Becoming My Ex’s Mother in Law by Aurora Starling

Chapter 34

I was enjoying a nice evening at home when I heard a pounding at my door. I looked out the peephole and saw that it was my landlord. Confused since I had already paid that month’s rent, I opened the door only enough to show my face.

“Good evening, Mr. Schmidt,” I said in the most cheerful voice I could muster. “What can I help you with?”

“I need you out of here by tomorrow,” he said, hardly even looking at my face.

“What? Why?”

“I don’t rent to convicted murderers.”

I paled. How did he know about that?

“Mr. Schmidt, please, let me explain. My ex-boyfriend caused a fatal accident. and manipulated me into taking the fall for it. That’s why I ended up in jail.”

Mr. Schmidt eyed me for a moment, as though he were considering what I was saying, but then he shook his head.

“I don’t care what your excuse is,” he said as he lit a cigarette. “I want you out of here by 8 a.m. tomorrow.”

“But…I can’t possibly find a new place to stay…and I don’t know how I’m going to get all of my stuff out of here…”

Mr. Schmidt shrugged.

“None of that is my problem. Just be out of here by then, or I’ll call the cops. Oh, and anything you leave behind will be mine to sell.”

Before I could protest any further, Mr. Schmidt left.

I was floored. I couldn’t breathe. What was I supposed to do now?

I shut the door and moved toward the couch, trying to collect myself. All I wanted to do was curl up in the fetal position and cry, but I knew that I ouldn’t I had to formulate a plan to get myself moved out, and in a hurry,

I sat on the couch, I looked at my wall clock 8:15 pm. I had less than twelve

Chapter 34

hours to get everything that I owned packed and out of the apartment if I didn’t want my sc um landlord to sell it. I didn’t own too much, but there was still the matter of boxes and fitting everything in my car.

I didn’t want to ask for help or abuse any of my few remaining relationships any further, but I had no choice. I needed help, desperately. I called Noah.

“Hello, Crystal?” Noah answered the phone with a little too much enthusiasm.

“Hi, Noah,” I said, my voice sounding as dejected as I felt.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-my landlord found out about my prison record. He’s kicking me out. I have to be out of my apartment by 8 a.m. tomorrow.”

“Oh my Goddess. He can’t do that to you.”

“But he is.”

“No, I mean legally there’s a process that he has to go through-”

“And what good will that do me? Buy me a little time while he makes my life on his property a living Hell?”

I shook my head.

“No, I just…I need to get out of here. Fast. Please, can you help me?”

Noah sighed. I could tell that he wanted to fight me, that he wanted me to not let this man walk all over me, but he didn’t have the fight in him to continue trying to persuade me.

Sure, he said. “What do you need?”

An extra car, an extra set of hands, and some boxes.”

“Okay, I can bring all that. I’ll be there soon.”

Thank you, Noah, Thank you so much.

problem. I just wish that you would let me help you more

66%

10:36 Tue, 2 Jan M

Chapter 34

While waiting for Noah, I received a text from Lily.

911 – check this out ASAP!

With it came a link to an article from a local tabloid. Curious, I clicked the link. My jaw nearly dropped at the headline:

EVER AFTER WEDDINGS EMPLOYEE REVEALED AS EX-CONVICT

The article detailed my manslaughter conviction and release from prison, as well as where I work and for how long. I couldn’t believe all the details that

the writer had gotten.

I looked at the journalist’s name. Matthew Shoemaker. Who was this where did he get all this information?

I texted Lily, Do you know Matthew Shoemaker?

The writer? she replied. Yeah, heard he’s Lisa’s classmate at university.

man, and

My blood pressure sp iked. Lisa, of course. She and Bob must have fed this information to some of her classmates in the news industry and convinced them to publicize it.

I could have screamed in frustration or punched a wall. Bob had found a way to tear me down without touching me himself. Even if I released the tapes now, it would be the word of a known ex-convict against the Alpha King’s future son-in-law, and no amount of audio proof would make a difference in the public eye.

But I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let his actions tear me down. I couldn’t let him win.

I sighed and started gathering my things. I put my clothes into my suitcase and everything else into piles on the living room floor. It was all I could do until Noah arrived with the boxes.

DIVE

By 9:15 pm., I had gathered everything that I could take with me and piled them in the living room. Just as I was trying to decide how to group things, I

eard a knock on the door.

nd through the peephole and was relieved to find Noah on the other

Chapter 34

side. I opened the door and nearly flung myself at him.

“Thank you so much for coming,” I said into his chest as I hugged him.

“I-I-no problem,” he stammered as he tentatively hugged me back.

I pulled away.

“You brought the boxes, right?”

“Of course, they’re out in my car.”

“And is it okay if we use your car to haul some of my stuff?”

“Sure thing. You can even keep your stuff at my place or stay there yourself as long as you need-”

“Woah, woah, slow down, Noah. Let’s cross one bridge at a time, okay?”

Noah nodded.

“Yeah, okay. Let’s go get those boxes.”

We brought up some boxes and started filling them with my possessions. For once, I was glad that I didn’t own too much.

We didn’t speak while we worked, unless Noah had a question about where I wanted something, but I could tell that there was something on his mind. I put off asking him at first, not wanting to hear any more bad news, but I finally decided that I had to if we were to move forward.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

“N-nothing. It’s nothing,” he said without looking me in the eye. “Did you find out how your landlord knew about your jailtime?”

Yes, Lily texted me. Apparently, a classmate of Lisa’s publicized the information, as well as where I work.”

Noah’s eyes widened.

you think that Lisa and Bob might have-

-might have’ I’m certain that they fed the information to Lisa’s the news industry and got them to report on IN

“That’s a pretty big accusation.”

I nodded.

“And I’m suffering some pretty big consequences from it.”

“Well, I will do everything in my power to help you get that information taken.

down.”

I stopped my packing and took his hand, squeezing it slightly.

“Thank you.”

Noah gave me a tight-l*pped smile.

“I still want to know what’s really on your mind,” I continued.

He sighed and looked away from me. He ran his free hand through his hair, but I refused to release his other one.

“The accountant I told you about…he’s missing.”