I stared at Lorraine, my mind racing. She tilted her head, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Where did you get that?” I managed to ask, my voice trembling.
Her smirk widened. “Why, my boyfriend, of course. He left it in my room the other night. He’s such a sweetheart, don’t you think?”
I could barely breathe. Was she implying what I thought she was? I left the room without another word, shutting the door behind me. My legs felt like jelly as I made my way to Jason’s office.
When I confronted him, Jason’s face drained of color. “What robe? What are you talking about?” he stammered. But his eyes darted to the floor, a telltale sign of his guilt.
I grabbed his arm. “The lace robe, Jason! The one I found in your closet—the one Lorraine is now parading around in like some trophy. Are you sleeping with her?” My voice cracked with anger and disbelief.
Jason stepped back, his hands raised. “No! It’s not what you think!”
“Then explain!” I demanded, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear my own words.
After a long, agonizing pause, he sighed and sat down, burying his face in his hands. “Fine,” he muttered. “I bought it… but not for her. I bought it for you.”
“What?” I blinked, unsure whether to believe him.
“I thought it would be a nice surprise,” he said, looking genuinely distressed. “I hid it in the closet because I wanted to wait for the right moment. I have no idea how Lorraine got her hands on it.”
His explanation didn’t make sense. “If it was for me, why is she wearing it? And why is she calling you her ‘boyfriend’?”
Jason’s head snapped up. “What? She said that?”
I nodded, my stomach churning.
Jason stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair. “She’s lying. Lorraine’s been acting weird ever since she moved in. I’ve caught her snooping around my stuff, making snide comments, but I didn’t think she’d do something like this.”
At that moment, Emma’s voice called from the hallway, snapping us out of our heated conversation. I glanced at Jason. “We’re not done,” I said firmly before heading to check on our daughter.
The Truth Comes Out
That night, after Emma was asleep, I set a plan in motion. I decided to confront Lorraine while Jason was there to hear everything. I needed to know the truth—no more games, no more lies.
I walked into Lorraine’s room, Jason following closely behind me. She looked up from her magazine, smirking as if she’d been expecting us.
“What’s going on?” she asked innocently, though her tone dripped with mockery.
“Tell me the truth, Lorraine,” I said, my voice steady. “How did you get that robe? And what exactly do you mean by ‘boyfriend’?”
Her expression faltered for a split second before she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Oh, don’t act so naïve. Jason and I have a connection. He’s been so kind to me, so attentive. You wouldn’t understand.”
Jason’s face twisted in disgust. “Are you insane? I’ve been nothing but polite to you because you’re my wife’s stepmother. I don’t know what fantasy you’ve concocted, but this ends now.”
Lorraine’s smirk vanished, replaced by fury. “Oh, don’t play innocent! I found that robe in *your* closet. You obviously meant for me to have it. Why else would you keep looking at me the way you do?”
Jason shook his head, his voice rising. “I wasn’t looking at you, Lorraine! You’re delusional. That robe was for my wife, and you stole it.”
Realizing her plan had backfired, Lorraine’s bravado crumbled. She started stammering excuses, but I’d heard enough. “Pack your things,” I said coldly. “You’re leaving first thing tomorrow. I won’t have you in this house any longer.”
Lorraine tried to protest, but Jason backed me up. By morning, she was gone.
Moving Forward
After Lorraine’s departure, the atmosphere in the house improved drastically. Jason worked hard to rebuild my trust, and though it took time, we eventually found our way back to each other.
As for Lorraine, I later heard she tried to pull the same stunt with another family. But this time, no one was fooled.
Looking back, I realized how important it was to trust my instincts and stand up for my family. Lorraine may have tried to come between us, but in the end, her lies only brought Jason and me closer together.
