their manipulations. The room seemed to shrink as the weight of the truth pressed down on everyone.

Michael’s face went blank. Sarah’s parents looked horrified. Jennifer sat motionless, her eyes wide. Only the twins, blissfully unaware, continued to eat.

As the recording played, the room grew colder with each passing word. The true nature of Fred and Helen Evans came to light—a ruthless determination to manipulate Michael’s life for their own desires. Their disdain for Sarah and her children was unmistakable, each syllable laced with venom.

When Fred 's voice rang out, dismissing Sarah and cruelly referencing her children, a collective gasp echoed around the room. Jennifer’s hand flew to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Sarah’s parents exchanged horrified glances, their faces pale with disbelief. Even Michael, who had been stoically listening, flinched at his father’s words, the realization of how far his parents had gone hitting him like a blow.

The recording continued, each revelation more damning than the last, stripping away any illusion of innocence. By the time it ended, the silence was deafening, heavy with the weight of betrayal and anger.

Nate and Ryan turned their gaze to Fred and Helen, they were struck by the unsettling stillness of their expressions. Their faces were like stone, unmoved by the damning words spilling from the recording. Not a flicker of remorse, not a shadow of shame crossed their features. If anything, there was an air of satisfaction in their demeanor, as if they reveled in the chaos unfolding around them.

Did they turn the tables on everyone?

Helen sat with her chin slightly raised, a faint, smug smile curling at the corner of her lips. Fred leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes cold and calculating. It was as if the recording was a victory lap, a testament to their control, rather than an indictment of their cruelty.

Nate clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath, his voice taut with restrained anger. Ryan shifted uneasily beside him, the weight of his own guilt amplified by the audacity of the Evanses' lack of remorse.

“Enough!” Michael shouted, standing abruptly. “This is all a lie. They’re just jealous of what we have.”

Ryan stood firm, his voice steady. “Sit down, Michael.”

Michael hesitated, but the command in Ryan’s voice was undeniable. He sank back into his chair, his face pale.

“There’s more,” Ryan said, his voice heavy with regret.

He confessed everything—the affair, the deceit, the threats. When he finally sat down, his head hung low, the weight of his actions crushing him. He had lost everything: Sarah, Nate, Jennifer, and the family who had treated him like one of their own.

The room was silent, save for the quiet sounds of the twins eating. Then, Helen's carefully constructed mask slipped. Her voice rose as she lashed out, admitting to everything under the guise of “protecting” Michael.

But the final blow came when Fred , quiet until now, interjected.

“Enough, Helen,” Mr. Evans said sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos. The room fell silent. He leaned back in his chair, his expression calm yet chillingly cold. “You’ve made a mess of everything, haven’t you? Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Margaret’s head snapped toward him, her mouth agape in shock. “What are you talking about? You’ve been by my side through all of this! Don’t you dare put this on me.”

“You heard it all, didn’t you?” she continued, desperation lacing her voice as she turned to the others. “It was Fred ! He forced me into this. I told him to stop, to leave Michael and Sarah alone, but he wouldn’t listen. He never listens. This was all his doing!”

Mr. Evans shook his head slowly, bitterness etched into every line of his face. “Me? Are you insane? You forced me into this. I’ve been cleaning up after your schemes for years. But this? This is too far. I told you, leave them be. They love each other—even if Michael is gay.”

“Why are you lying, Fred ?!” Helen screeched, her voice rising to a fever pitch. “I would never hurt Michael or Sarah. You told me what to do, and I trusted you! Oh, Michael, my poor baby—see? See what your father is really like?” Her voice cracked as she turned to her son, tears streaming down her face.

The room erupted in chaos as the two turned on each other. Their accusations flew back and forth, each blaming the other while denying their own culpability. The veneer of their perfect parental facade shattered as they laid bare the ugliness of their manipulations.

Michael’s face went pale. This was not how he imagined it. He had figured his parents would bring each other down, leaving him to emerge as the victim alongside Sarah. But his father’s words had changed everything. Fred's 's admission confirmed what Ryan’s recording had already laid bare. Michael knew there was no hiding now.

Meanwhile, Sarah sat frozen, her face blank and drained of color. Her hands trembled as she clutched the table’s edge. She stared straight ahead, not even registering the commotion around her. Her parents tried to soothe the now sobbing twins, but their cries echoed hollowly in her ears.

Then Fred’s said it: “If Ryan had just done what he was supposed to and kept his mouth shut, none of this would’ve happened.”

Sarah’s gaze snapped toward him, her hollow expression replaced with raw disbelief. It was as if she was seeing her in-laws for the first time. The perfect family she had envisioned crumbled before her eyes, seam by seam, exposing the lies and rot beneath.

Nate stood abruptly, his jaw clenched as his fists curled at his sides. “Sarah, I’m sorry you had to hear it like this,” he said, his voice tight but steady. “But what he’s saying is true. Michael is gay. He’s been messing around with men for years.”

Sarah’s breath hitched. The words echoed in her head, each one tearing at the fragile threads holding her together. Her hand instinctively went to her belly, where she was four months pregnant with their third child. She wasn’t disgusted with the baby—no, she could never feel that. But the weight of the lies, the betrayal, the false image of the life she thought they had… it all bore down on her like a crushing wave.

Michael tried to speak, but the words died in his throat. He looked to Ryan, desperate for some kind of ally, but Ryan wouldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, Ryan’s gaze was locked on Sarah.

“Sarah,” Ryan began, his voice low and heavy with guilt. “Nate is right. I’m sorry. This is my fault. I’ve been sleeping with Michael. For years.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Sarah’s eyes widened, but she didn’t react. She couldn’t. Her mind refused to process it. Every glance, every comment, every unexplained absence now took on a sinister clarity.

Her parents stopped trying to calm the twins, their expressions frozen in shared disbelief. Jennifer, who had always believed in Michael and Sarah’s bond, looked away, her hand covering her mouth.

Michael finally broke the silence, his voice weak and trembling. “Sarah… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Sarah stood slowly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. Her voice, when it came, was low and cold. “You didn’t mean for it to happen? That’s your excuse?” She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time since the revelations began. “Michael, you didn’t just destroy our life, our relationship. You destroyed me.”

Ryan’s confession landed like a bomb in the room, the shockwaves rippling through every face. Sarah’s family, who had always treated him like one of their own, sat frozen, their disbelief hanging in the air. Sarah stared at Ryan, her face etched with a mixture of betrayal and pain.

“Michael and I…” Ryan hesitated, his voice trembling. “We would meet around town. When you went out, he would invite me over. We first went together to New York. Since then, he has found ways to take me along on his trips. Sarah, you’re like a sister to me. I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Michael’s jaw tightened, his anger simmering just below the surface. But what could he say? He was cornered, his secrets laid bare. The room was waiting for his response, but all he could manage was silence.

Ryan continued, “I know I’ve hurt you, Sarah. All of you. And I deserve whatever comes my way. But you need to know the truth.”

The silence was unbearable. Then Michael stood, his face twisted in fury. His voice, low and venomous, cut through the tension like a blade. “You’ve ruined everything. You… I should have dropped you in the water that night. I regret that decision every damn day.”

The room collectively froze. Michael’s words sliced through the air, sharp and brutal. Sarah’s mother instinctively pulled the crying twins closer, shielding them from the storm brewing in the room.

“Michael…” Sarah’s father stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief. “What the hell are you saying? You wouldn’t hurt anyone. You’re not capable of… of that.”

But Michael wasn’t listening. His rage boiled over as he lunged toward Ryan, his movements wild and uncalculated. His fists clenched, his breathing ragged.

Nate surged forward without hesitation. His fist connected with Michael’s jaw in a single, powerful motion. The crack of impact echoed in the room, silencing everything except the muffled cries of the twins. Michael staggered back, clutching his face, his fury now mixed with humiliation.

“Enough!” Nate barked, his voice booming. “You don’t get to play the victim here, Michael. Don’t you dare lay a finger on him.”

Ryan flinched at Nate’s words, a wave of gratitude and guilt washing over him. Despite everything, Nate was standing up for him.

Sarah sat frozen, her hand trembling as it rested protectively on her belly. Her face was pale, her wide eyes unfocused, as though the weight of the revelations had pinned her in place. The muffled cries of her children barely registered, blending into the chaos in her mind.

“Michael…” she whispered, her voice trembling and detached. “Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you… acting like this?” Her words were fractured, her tone hollow.

Her hand absently moved over her stomach, a futile attempt to find grounding. “This isn’t real,” she murmured, shaking her head slowly. “This isn’t us. This isn’t who we are.”

But beneath her confusion, a sharper voice rang in her memory—Michael’s mother’s cruel, biting tone: You’ll never be good enough for him. He’ll come to his senses one day, you’ll see. You’re just a distraction.

The memories of veiled insults, passive-aggressive smiles, and cold glances overwhelmed her. She had endured so much for the sake of their family, but now, every piece of her world was crumbling.

Across the room, Mrs. Evans watched with a chilling smile curling at her lips. Though her schemes were now exposed, she didn’t care. She had what she wanted—Sarah breaking, unraveling before her very eyes.

Although Ryan had recorded their confession, even now she had found a way to use that to her advantage.

Michael’s mother folded her hands neatly in her lap, her composure unnerving amidst the chaos. Her eyes sparkled with quiet triumph as Sarah’s whispered denials filled the room. This was exactly what she had envisioned. Once Sarah was broken beyond repair, Michael would return to her, under her influence once again.

“Sarah—you have to believe me,” Michael said suddenly, his voice cracking with desperation. He took a step toward her, his trembling hands outstretched. “This… this is all a setup. They’re trying to tear us apart, to keep me from you, from Shawn and Samantha, from our unborn child.”

His gaze flickered to her belly, and for a moment, genuine fear crossed his face. “Sarah, I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you, not you, not the kids. You know that. You have to know that.”

But his words seemed to fall into a void. Sarah’s eyes remained glassy, her breathing shallow and erratic. She barely seemed to register his presence.

Michael’s voice grew more frantic as the silence stretched on. “Sarah, please! You’re my everything. I’d die before I let anyone come between us. You can’t let them win. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

Sarah blinked slowly, her focus finally shifting to Michael. Her voice, low and trembling, cut through his pleas. “After everything… we’ve been through?” She let out a bitter laugh, hollow and cold. “Michael, it wasn’t us going through anything. It was me. While you lied, cheated, and dragged our family through hell, I was the one holding it all together.”

Michael’s hands dropped to his sides, his face stricken. For the first time, he had no words.

Sarah turned her gaze to Mrs. Evans, who still sat calmly, her lips curved in a faint smile. “And you,” Sarah said, her voice sharper now, cutting through the room like glass. “You’ve been trying to destroy us from the beginning. But you’re wrong about one thing.” Her hand moved protectively over her stomach. “I’m not weak. And you’ll never break me.”

Sarah turned to Michael, her movements deliberate and slow, as though she were underwater. Her hollow gaze landed on him, but it felt as if she were staring through him, past him, to some distant, unreachable place. Her face, drained of all color, was a blank canvas—a void where emotion used to live.

The chaos of the room faded into the background—the muffled cries of their children, the sharp accusations flying from every direction—all of it seemed far away, as if she were locked behind an impenetrable barrier. Her lips parted slightly, as though to speak, but the words refused to come.

It all made sense now. Janelle’s cryptic comments, the unexpected call from the credit card company, the late-night excuses about "work emergencies," the frequent and multiplying business trips—it was all there, puzzle pieces scattered before her, finally clicking into place.

Michael’s secret life, hidden for years in the shadows, stood exposed. He had made a mockery of her trust, their relationship, their children, and the family she had fought so hard to build. Every whispered reassurance, every tender moment, every vow—it had all been a lie.

The weight of the revelation pressed down on Sarah, threatening to suffocate her. How long had this been happening? How many lies had she swallowed to keep their life together? The storm of betrayal, anger, and grief raged within her, threatening to tear her apart.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady herself. The memories of their life together played cruelly in her mind, each one now tarnished. The man she thought she knew had turned their life into a farce. She wasn’t just mourning his betrayal; she was mourning the life she thought they had.

Finally, she spoke, her voice flat and monotone, cutting through the tension like a blade. “I don’t know who you are.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding. Michael flinched as though struck, but he didn’t respond.

Ryan broke the silence, his voice steady but sorrowful. “This is who he is, Sarah. No more lies. No more pretending.”

Michael’s jaw tightened, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You don’t understand,” he rasped, his voice trembling. “None of you understand.”

Nate stepped forward, his tone firm but calm. “Then help us understand. Because right now, nobody knows who you are anymore.”

Michael’s eyes darted around the room, desperate for an escape. Finally, his anger erupted. “This isn’t my fault!” he snapped, his voice cracking. “None of it! Ryan came on to me. He forced himself into my life!”

The room gasped in unison. Sarah’s mother clutched her chest, while her father’s face twisted in disbelief. Sarah remained still, her blank stare unwavering. The twins’ sobs had softened to sniffles, their innocence a stark contrast to the storm of chaos.

“Michael,” Nate said, his voice sharp and unyielding, “Stop. Just admit it. Admit what you’ve done.”

Michael shook his head, his hands trembling. “You don’t get it!” he cried, his voice breaking. “I didn’t want this—I didn’t ask for any of it! I tried to keep things together. I tried!”

Ryan’s voice, though soft, carried a firm resolve. “No, Michael. You didn’t try. You lied. You hurt Sarah. And you ruined everything.”

The weight of Ryan’s words crushed Michael’s final defenses. His shoulders slumped, his expression crumbling into despair. Quietly, he sank back into his chair, burying his face in his hands.

Sarah’s parents, pale and shaken, quietly rose, gathering the sobbing children. Without a word, they carried them out of the room, their grief apparent.

Jennifer crossed to Sarah, her movements tentative, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come on,” she whispered gently, guiding Sarah to her feet. Sarah moved like a ghost, her expression distant, her steps mechanical. Together, they followed Sarah’s parents out the door.

Helen Evans sat motionless, her lips curling into a faint smile. She didn’t need to say a word. The damage was done, the seeds of her victory taking root. Her son’s life was shattered, and Sarah was gone. Now, she could mold Michael back into the obedient son she desired.

Helen rose, her demeanor shifting into one of practiced concern. She approached Michael, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. “Oh, Michael,” she murmured, her voice a careful blend of pity and manipulation. “None of this is your fault. You’ve been through so much. They don’t understand you like I do.”

Michael didn’t respond, but he didn’t push her away. He was broken, and she knew it. He was hers to mold again.

Nate and Ryan stood in silence, watching the scene unfold. Disgust and pity churned within Nate as he grabbed Ryan’s hand and led him toward the door. As they paused, Nate glanced back at Michael, slumped in his chair with his mother’s shadow looming over him. It was a picture of despair, a man consumed by his own lies.

“Nothing will ever be the same,” Nate whispered.

Ryan nodded, his grip tightening. He knew this was the beginning of the end—for Michael, for the Evans family, and maybe even for himself. Quietly, they left, closing the door on the wreckage of Michael’s life.

The house fell into silence, save for the soft murmur of Helen's voice as she comforted her son with poison-laced reassurances. Fred, looked at Helen and both smiled.

Outside, the cold night air felt heavy with the weight of everything left behind.