Hospitality nearly became my downfall when I agreed to host Rick’s aunt and her stepdaughter. Mary and Lauren’s “short visit” while Lauren recovered from divorce seemed harmless enough. I barely remembered Rick mentioning his brief teenage romance with Lauren – it was so long ago, surely irrelevant now.
But as days turned to weeks, the atmosphere in our home changed. Mysterious accidents kept happening – my things broken, meals spoiled, safety hazards appearing. More disturbing were the private conversations I’d walk in on, the way Lauren would touch Rick’s arm just a little too long, the knowing glances between her and Mary.
The truth came crashing down when I overheard them plotting. “He still has feelings for you,” Mary assured Lauren. “We just need to make him see it.” My heart pounded as I realized this was no innocent visit. When Rick dismissed my concerns, I knew I needed proof.
With a carefully placed recorder, I caught Lauren detailing their plan to make Rick fall for her again. The confrontation was brutal but necessary. As the recording played, Rick’s face went from skepticism to horror. The schemers left that night, but the damage to my trust in people’s motives may never fully heal.
