The Mother-in-Law: An utterly addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist by AJ Carter

Author:AJ Carter [Carter, AJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Papyrus Publishing LTD
Published: 2025-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Cassie

My feet carry me up the gravel drive faster than I thought possible in these shoes, leaving Tracey and her earth-shattering revelation behind. The wind carries my hair into my face, stinging my eyes. Each step crunches with angry purpose, drowning out whatever Tracey might be calling after me.

Margaret’s standing in the doorway as I approach. Her eyes widen slightly at my expression, but I barrel past her before she can arrange her features into their usual mask of concern.

‘Cassie, dear, is everything⁠—’

I don’t hear the rest. Don’t want to hear it. My heartbeat drowns out everything except the roaring in my ears. I storm through her house, past her photos, past every little lie she’s arranged around us. The walls feel as if they’re closing in, every surface covered in evidence I should have seen before.

The pictures mock me – Nathan and Tracey at graduation, at formal events, at family gatherings. But now I see what I missed before. The way Margaret gazes at Tracey in those photos isn’t the possessive gleam of a mother-in-law marking her territory.

It’s the proud glow of a mother admiring her daughter.

Her actual daughter.

I find Nathan in the back room, hunched over his laptop as though everything’s normal. Like our entire world hasn’t just been devastated. He looks up at my entry, his features already arranging themselves into that placating expression he’s mastered since we moved here.

‘What’s wrong? I thought you were going for coffee with⁠—’

‘She’s your mother’s daughter?’ The words explode from me, too loud for the small space. ‘Tracey is Margaret’s actual daughter?’

The colour drains from his face so quickly I think he might faint. His hands freeze over the keyboard, fingers splayed like they’re trying to grab on to something stable. ‘Cass, I can explain⁠—’

‘Explain what?’ My voice rises with each word, hysteria creeping in at the edges. ‘Explain how you never thought to mention that your ex-girlfriend is your sister? That all this time, every comparison, every little dig, has been about more than just her golden boy’s ex?’

‘It’s complicated.’ He stands slowly, as if he’s approaching a wild animal. Perhaps he is. ‘Please, just let me⁠—’

‘Complicated?’ I laugh, and it sounds unhinged even to my own ears. ‘No, complicated is choosing what to watch on Netflix. This is incest! This is… is…’

Words fail me. I switch my attention to the window. Tracey hurries up the drive, her hair slightly dishevelled from the wind. Margaret intercepts her at the door, their heads bent together in conversation. Mother and daughter, sharing secrets that were never meant for me.

‘Cassie.’ Nathan’s voice is gentle, measured. He takes a step towards me, hands raised like he’s surrendering. ‘Please sit down. I’ll tell you everything.’

My legs give out before I can decide whether to comply or flee, and I sink onto the nearest chair. ‘Start talking,’ I manage, my voice cracking under the threat of tears. ‘And make it good.’

Nathan runs a hand through his thin, silky hair, a gesture so familiar my heart aches.

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