Family members gathered for Thanksgiving dinner | Source: flickr.com/s_mestdagh/CC BY-SA 2.0
Thanksgiving was supposed to be about family, love, and gratitude. But it turned into a day of reckoning for my brother-in-law, Peter, when his carefully curated image as a devoted husband and father was shattered in front of everyone.
I never liked my brother-in-law, Peter. Something about his overly charming, too-good-to-be-true persona rubbed me the wrong way.
But what I discovered during the few weeks I stayed at my sister Lily’s house made me do something that would unravel his carefully spun lies in front of both our families.
A man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney
My name is Isabella, and I work in finance. I’m fortunate to earn a good living and have a stable life. I’m also engaged to Frank, the love of my life, and we’re planning a summer wedding.
But despite all the joy in my life, one part of me is constantly weighed down. My sister Lily.
Our family’s story isn’t perfect. Our parents divorced when I was young, and while I weathered it with some resilience, it hit Lily hard.
A young woman crying | Source: Pexels
She was older and more aware of what was happening, which drained her emotionally and turned her into a self-sacrificing woman. With time, she started putting others’ feelings above hers, no matter if it hurt her.
She married Peter nine years ago, and they now have four beautiful children, with a fifth on the way. On the surface, they seem like the perfect family. Peter has a stable job, and Lily has devoted herself to creating a happy home for their kids.
But I’ve always had my doubts about Peter.
A man using his phone | Source: Midjourney
He has this knack for charming everyone around him. He always knows the right thing to say and the polite gestures to make. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
A few years ago, I sat down with Lily during one of our rare quiet afternoons together.
“Lily, are you truly happy with Peter?” I’d asked.
She glanced at me, startled.
“Of course, I am, Isa,” she replied with a fake smile. “He’s a good husband and a great dad. Why wouldn’t I be?”
