The Butterfly Effect Caused by the Family's Unreasonable Behavior

First, I went to the bank and pulled up the statements showing Ryan had transferred 200,000 dollars to Evelyn using a duplicate card from my account. Then, I put a limit on that card.

At the office, I checked the home surveillance.

I saw Emma sneaking out with her bag, definitely off to gamble.

Harry wasn't studying at all in his room. He was totally lost in his video games.

As soon as Ryan and Evelyn entered the bedroom, they started kissing and touching each other desperately.

Watching it all on the monitor, I was so grossed out I threw up. I hadn't even had breakfast.

That evening, I came home to find fewer condoms in the box.

I thought, "Makes sense. Even if Ryan's crazy about Evelyn, he wouldn't risk having a kid with her.

After all, that would be solid proof of adultery.

Ryan, I'll make sure your efforts with Evelyn in the bed won't be in vain."

I planned to poke holes in the rest of the condoms, but when I grabbed one, it already had a hole.

The surveillance footage showed Evelyn with a needle in the room.

Clearly, she was more desperate to secure her future with a child than I thought.

That night, I packed up under the guise of a business trip but actually moved to a hotel.

In the previous life, Harry always aced his midterms and finals.

Ryan always credited Harry's good grades to Evelyn's tutoring, which kept Evelyn around our house.

But when SAT time rolled around, Harry barely scored half of what he got on practice tests.

It bugged me how Harry aced his midterms and finals when all he did was game under Evelyn's watch.

Harry's midterms were just around the corner. I tailed Evelyn when she sneaked out one day.

I saw Evelyn receiving several test papers from Harry's school director, Zack Burns.

She even planted a shy kiss on Zack's shiny face.

Evelyn was definitely playing the long game. Ryan wasn't Evelyn's only safety net.

So, her options included a balding middle-aged teacher with a modest salary and a good shaped actor. No wonder she had her sights set on Ryan.

After all, with me, she had a cash cow. Even a divorce would leave Ryan pretty loaded.

After getting the papers, Evelyn went to the hospital. She got her pregnancy test results and smirked, touching her belly proudly.

While she was in the bathroom, I snagged the report she left outside. Sure enough, Evelyn was pregnant.

With that bombshell, the real show was about to start. It was time for me to head home and watch the fireworks.

When I got home and opened the door, Ryan was all cozied up with Evelyn on the couch. They jerked apart as if caught red-handed when they heard me come in.

Ryan looked totally caught off guard and blurted out, "Why didn't you say you were coming back early?"

Instead of asking if I was tired from my trip, he was more annoyed that I didn't give him a heads-up. Clearly, I'd crashed his date.

Ryan's nauseating behavior just added another layer to my disdain for him.

I brushed him off, kicked off my shoes, and walked further in.

I asked, "Ms. Scott, why aren't you tutoring my son? Just lounging around watching TV?"

Evelyn slowly stood up and said, "Harry is working on his worksheets. I didn't want to disturb him, so I came out here."

"Great, I'm starving. Ms. Scott, why don't you whip up something to eat?" I suggested.

Evelyn stood there, hand on her belly, shooting glances at Ryan.

Ryan jumped in, "Scarlett, how can you ask her to cook?"

"You insisted on her playing maid, didn't you? You even paid her 200,000 dollars. Why shouldn't she cook?" I shot back.

Ryan shut up when I mentioned the 200,000 dollars, guilt all over his face.

Evelyn spoke up weakly, "Well, I'm not feeling well today..."

Just then, there was a loud bang. Harry had slammed his door open, annoyed from his game being interrupted.

"Mom, why the noise as soon as you get back? Ms. Scott's already said he's not feeling well. Can't you just grab something to eat outside? Why does she have to cook for you?" he complained.

I held back my anger, opened the fridge, and grabbed the premium Wagyu beef I had bought earlier.

But the Wagyu and all the other fancy supplements were gone.

"Where's my Wagyu?" I demanded.

Harry was rummaging through my suitcase on the floor and casually said, "I gave it to Ms. Scott."

I closed my eyes briefly and said, "Harry, that was for me to get some nutrients."

Harry retorted, "So what, it's just some supplements. Ms. Scott works so hard taking care of us every day. Why shouldn't I share with her? You're loaded, mom. Just buy more. Also, you always flaunt your money to boss Ms. Scott around. And hey, why didn't you bring me any gifts? I promised my friends. Just give me some money, and I'll buy them myself. Seriously!"

I couldn't hold back my anger anymore. Then I slapped Harry across the face, turning his head with the force.

"She's lounging around here and you think she's got it tough? What about me, working my butt off? Do you even remember who I am?" I yelled.

Harry froze for a second, then, shockingly, tried to hit back.

Ryan held Harry back. Evelyn tried to intervene but ended up shoving me.

I crashed against the corner of a table, pain shooting through me.

Suddenly, Evelyn was on the floor, blood spreading from her.

Both Harry and Ryan were stunned.

Emma, just back from cards, threw herself on the floor, crying out, "Oh, my grandchild! What a tragedy!"

Clutching my back, I stood up straight and said, "Mom, your grandson Harry is right here. Who are you mourning for?"

Emma stopped crying and started to dab at her tears, clearly putting on a show.

Harry glared at me and yelled, "You're a murderer!"

Ryan banged the table and declared, "Exactly, you killed an unborn child. I'm calling the cops. You're going to jail for life!"

Watching this ridiculous scene, I almost laughed out loud, tears streaming down my face.

My son, whom I almost died giving birth to, was accusing me of murder.

And the man I'd spent my youth with was ready to throw me in jail.

Right then, I realized that despite getting a second chance at life, I'd been played by Evelyn again.