Everett chuckled, a sly grin ying on his lips. "Funny how when you want a divorce, I''m just a nobody to you. But now that you need my help, and we''re suddenly family, Selena. Are you always this two-faced?"


    Selena rolled her eyes internally. Two-faced? She preferred to think of herself as being adaptable. But hey, she was the one asking for a favor, so maybe she should let it slide. Softening her tone, she pressed on, "So, Mr. Bet, what''s your take on this?" There was a pause, a good ten seconds of silence before Everett finally spoke up. "Grandpa''s 70th birthday is the day after tomorrow."


    Selena froze. In the whirlwind of divorce drama, she hadpletely forgotten about his grandpa''s big day.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Quickly gathering her thoughts, she realized, "So, if I y the doting wife at Grandpa''s birthday bash, you''ll help me out?"


    Everett rified, "It all depends on your performance."


    Selena agreed without a second thought. She loved his grandpa dearly and would''ve gone to the party anyway. "Sure, ying the loving wife is nothing new for me. I''ve been doing it for three years. One more time won''t hurt. I promise I''ll nail it!"


    ...


    Josh''s birthday party was hosted at the Bet family''s sprawling home, wlessly orchestrated by Selena''s mother-inw Carolina.


    Carolina was sharp as a tack and incredibly capable, so even after three years in the Bet family, Selena never had to worry about nning any of their countless gatherings. Initially, she tried getting involved to build a bridge with her mother-inw, and seek guidance, but her efforts were met with lukewarm reception. Eventually, she stopped trying to win their approval.


    Everett was supposed to pick her up, but ast-minute meeting popped up, so Derick was sent to fetch her instead.


    When she arrived, the guests hadn''t yet shown up. Just the family was there.


    With little to say to the Bet n, she nned to head straight upstairs to see Josh. As she crossed the living room, an imperious voice rang out behind her. "Selena, bring me a few sses of red wine!"


    Without turning, Selena knew it was Reba, Everett''s cousin. Reba was pretty and charming, the darling of the Bet family.


    But with Selena, she was always


    haughty and overbearing, never


    treating her with respect. Selena had


    always put up with it, hoping to win


    the family''s approval and perhaps make Everett see her differently.


    But all that patience had been for nothing. They respected her even less, especially Reba, who never missed a chance to give her Now that divorce was on the horizon, Selena felt no need to put up with her anymore. She kept walking, ignoring Reba.


    Reba hadn''t expected Selena to


    brush her off, especially since


    early


    had brought a few friends or sho


    to unt her standing in the family.


    Her face turned dark as she grabbed a ss of juice from the coffee table and hurled it at Selena. "I''m talking to you! Are you deaf?"


    hard time.


    Selena felt the cold liquid soak into her back, but she stopped, turned around, and, with a smile, said, "Oh, you wanted wine, right? Sure thing."


    She headed to the kitchen, grabbed a whole bottle of red wine, walked back over to Reba, and poured it right over her head.


    "Ah-"