My Family Made My Pregnant Wife Wash Their Dishes

At six o'clock, Daniel returned to the apartment with two detectives, Rachel Kim, Victor Hale, and the building manager.

Teresa stood in the center of the living room as if she had been waiting to forgive him.

His sisters sat behind her. The stolen television, toaster, suitcase, and Emily's jewelry box had been returned, as if bringing things back made them unstolen.

Teresa smiled when she saw Daniel.

Then she saw the detectives.

Her smile disappeared.

"Is all this necessary?"

"You threatened my wife."

"I was upset."

"You forged my signature."

Her eyes flicked toward Rachel. "That lawyer filled your head with nonsense."

Rachel placed copies of the forged documents on the coffee table. Teresa did not look at them.

Brittany cracked first.

"Mom said you knew about the cards."

Kayla snapped, "Shut up."

"You said Daniel would never report us."

Teresa turned sharply. "Both of you, be quiet."

One detective took out a notebook.

He lifted his phone.

"Before anyone says anything else, listen."

He played the baby-monitor recording.

Teresa's voice filled the room.

Find the blue envelope before Daniel gets home. Once that baby is born, we lose our chance.

The recording continued: the search, the plan to make Daniel distrust Emily, the cards, Brittany grabbing Emily, Teresa ordering Emily to clean.

When it ended, Teresa looked smaller than the night before, but not sorry. Cornered.

"I did what I had to do," she said.

"For what?"

"For my daughters."

The question left Daniel before he could stop it.

"And what am I?"

For the first time, an honest expression crossed Teresa's face: resentment.

"You were Robert's favorite. Your school. Your future. Your inheritance. My girls were treated like guests in their own home."

"They were his stepdaughters."

"He married me. He should have provided for all of us."

"So you stole from me."

"I balanced things."

What a clean word for theft.

Victor opened another folder.

"Mrs. Cole, we also have false address forms, forged annual trust acknowledgments, and unauthorized cards opened in Daniel's name."

Teresa's face hardened.

"Robert owed me."

"Robert protected his grandson," Victor said.

"That baby isn't even born."

Daniel stepped closer. "Do not talk about my son like he is an obstacle."

Brittany cried harder.

"Mom said Emily was trying to make sure we got nothing. She said if Emily went into the hospital before signing, we had to bring the trustee papers there."

Rachel looked up.

"What trustee papers?"

Kayla muttered, "Brittany, stop."

But Brittany had crossed from loyalty into survival.

"In Mom's green folder. It says if Emily is medically incapacitated, Mom can act for the family."

Victor's face went cold.

"Where is the folder?"

Teresa whispered, "You stupid girl."

Lily suddenly stood.

"I know where it is."

Everyone turned.

"Mom hid it in the old diaper bag. The one she said she bought for Emily."

The building manager retrieved the bag from the hall closet. Inside were folded baby clothes, wipes, and a green legal folder.

Rachel opened it with gloved hands.

Renunciation of maternal trustee authority. Teresa Cole as temporary family representative. Statement of emotional instability. At the bottom was Emily's signature.

Forged.

His mother had not only allowed Emily to suffer. She had prepared to profit from it.

A detective informed Teresa she was wanted for questioning about fraud, forgery, and identity theft.

Kayla offered messages for leniency. Brittany admitted she grabbed Emily. The loyalty Teresa demanded collapsed in minutes.

As detectives led Teresa toward the door, she looked back at Daniel.

"You will come begging when that woman leaves you."

He took Emily's jewelry box from the table.

"No. I'm done begging anyone to love me."

The elevator closed on Teresa's furious face.

Then Rachel's phone rang.