I Became Guardian of My Twin Sisters After Mom Died — My Fiancée Pretended to Love Them Until I Heard What She Really Said

“Girls, you are not going to be staying here for long. So, don’t get too comfortable. James is doing what he can, but I mean…”

I froze. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“I’m not wasting the final years of my 20s raising someone else’s kids,” Jenna continued. “A foster family would be much better for you anyway. At least they’ll know how to deal with your… sadness. Now, when the final adoption interview is scheduled, I want you both to say that you want to leave. Understand?”

There was silence. Then a soft, choked sound.

“Don’t cry, Maya,” Jenna snapped. “I’m warning you. If you cry again, I’ll take your notebooks and throw them away. You need to grow up before you keep writing your silly stories in them.”

“But we don’t want to leave,” Maya whispered. “We want to stay with James. He’s the best brother in the world.”

I felt my stomach twist.

“You don’t get to want anything. Go do your homework, girls. Hopefully, you’ll be out of my hair in a few weeks and I can go back to my wedding planning. Don’t worry, you’ll still be invited, of course. But don’t think that you’ll be… bridesmaids or anything.”

I heard footsteps, bare, quick, rushing up the stairs. Seconds later, the girls’ bedroom door shut too hard.

I stood there, holding my breath, the weight of her words sinking in. I couldn’t even move toward the kitchen. I didn’t want her to know I was there. I just needed to hear more. I needed to know more.

I needed to be sure before I reacted.

Then I heard Jenna again — her tone changing like she’d flipped a switch, that’s how I knew she was on a call with one of her friends.

“They’re finally gone,” Jenna said. Her voice was light now, almost breathless, like she’d taken off a mask. “Karen, I swear I’m losing my mind. I have to play perfect mom all day. And it’s exhausting.”

She laughed softly, a sound I hadn’t heard from her in weeks. I wondered what Karen had said. There was a pause, then her tone turned sharper.

“He’s still dragging his feet on the wedding,” she continued her call with her friend Karen. “I know it’s because of the girls. But once he adopts them, they’re legally his problem, not mine. That’s why I need them gone. We have an interview coming up with the social worker soon.”