I should have known my birthday was doomed the moment I spotted my niece and nephew whispering together, eyes darting toward me like little villains plotting their next move. But nothing could have prepared me for the audacity that followed.
The morning had started off perfectly. I had fresh highlights, a salon-fresh blowout, flawless makeup, and a dress that made me feel like myself—not just someone’s daughter, sister, or aunt. It was my 30th birthday, and for once, I wanted to feel special.
The backyard was buzzing with energy. The smell of sizzling BBQ filled the air, glasses clinked, and laughter echoed through the yard. My dad was flipping burgers at the grill, my mom hovered over the side dishes, making sure everything was just right, and my brother, Mark, stood to the side, beer in hand, scrolling through his phone with a lazy chuckle.
And then, there were Mark’s kids.
Ava and Lily were running wild, screeching and shoving past guests as if they owned the place. I watched in horror as they nearly sent my elderly neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, toppling into the pool. She barely caught herself on a chair, gasping.
Immediately, I turned to their mother, Jessica. Surely now she’d step in, right? But Jessica just laughed. “Oh, kids will be kids!” she chirped, completely unbothered. Mark barely looked up from his phone.
I clenched my jaw. Breathe, Liv. It’s your birthday. Let it go.
But then I saw it—Ava and Lily huddled together, whispering and giggling. Ava held up a phone, clearly recording. Lily crouched slightly, like a sprinter ready to take off.
And then I knew.
They were going to push me into the pool.
I glanced at Jessica, who was watching the scene unfold. She met my eyes and smirked.
Oh, so that’s how it was going to be?
Fine. I could play this game too.
The second they lunged, I took one graceful step to the side.
SPLASH.
Ava and Lily went tumbling into the water, arms flailing, their shocked expressions priceless.
For a split second, the whole party went silent.
Then—
“HOW COULD YOU LET THEM FALL?!”
Jessica’s shriek cut through the air like a knife. She stormed toward me, face red with outrage, eyes blazing as if I had just committed some kind of crime.
I blinked. “Let them? They tried to push me!”
She didn’t even look at the kids. She didn’t check if they were okay. Instead, her hands flew to her head in a dramatic flourish.
“Their iPhones!!!” she wailed. “Do you have any idea how expensive those were?!”
I stared at her in disbelief. “Maybe you should’ve watched your kids instead of laughing?”
Mark finally looked up, saw the kids dripping wet, and sighed. “That sucks.”
I grabbed some towels and handed them to Ava and Lily, but Jessica was still fuming. “This is your fault, Olivia! You knew they would fall!”
I let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, and you knew they were going to push me. Should I have just let it happen?”
Jessica scoffed, shaking her head. “Unbelievable.”
“No, you are, Jessica.” I picked up my drink, took a slow sip, and turned away.
Happy freakin’ birthday to me.
The next morning, I woke up still annoyed by the chaos of my so-called celebration. Groggy, I grabbed my phone, hoping for a belated birthday message, maybe even a funny meme.
Instead, I saw a text from Jessica.
It was a link.
Curious, I clicked on it—and my jaw dropped. It was an Apple store page for two brand-new iPhones, top-of-the-line, the most expensive models available. My stomach tightened as I scrolled to see the price.
Then her message popped up.
Jessica: Since YOU let them fall, YOU need to replace these. It’s YOUR fault.
I sat up straight, blinking in disbelief. Was this a joke?
Me: You can’t be serious.
The typing bubbles appeared instantly.
Jessica: You’re an adult. You should’ve just let them push you in. It’s not like you’d melt.
I let out a dry, humorless laugh. The absolute audacity. She actually believed I was responsible for her kids’ phones because I didn’t let them push me into the pool?
I was done playing nice.
Me: Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty.
Silence. No response.
Good. I tossed my phone onto the nightstand and went about my day, thinking the ridiculous situation was finally over.
I was wrong.
The next afternoon, my doorbell rang. When I opened it, Jessica was standing there.
With balloons.
For a split second, I thought she had come to apologize, maybe even make amends. But then I noticed the car behind her—Mark was unloading decorations from the trunk.
That’s when I remembered. Weeks ago, before everything went down, I had agreed to host Ava’s birthday party at my house.
Jessica’s smile was smug. “Why do you look so confused? We’re here for the party!”
My blood boiled.
I folded my arms. “You seriously think you can demand money from me one day and then show up expecting me to host your kid’s party the next?”
Jessica sighed dramatically. “Well, yeah,” she said, as if it were obvious. “You still owe us for the phones, but that’s separate.”
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, it’s separate? You mean, like how my house and my generosity are separate from your entitlement?” I pointed toward the street. “Get out.”
Jessica’s smile vanished. “You’re being a b—” She stopped herself, glancing at Ava, then continued. “This is for my daughter! You’re punishing her over a harmless prank!”
I shrugged. “No, you punished her. You wanted me to be the villain? Fine. I’ll play the part.”
And with that, I slammed the door in her face.
I stood at my door, arms crossed, watching Jessica unravel in my driveway. She ranted and waved her arms like a lunatic while Mark awkwardly shuffled near the car, pretending not to notice.
Then, from across the street, I spotted movement.
Mrs. Thompson was heading our way, phone in hand, holding it just high enough for Jessica to see the screen.
Jessica froze, her face draining of color. Mrs. Thompson didn’t say anything at first—just let Jessica look. And whatever was on that screen sent Jessica’s world crashing down.
Mrs. Thompson finally turned to me with a knowing smile. “She won’t be bothering you about the phones anymore.”
I raised a brow. “Oh? And why’s that?”
She chuckled. “I simply let her know that I also have a lovely little video of her kids trying to push me into the pool. And if she keeps pushing this nonsense, well… I’d be happy to take it to the police.”
I let out a laugh, and she joined me. “Of course, we wouldn’t actually do that,” she added innocently. “But you should’ve seen her face.”
Jessica spun around, grabbed Ava’s hand, and stormed off. Mark muttered, “Let’s go,” and followed.
For the first time ever, Jessica had nothing to say.
The next morning, a text popped up.
Jessica: Ava’s party was a disaster because of you. Hope you’re happy.
I smirked.
Me: Oh, I am. Thanks for checking.
