Marilyn’s heart sank. “What is happening here?” she demanded. Scott, visibly startled, reminded her of the weekend arrangement. But Marilyn’s focus was on Patricia, and when she inquired about Ben’s whereabouts, Patricia calmly replied that he was spending time with his grandmother. In that moment, the truth became unmistakable: the weekend plan had never been about Ben’s welfare at all.
It soon emerged that Scott had orchestrated the arrangement in an effort to appease Patricia—hoping to revive a past connection—while neglecting the bond he once promised to nurture with Marilyn. A secret recording from an earlier conversation confirmed Scott’s dismissive attitude toward the situation.
With a heavy heart but newfound clarity, Marilyn informed Scott that she would no longer tolerate living under these conditions. In a final act of resolve, she gathered his personal belongings from the home, instructing him to arrange a time to collect them while stating that future communications would be handled through legal channels.
As the door closed behind him, Marilyn received a message from her mother, expressing concern over her well‐being. With quiet determination, Marilyn replied, “Everything is fine. I will no longer be asked to leave my own home.”