All Chapters of Built Like Karma: The Plus Size Girl's Guide to Comeuppance : Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

206 Chapters

Chapter 161 A Great Day at Court

Jalen’s POVI sit there in that stiff courtroom chair, jaw tight, hands clasped together like if I let go, I might lose my damn mind. The air feels heavy, like it’s pressing down on my chest, and the only thing cutting through it is Michael’s voice, calm, precise, and controlled. Everything I’m not feeling right now.“These are the demands of my client,” Michael says evenly.I stare straight ahead as he lays it all out. Without fluff or dramatics. Just the facts, cold, hard, damning facts. The marriage, the contract, the conditions, and all the violations.He explains how the marriage was contingent on one thing, biological proof. That the child was supposed to be mine. That if something happened to that child, another biological child was supposed to follow.It didn’t.My jaw clenches harder as he talks about the hospital records. The nurses and their account of what happened. The blood cards. The briefcase of cash that they received and how someone paid to change them.Back then, no

Chapter 162 The Tale of A Swan

Third-Person POVAfter dropping Talia off at her car, Swan drove home alone, the silence in the vehicle pressing in on her chest. Her hands stayed steady on the steering wheel, but her mind spiraled.How in the hell did I fuck up my daughter’s life?Talia should be thriving by now. She's in her thirties. She should be settled with one child. Debt free and secure. Instead, she was floundering, angry, reckless, and basically broke. Acting like someone who had never known comfort, never known privilege.And Swan couldn’t understand it.Talia was educated. Raised with every amenity a rich girl could want. Private schools, tutors, unlimited travel, and security. She had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, yet she moved through the world like she didn’t know how to use it.No money saved. No common sense.That wasn’t how Swan had been raised.That wasn’t how Swan had lived.Her thoughts drifted backward, pulled into memory before she could stop them.Flashback“Girl, let’s go!”Swan

Chapter 163 Happy Visits

Jalen’s POVAs I leave work and head to catch this flight, I let out a long, tired sigh. I guess a TRO doesn’t mean shit to Talia or her mother, because the moment I walked into work after court, my phone was blowing up.Text after text from Talia, calling me a piece of shit, accusing me of trying to ruin her life, saying I’m trying to leave her broke and destitute.I didn’t respond to a single one.Instead, I forwarded every message straight to my lawyer. I’m not dealing with that bullshit. Period.I made sure the security guard at the housing development was alerted that Talia is not allowed into the gated community. There’s a temporary restraining order in place, and I don’t want any confusion. I sent a copy of the TRO to the HOA too just to make sure everything is documented. I don’t even want the possibility of running into her.When I get home, I pack my bag quickly. As much as I can’t wait to see my girl, there’s still that lingering worry in the back of my mind. Talia is doing

Chapter 164 Food and Midnight Talks

Aria’s POVI wake up feeling hot and claustrophobic, like I can’t breathe. There’s a heavy weight pressed against my stomach, and when I slide my hand down, I feel an arm wrapped around me.I chuckle quietly.Of course. It’s Jalen curled up behind me, spooning me with a solid hard on, snoring like a whole damn freight train.My stomach growls, loud enough that I pause for a second. I didn’t eat anything. The man behind me promised to take me out, and instead, we both knocked out like some 45 year old people. I guess he drifted off just like I did.I try to move his arm.Nothing.I try again.Still nothing.On the fourth attempt, he finally shifts, mumbling something under his breath. I carefully slide out of bed, sit up, and stretch before heading to the kitchen.The food Jalen ordered is still out. Well, what’s left of it, anyway. Nia, Matt, and the kids definitely had their fair share, but they at least left us something. I shake my head, smiling to myself.I plate some food and tos

Chapter 165 Tony.... Maybe

Third-Person POVAs Thanksgiving week crept closer, Talia continued to spiral, her emotions swinging wildly from rage to exhaustion, but one thing remained consistent: she was diligent about her pregnancy. No matter what else was falling apart around her, she never missed a doctor’s appointment. The baby, at least, was something she could still control.When she arrived at the medical building and stepped into the elevator lobby, she saw him.Her jaw tightened immediately.She scowled, rolled her eyes hard, and muttered, “Come on.”Tony uncrossed his legs and stood, smoothing down his jacket as he walked toward her. The closer he got, the softer his voice became.“Talia, you look very beautiful today.”She didn’t even look at him. “Come on, Tony. We gotta go to the eighth floor.”The elevator ride was quiet but tense. When the doors opened, she walked ahead of him, heels clicking sharply against the floor. After checking in at the desk, she finally turned toward him, irritation etched

Chapter 166 Thanksgiving Prep

Third-Person POVBy the time the Wednesday before Thanksgiving came, Talia decided to go back to her childhood home.The house sat in a north suburban town called Northbrook, tucked far back on a massive estate with very little in the way of neighbors. Privacy and seclusion were part of the perks of having money. The kind of place people only saw from the outside if they were invited.As she pulled up to the gate, she keyed in the familiar code. The iron gates opened slowly, almost ceremoniously, and she drove through.She sighed.After parking, she stepped out of the car and walked toward the enormous double doors, doors fit for a giant. She always chuckled at that. When she was a child, her head barely reached the doorknob.She opened them and stepped inside.“Mom?” she yelled. “Mom!”No response.She walked through the great room. Then the living room. Then farther back, past the indoor pool which was empty, but pristine, and untouched. She reached the back doors and looked out on

Chapter 167 The Start of Thanksgiving

Third Person POVThanksgiving morning arrived quietly.Talia woke up in her childhood bedroom, staring at the familiar ceiling she once thought she’d never see again as an adult. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before reaching for her phone on the nightstand.Her screen was flooded with messages:Happy Thanksgiving.Hope you’re doing okay today.Thinking of you.She scrolled through them absentmindedly until one name stopped her.Tony Arroyo.Happy Thanksgiving to you and my baby. Please take care. If you need anything, let me know.Talia’s chest tightened. She sighed deeply before typing back.Hey Tony. I know it’s Thanksgiving and it’s last minute, but would you like to come over for Thanksgiving dinner?The response came almost instantly.Give me the address to where I am going?She smiled down at the screen, feeling that familiar pull. Everything she’d been telling herself was true, that Tony always showed up. He always wanted to be around her. He was there in ways ma

Chapter 168 Thanksgiving Chaos

Third-Person POV Thanksgiving Day continued to unravel.Hunter finished his breakfast and offered a brief nod of thanks to Carmen and the rest of the staff before picking up his phone and standing. Without another word, he turned and headed toward the hallway.Swan scoffed. “So where are you going now?”He stopped just long enough to roll his eyes at her. “To my office. Do you need something?”She smirked. “No. I don’t need anything from you.”“I know,” he replied flatly. “I’ll see everyone at dinner. What time is dinner, Carmen?”“Six p.m., sir,” Carmen answered.He shrugged. “Alright. I’ll see you all then, in the main dining hall.”As he turned away again, Swan snapped.“What is your problem, Hunter?” she screamed. “You’re barely here. I barely see you. And when you are here, you’re mean and ignorant to me. I don’t understand it.”Her voice echoed through the house.Hunter turned back slowly.“Swan,” he said evenly, “you have never been the woman I met that night in the club. You’

Chapter 169 Dinner and Introductions

Talia’s POVBy the time the afternoon light started thinning through the tall windows of the Schultz residence, I’d already made my decision.I was going to look good tonight.Not out of spite.Not to prove anything.But because, for the first time in a very long time, I actually wanted to.I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, smoothing my hands down the long, form fitting black dress that hugged every curve, including the one I’d spent most of my life pretending didn’t exist. My pregnancy belly was round, unmistakable, impossible to ignore.For once… I didn’t hate it.I smiled at my reflection, just a little, then the smile faded as my thoughts drifted right back to my mother. To the kitchen. To my father’s voice earlier. To her words that called me a monster.The word echoed in my head as I flipped open my makeup compact and started working, my hands steady even while my thoughts weren’t.What the hell was she talking about?And worse, why did it suddenly feel like she was

Chapter 170 Dining Room Crazies

Third Person POV Thanksgiving dinner at the Schultz estate did not arrive quietly.It came with noise, clinking of glassware, overlapping conversations, and a tension so thick it felt woven into the linen tablecloths. Hunter’s distant cousins filled one side of the table, two of them with children who were far more interested in dessert than decorum.Swan’s side was noticeably thinner. Just her parents. No uncle or no other extended family. The absence was loud in its own way.At the head of the table, Talia’s grandfather drank like it was his only remaining purpose.His sharp, but drunken gaze locked onto Tony Arroyo again, lingering long enough to be uncomfortable before he finally scoffed.“So,” he said, slurring just slightly, “what do you do for a living, son?”Tony didn’t flinch. He set his glass down carefully, posture straight but respectful.“I build AI speech recognition engines,” he explained. “Algorithms for modern tech platforms. My company’s IPO is doing very well, and

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