My fiancé, Daniel Brooks, FaceTimed me from his parents’ house to ask about the color of the table runners for our reception. Our wedding was scheduled for the very next day. My living room was covered with open boxes—candles, place cards, a guest book, and little gift bags my children had helped decorate.

“Rose or ivory?” Daniel asked while walking through the hallway.

“Rose,” I answered without thinking. “It’ll match the flowers.”

“Perfect,” he said. “Wait a second—my mom’s calling.”

The screen went dark, but the call stayed connected. I assumed he’d come back in a moment, so I leaned my phone against a vase and kept folding napkins.

Then I heard voices.

Not faint background chatter—clear voices, close to the phone.

Daniel’s mother, Carol, asked, “Did she sign it yet?”

Daniel laughed softly. “Almost. She gets nervous about paperwork, but after the wedding she’ll sign whatever I ask. She wants this marriage too badly.”

My hands went cold. I stared at the blank screen, hoping I misunderstood.

His brother Ryan chuckled. “Especially with her kids. She’s desperate for stability.”

Daniel lowered his voice, smug. “Exactly. Two kids and no husband. She’ll grab onto anything that looks like a fresh start.”

My stomach twisted. My children—Noah and Lily—were asleep in the next room, excited for the ceremony. They had practiced walking down the aisle and sprinkling petals.

Daniel had promised we were becoming a real family.

Carol’s voice turned sharp. “And the house? Your father says don’t marry her unless the property is protected.”

Daniel replied confidently, “Relax. I already talked to a lawyer. The prenup makes sure everything I own stays mine. If she ever leaves, she walks away with nothing.”

Ryan laughed. “Add something about the kids. You don’t want to pay for children that aren’t yours.”

Daniel snorted. “Don’t worry. I’ll get her to sign something after the wedding.”

They all laughed.

Like my life was a joke they’d already won.

I stepped away from the phone slowly. Every memory of Daniel helping Lily with homework, cooking pancakes for Noah, rubbing my shoulders after work—suddenly felt fake. Not love.

A plan.

Then Carol said the words that shattered any doubt.

“Just make sure the wedding happens. Once she’s your wife, we can deal with her later. She has nowhere else to go.”

My heart pounded so loudly I thought they might hear it through the phone.