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CHAPTER 29

Author: Finn Ryder
last update publish date: 2026-08-15 22:29:39

Clarissa

The iron gates swung open as the car slowed near the entrance. Headlights swept across the dark driveway, catching a black sedan idling right along the gravel shoulder.

The driver door opened. Drake stepped into the light, his clothes rumpled, his hands shaking as he walked into the middle of the driveway and stood in front of the bumper.

The tires scraped against the stone as the car stopped a few feet from his knees.

Beside me, Valentine moved before the engine even cut out. The doo
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  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 112

    ClarissaThe room spun sideways in a blur of warm yellow light and white table linen.A knife twisted deep in my lower belly, hot and sharp, ripping straight through my guts. Air jammed in my throat, refusing to go down. My hands clawed at the edge of the dining table, my fingernails scraping hard against the wood, but my fingers had zero strength left.Layla’s chair hit the floorboards with a loud bang as she stood up, her voice tearing through the Christmas music playing in the corner. "Clarissa!"Landon was moving before her scream even died out. His chair slid back, his boots thudding hard against the rug as he cleared the corner of the table in three long strides.My knees gave out under my green dress. The floor rushed up to meet me, but Landon caught my shoulders right before my face hit the wood. His hands clamped tight around my arms, taking my full weight while my body shuddered in short, helpless spasms."I got you! I got you!" Landon breathed fast, his grip digging into my

  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 111

    ValentineThe dining room table stretched sixteen feet down the center of the room, polished wood glowing under two hanging crystal light fixtures.Marcus had set out red cloth napkins at every seat, paired with white ceramic plates and long glass water goblets. The small speakers in the high corners played low acoustic guitar covers of Christmas songs, mixing with the clinking of metal forks and glass rims as everyone settled into their chairs.I sat at the head of the long table, unfolding my napkin over my knees.Clarissa sat right to my left, wearing a soft green dress with her dark hair pulled up off her neck in a loose clip. Next to her, Chloe sat upright in her high-backed chair, her green velvet dress spread over her lap. She didn't have her leg braces on, her posture straight as she reached for a warm dinner roll from the wicker basket.Across from them, Layla leaned her shoulder against Landon’s arm, laughing quietly as he tried to open a bottle of sparkling apple cider with

  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 110

    ClarissaThe smell of roasted ham and cinnamon apples filled the entire ground floor by ten in the morning.Marcus stood near the wide doorway of the grand dining room, holding a clipboard against his ribs while two staff members adjusted the long white cloth over the main table. He pointed a finger toward the far corner, guiding them as they set down silver trays and crystal glasses.I leaned against the hallway archway, holding a warm cup of peppermint tea between my palms. The estate felt alive for the first time in forever. Garland wrapped around the wooden stair railings, and bright white lights blinked soft against the green pine branches scattered through the main hall.A car door clicked open outside on the front driveway.I walked toward the foyer just as the front doors swung open. Brittany stood on the welcome mat, wearing a simple black coat, her hands tucked deep into her pockets. She didn't have her usual mean smirk or her fake designer bag held up like a shield. She loo

  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 109

    ValentineThe white piece of lined paper sat in the center of my desk blotter.The black marker ink bled slightly into the paper fibers, seven words written across the middle. I pressed my thumb against the edge of the wood, my jaw tightening until a dull ache pulsed in my back teeth.Clarissa stood by the side of the desk, her coat still on, her fingers wrapped tight around her paper coffee cup. Her thumb dug into the cardboard sleeve, leaving a deep crease near the lid."Where was it?" I asked, my voice low in the quiet study."Under my driver-side wiper blade," Clarissa said. "We were at the Fifth Street market for twenty minutes. Layla was in the passenger seat when I found it."The paper didn't have a name, but the handwriting was erratic and rushed, pressed down so hard the marker tip had almost torn through the page. The Hudsons were backed into a corner. Victoria's accounts were locked by court order, her bigamy charges were moving through state court, and Drake was broke. Des

  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 108

    ClarissaCold December air rattled the high windowpanes in the main living hall.Chloe stood by the base of a ten-foot green pine tree, unwrapping long strands of gold tinsel from a cardboard box. Her knee braces clicked under her grey sweatpants every time she shifted her weight, but she didn't sit down. She reached up, hooking a string of gold beads over a low branch."Higher on that side," Layla called out from across the rug, untangling a mess of red and silver baubles on the floor. "We need to cover the bare spot on the left.""I can't reach higher than my chin," Chloe said, tossing a plastic silver star onto a soft cushion. "Clarissa, get over here and do the top half.""I'm coming," I said, setting down a tray of warm gingerbread cookies on the side table.I picked up the star and reached toward the upper branches. My wool sweater lifted slightly, the cool draft from the hallway hitting my skin. It felt weirdly peaceful. No phone calls from lawyers. No emergency court papers. J

  • Two Can Play: I Became My Ex's Mother-in-law    CHAPTER 107

    Clarissa The sun cut through the cloud cover, hitting the stone steps leading down into the estate garden.Chloe moved her feet slowly, her sneakers dragging over the gravel path while the physical therapy doctor walked right beside her, his hand hovering two inches away from her elbow. Layla walked on her other side, holding a plastic water bottle and Chloe’s light jacket under her arm."Your stance is way better today," Layla said, matching Chloe’s slow pace. "You're not leaning to the left anymore.""My hips still ache," Chloe said, wiping sweat off her forehead with the back of her wrist. "But the braces aren't digging into my skin like yesterday.""Take five steps to the bench," the doctor said, pointing to the stone seat near the rose bushes. "Then we'll rest for ten minutes before doing the resistance bands."Chloe took five short steps, her knees shaking under her grey track pants, and let herself drop onto the stone bench with a long exhale.I sat down next to her on the ben

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