She Called Her Sister In Law, I Called Her My Replacement Chapter 04
I went looking for the porcelain memorial plaque I’d had made for the baby. It was small—palm-sized. Fired with his name and birth date.
I kept it locked in the study drawer. Only I had the key. I pulled open the drawer. Empty.
I asked the housekeeper. She shook her head.
I searched the whole house. Found the plaque in a recycling bag next to the trash can.
It was in three pieces. Most of the letters were gone.
Morgan came to the study doorway. Saw me crouched there picking up the pieces. Stopped.
“Claire… that little plaque. I didn’t mean to. I was cleaning the study and my hand slipped. It just…”
My voice was flat. “The drawer was locked.”
She hesitated. “Maybe the housekeeper forgot to lock it after cleaning. Claire, I really didn’t mean to. When I saw the baby’s name on it, I got so upset, and my hand just…”
Her eyes got red.
Margaret came in from the front door and grabbed Morgan’s arm.
“Morgan, don’t cry. It’s not a big deal. Claire, she’s already fragile. Don’t leave stuff like that lying around in plain sight. Of course she’s going to get upset seeing them.”
I stayed on the floor, holding the three pieces of porcelain.
The sharp edge cut into my skin. I didn’t feel it.
“Mom. The drawer was locked.”
Margaret’s eyebrows pinched together. “What are you trying to say? That Morgan broke it on purpose?”
Morgan took a step back. “Claire, if you don’t believe me… fine. Whatever I say, you’ll blame me anyway.”
She turned away and wiped her eyes.
Margaret’s voice went cold. “Claire, just because you’re hurting doesn’t mean you get to take it out on your sister-in-law. She’s lost more than you have.”
When Nolan came home, Margaret had already taken Morgan back to the Hayes Family Estate.
He looked at the three pieces of porcelain on the coffee table.
“Claire.”
“I know you’re upset. But Morgan’s mental state is really bad right now. If she did this, she probably didn’t mean to.”
I didn’t look up.
He put his hand over mine.
“I’ll get you a new one. Exactly the same, okay? Whatever you want engraved on it, I’ll go with you. And I won’t let Morgan touch your things ever again.”
Just like always. Smoothing things over.
I’d caved so many times before.
Not this time.
I pulled my hand back. Stood up. Walked into the study.
I laid out three years of bank statements in chronological order.
Transfers to the Harborview Apartments rent. Morgan’s therapy bills. Her medical exam fees. Her family’s debt payments.
All from our joint checking account.
Then I pulled out the hospital payment records. The invitation draft for the baby shower, with the event changed to a memorial. The receipt from the charity shop for all the baby items.
I put everything into separate folders.
The next day, I had Hailey book a family meeting at the Hayes house.
Margaret sat at the head of the table. Nolan next to her. Morgan came from the estate, eyes red, and sat down.
I put my folder on the table and opened it to the first page.
“Over the last three years, a total of one hundred ninety-two thousand dollars was spent from our joint account on Morgan Price’s personal expenses.”
“That includes her apartment, her care, her therapy, and her family’s debts.”
I turned to the second page.
“Hospital payment records from the night of the crash. Morgan’s exam and private room were paid for before my surgery even started. Meanwhile, Hailey Ross had to put down the deposit for my care.”
Third page.
“My baby’s things were sent to a charity shop without my permission. The receipt is signed under Morgan Price’s name.”
Fourth page.
“The invitation for my baby shower was changed to a memorial dinner. My baby’s name was crossed out and replaced with ‘Third Anniversary of Daniel Hayes.’”
The living room went dead silent.
Morgan’s lips were shaking.
Margaret’s face kept shifting.
Nolan stared at the papers. Didn’t speak.
Morgan was the first one to open her mouth. Her voice trembled. “Claire, that money… when Daniel died, the insurance hadn’t come through yet. I really didn’t have anything else…”
I looked up at her.
“Morgan. Daniel’s life insurance policy had you as the beneficiary. It was three hundred eighty thousand dollars. It hit your account three months after he died.”
Morgan went white.
I kept going.
“You’re not broke. You’re not alone. You just don’t want to spend your own money.”
Margaret’s fingers tightened on the arm of her chair.
Nolan closed his eyes.
Morgan stood up, mouth open, and ran out of the room covering her face.
After everyone left, Nolan stayed in the living room.
I went back to the master bedroom and packed my records—medical files, marriage certificate, bank statements, property documents.
From the back of the drawer, I pulled out the baby’s ultrasound photo. Put it in my folder.
Then I heard the keypad beep at the front door.
Nolan came in with Morgan.
She was wearing his jacket. And in her hand—a silver baby bracelet.
On the inside of the bracelet, the engraving. My baby’s nickname.
My eyes locked onto it. The string in my head that had been stretched for three years finally snapped.
Nolan followed my gaze. His face changed.
Morgan tried to hide the bracelet in her sleeve.
Nolan stepped forward. “Claire, let me explain—”
I cut him off. “Nolan.”
I set the divorce papers on the entryway table. Dragged my suitcase past him.
Then I stopped at the door. “Don’t bother explaining. From now on, let’s not see each other again.”
I pulled the door shut behind me and walked to the elevator.
