Chapter 6: Caught on Camera, Lies Unravel

I nodded, sat down at the table, took out my phone, and quietly propped it between my back and the chair, camera on.

I angled the phone just right, making sure the lens had a clear shot under the table. Old habits die hard, and I wasn’t about to get caught off guard again.

Not long after, I heard my sister-in-law let out an “Ow!”

Her voice was high and sharp, drawing everyone’s attention. She clutched her leg, eyes darting to me.

“What is it?” my brother asked, concerned.

He leaned in, brow furrowed. He always played the protective husband, at least when people were watching.

“N-nothing.”

She shook her head, lips pressed tight. But I could see the gears turning, the way she stole glances at me.

She looked uncomfortable, as if something was bothering her but she was trying to hide it.

She shifted in her seat, fidgeting with her napkin. The performance was almost convincing.

A moment later, she cried out again.

This time, she yelped louder, making sure everyone heard. My brother’s eyes narrowed, suspicion brewing.

“What’s wrong now?” my brother snapped, slamming his fork down.

He glared at me, jaw clenched. The tension in the room spiked, everyone waiting for the next accusation.

She glanced at me awkwardly. “It’s just… why does someone keep bumping my leg under the table? That never happened before!”

She said it softly, but her words hit like a bomb. I could feel the room shift, all eyes on me.

As soon as she said it, both my brother and my mom turned to look at me.

Their faces hardened, the warmth gone. I could see the accusation in their eyes, the judgment already passed.

No one got bumped before. Now that I’m back, suddenly it happens—so of course they’d pin it on me.

It was a setup, plain and simple. I almost admired the audacity.

My brother didn’t even bother to ask for confirmation:

He pointed his fork at me, voice cold. "AJ, that’s your sister-in-law. Show some respect!"

Mom looked at me disapprovingly:

She shook her head, lips pursed. "Even family shouldn’t cross that line. Apologize to your sister-in-law!"

I gave a cold smile. “Sis-in-law, you really felt someone bump your leg?”

I met her gaze, letting my voice go flat. I wanted her to know I wasn’t playing along.

She hesitated, looking at me as if embarrassed. “Forget it, just be more careful next time.”

She played the martyr, eyes downcast. But I saw the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Are you sure you really felt someone bump your leg?” I pressed again.

I leaned in, voice gentle but insistent. I wanted to see how far she’d take the lie.

She had nowhere left to retreat and finally nodded:

She looked at Mom, then at my brother, searching for backup. Finally, she nodded, lips trembling. "But it’s fine, I know you didn’t mean it. If I made a fuss, Mom and Ethan would be embarrassed. Let’s just drop it."

My brother looked touched. “Honey, you’re so generous.”

He reached for her hand, squeezing it tight. His voice was soft, almost loving. The performance was flawless.

Mom nodded repeatedly. “Megan, you’ve done so much for this family.”

She dabbed at her eyes with a napkin, sniffing dramatically. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.

The three of them were putting on a show, acting like I’d really bumped her leg several times.

I watched them, marveling at their teamwork. It was almost impressive, the way they played off each other.

I smiled slightly.

I let the silence linger, then cleared my throat, drawing their attention.

“Oh, I must’ve left my camera on. It caught everything under the table.”

I pulled out my phone, screen facing up. Their faces went pale, the act slipping for just a moment.

When I pulled out my phone, all three of them changed color.

My sister-in-law’s hand flew to her mouth, Mom’s eyes widened, and my brother’s jaw clenched. The mask was slipping.

My sister-in-law stammered, “Maybe I just imagined it.”

Her voice was small, shaky. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Mom looked pained. “She must be overtired and imagining things. Ethan, Megan really sacrifices so much for this family.”

She shot my brother a look, silently begging him to take charge. He just grunted, eyes fixed on the table.

My brother just grunted, “A man shouldn’t argue with a woman.”

He sounded tired, defeated. The fight had gone out of him, at least for now.

None of them even bothered to watch the video—they all changed their tune in unison. Clearly, they knew better than anyone that I was innocent.

It was all so predictable. I almost felt sorry for them—almost.

I shook my head. “No way.”

I raised my voice, letting a little outrage slip in. "This is serious. If something’s wrong, we need to fix it."

My sister-in-law looked like she was about to cry. “It was my fault first. If AJ doesn’t forgive me, I understand.”

She sniffled, dabbing at her eyes. The performance was Oscar-worthy.

My brother slammed the table. “Are you done yet? Making trouble for your sister-in-law is disrespecting me! You’re selfish and stubborn. We’re the ones taking care of Mom, and you’re hung up on this petty thing. Are you even human?”

His voice rose, the anger real this time. He glared at me, daring me to argue.

I looked innocent. “What are you talking about? I’m just worried that if sis-in-law keeps thinking someone’s touching her, maybe it’s a nerve problem. She should get it checked out at the hospital!”

I let my concern sound genuine, even a little worried. I wanted to see how far they’d take the charade.

She froze. “That’s… that’s not necessary. I’m probably just tired. Rest will fix it.”

She tried to backpedal, but it was too late. The trap had sprung.

I insisted, “No worries, I’ll pay for it. Your health is the most important thing! Besides, if it’s a nerve issue, it might affect your ability to have kids. Even if you get pregnant, the baby might not be healthy.”

I saw Mom’s eyes widen, panic flickering across her face. Fertility was her favorite topic, especially with a grandchild on the line.

The second Mom heard “fertility,” she made the call.

She jumped to her feet, grabbing her purse. "Let’s go, now! No arguments!"

My brother agreed, “AJ’s willing to pay, so let’s get it checked out!”

He nodded, already halfway to the door. The family was nothing if not practical when it came to free healthcare.

We left right away, not even finishing the meal.

The plates sat abandoned, steam curling from forgotten food. I grabbed my keys, leading the way.