So at the next dinner, they both went pale when I slid a thin envelope across the table and said, \u201cBefore we eat, there\u2019s something you should see.\u201d
\nMy dad frowned, already irritated. Liv kept that same smug half-smile, swirling her wine like she owned the place\u2014which, apparently, she soon would.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n
He did. The color drained from his face before he even reached the second page. Liv leaned over, curious\u2014then stiffened, her smile cracking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cA copy of your marriage certificate,\u201d I said calmly, \u201cand the one before that. And the one before that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
My dad looked between us, confused. \u201cLiv\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
I folded my hands. \u201cHer real name isn\u2019t Liv. It\u2019s Olivia Maren. She\u2019s been married three times in the last five years. Each time, to a much older man. Each time, she walked away with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not\u2014\u201d she started, but her voice shook.<\/p>\n
I kept going. \u201cI also spoke to one of her ex-husband\u2019s daughters. Funny enough, she had a story that sounded almost identical to mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
My dad pushed his chair back slightly, eyes locked on Liv like he was seeing her for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lied to me?\u201d he asked, quietly.<\/p>\n
Liv stood up abruptly. \u201cThis is ridiculous. You\u2019re going to believe this over your own wife?\u201d<\/p>\n
I slid one more paper across the table. \u201cBank records. Transfers from her last husband\u2019s account to hers\u2014two weeks before he filed for bankruptcy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now there was no smirk. Just panic.<\/p>\n
My dad didn\u2019t yell. Didn\u2019t argue. He just stared at the documents, then at her\u2026 and slowly shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Liv froze. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet. Out.\u201d<\/p>\n
For once, she didn\u2019t have anything to say.<\/p>\n
She grabbed her bag and left without another word, the door slamming behind her echoing through the house.<\/p>\n
The room went quiet.<\/p>\n
My dad sat there for a long time, staring at the papers in his hands. Then he looked at me\u2014really looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026You saved me,\u201d he said, his voice barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n
I exhaled slowly. \u201cI just didn\u2019t want you to lose everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, swallowing hard.<\/p>\n
That night, for the first time in a long time, it felt like I had my dad back.
\nEND<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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