At my son’s wedding in Seattle, the bride looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Starting tomorrow, you’re no longer part of this family. I’m the boss now—not you.” I smiled, walked away like it didn’t hurt, and canceled the $80,000 I’d promised for their first home—right there at the reception, while the music was still playing.

“You’re in his bank accounts?” I asked quietly.

Amanda realized she’d said too much.

Barbara grabbed her arm.

“We should leave now.”

“No.” Amanda shook her off. “I’m tired of pretending to be nice.”

Then she looked straight at me.

“Here’s the truth, Helen. You have two choices. Either give us the money—the full $80,000—and leave us completely alone… or I’ll make Daniel’s life horrible.”

“I’ll max out every credit card he has. I’ll take out loans in his name. I’ll make sure that when I’m done, he’s so destroyed financially that he’ll have no choice but to stay with me.”

“Because what kind of man leaves his wife when he’s drowning in debt? What kind of man abandons someone he made promises to?”

“You’re threatening to financially abuse him,” I said.

“I’m promising consequences,” Amanda replied. “Give us the money, Helen, or watch me destroy everything you built for him. You have 24 hours to decide.”