Chapter 10 - AUNT BETSY’S DEAL
Betsy had spent years presenting herself as the harmless aunt.
The funny one.
The woman who brought too much dessert to Thanksgiving.
The one who remembered every birthday.
The one who called everyone “honey.”
Behind that smile, she had become Teresa’s partner.
Police searched Betsy’s phone after obtaining a warrant.
Her messages with Glenn revealed the structure of the scheme.
Teresa created the family narrative.
Betsy reinforced it.
Glenn created paperwork.
Mason handled documents and errands.
The property company was not officially part of the conspiracy.
At least not yet.
But one employee had been communicating privately with Glenn.
That investigation widened quickly.
Betsy’s motive was money.
She had nearly $70,000 in credit card debt.
She also owed back taxes.
Teresa had promised her $40,000 if the house transfer succeeded.
Glenn expected a percentage when the property was refinanced or sold.
Mason had been promised another $10,000.
My family had assigned prices to pieces of my life.
My house.
My marriage.
My child.
My trust.
Everything had a number.
When Detective Cole showed me the messages, one exchange stood out.
Betsy.
What if Connor sides with Amy?
Teresa.
He won’t.
Betsy.
You sure?
Teresa.
He has always come back to me.
I read that line repeatedly.
He has always come back to me.
And she was right.
After college.
After my first breakup.
After I lost a job during the recession.
After my father died.
I always called my mother.
She had built her identity around being the person I needed.
Then Amy came into my life.
Then Frederick.
My dependence shifted.
I had not abandoned Teresa.
But to her, maybe independence felt like betrayal.
Rachel warned me not to waste too much energy trying to diagnose motives.
“Understanding why she did it may help you emotionally.”
“It will not change what she did legally.”
She was right.
Meanwhile, Teresa was released on bond for the initial assault charge.
Additional charges had not yet been filed.
The judge issued a no-contact order preventing her from contacting me, Amy, or Frederick directly.
For two days, everything was quiet.
Then flowers arrived at the hotel.
No sender name.
Inside was a card.
Connor.
A mother can forgive a son.
Can a son forgive a mother?
Amy stared at it.
“That violates the order.”
Rachel agreed.
We sent it to Detective Cole.
The florist confirmed the order had been placed by a woman using cash.
Security footage showed Aunt Betsy.
She was arrested that afternoon for helping Teresa violate the no-contact order.
That finally shook the extended family.
People who had defended Teresa began calling me.
Not to apologize.
To ask questions.
“How much did Betsy know?”
“Was Mason involved?”
“Did Teresa really forge your signature?”
I stopped answering.
Then my grandmother called.
Teresa’s mother.
Eighty-four years old.
Living outside Knoxville.
We had not spoken in almost a year.
Her voice was fragile but clear.
“Connor.”
“Grandma.”
“I heard what happened.”
I braced myself for another lecture about family loyalty.
Instead, she said, “I should have warned you.”
I sat down.
“Warned me about what?”
“Your mother did something like this before.”
My skin went cold.
“When?”
“After your father died.”
I could barely breathe.
“What did she do?”
May you like
Grandma hesitated.
Then she said, “She tried to take money that belonged to you.”
