I should have known my birthday was going to be a disaster the moment I saw my niece and nephew whispering like little villains, their mischievous eyes locked onto me. But no amount of suspicion could have prepared me for what they were about to do.
The day had started perfectly. My hair was freshly highlighted, styled to perfection at the salon. My makeup was flawless, and I wore a dress that made me feel like myself—like Olivia, not just someone’s daughter, sister, or aunt. I was turning 30, and I deserved to feel special.
The backyard was alive with the sounds of sizzling BBQ and the clinking of glasses. The air smelled of grilled burgers and smoky ribs. My dad was at the grill, flipping patties like a pro, while my mom fussed over side dishes, making sure everything was perfect. My brother, Mark, stood off to the side, beer in hand, laughing at something on his phone, completely unbothered by the chaos around him.
And then there were Mark’s kids.
Ava and Lily were running wild, shrieking and pushing past guests without a care in the world. I watched, horrified, as they nearly shoved my elderly neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, right into the pool. She gasped, barely catching herself on a chair. My heart jumped into my throat.
I turned to their mother, Jessica, expecting her to step in. Surely she would say something now, right? But instead, she laughed. “Oh, kids will be kids!”
Mark barely glanced up from his phone and chuckled. “They’re just having fun.”
I clenched my jaw. Breathe, Liv. It’s your birthday. Just let it go.
I tried—I really did. But then, I noticed something. Ava and Lily huddled together, whispering and giggling. Ava held up a phone, clearly recording, while Lily crouched slightly, like a sprinter ready to launch.
And then I knew. They were planning to push me in the pool. My eyes flicked to Jessica. She saw them. And she smirked.
Alright, if they wanted to play games, I could play too.
The moment they lunged, I took a single step to the side.
SPLASH!
Ava and Lily hit the water, arms flailing, their faces frozen in shock.
Silence fell over the backyard.
Then—
“HOW COULD YOU LET THEM FALL?!”
Jessica’s scream shattered the stillness as she stormed toward me, her face red with fury. She didn’t even glance at the kids to check if they were okay. Instead, her hands flew to her head in pure panic.
“Their iPhones!!!” she wailed. “Do you have any idea how expensive those were?”
I stared at her in disbelief. “Maybe you should’ve been watching your kids instead of laughing?”
Mark finally looked up from his phone and sighed. “That sucks.”
I grabbed some towels and handed them to Ava and Lily, who were dripping wet and pouting. Jessica, on the other hand, 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 and shook her head. “Unbelievable.”
“No, you are, Jessica,” I shot back, grabbing my drink and taking a long sip.
Happy freakin’ birthday to me.
The next morning, I woke up still irritated. I grabbed my phone, hoping for some belated birthday messages or at least a funny meme to brighten my mood. Instead, I saw a text from Jessica.
It was a link.
Curious, I clicked on it, and my eyes widened. It was an Apple store page for two brand-new iPhones—the most expensive models available. My stomach dropped as I saw the price.
Then her message popped up.
Jessica: Since YOU let them fall, YOU need to replace these. It’s YOUR fault.
I blinked in disbelief. Was this some kind of joke?
Me: You can’t be serious.
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 sharp, humorless laugh. The absolute audacity. She really thought I was responsible for her kids’ phones because I didn’t let them push me into the pool?
I was done being nice.
Me: Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty.
No reply.
I tossed my phone onto the nightstand, thinking this ridiculous situation was finally over.
I was wrong.
The next afternoon, my doorbell rang. I opened it to find Jessica standing there.
With balloons.
For a split second, I thought maybe she had come to apologize. Maybe she had realized how absurd she had been. But then I saw the car behind her—Mark was unloading decorations from the trunk.
And then I remembered. Weeks ago, before all of this, I had agreed to host Ava’s birthday party. At my house. By the pool.
Jessica’s smile was as smug as ever. “Why do you look so confused? We’re here for the party!”
My blood boiled.
I crossed 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, like I was the one being unreasonable. “Well, yeah. You still owe us for the phones, but that’s separate.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, it’s separate? Like how my house and my generosity are separate from your entitlement? Get out.”
Her smug expression disappeared instantly.
Jessica’s face twisted in frustration. “You’re being a b—” She caught herself, glancing at Ava before adjusting her tone. “This is for my daughter! You are 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 watched from my window as Jessica unraveled in my driveway, ranting and pacing, her voice high-pitched with outrage. Mark stood awkwardly by the car, pretending not to notice. Ava just looked confused, her birthday party ruined before it even started.
Then I noticed movement from across the street.
Mrs. Thompson was heading toward Jessica, holding up her phone.
Jessica froze mid-rant. Her face turned pale. She didn’t speak, just stared at the screen, her expression crumbling.
Mrs. Thompson knocked on my door.
“Hey, Mrs. Thompson,” I greeted, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled warmly. “She won’t be bothering you about the phones anymore.”
I smirked. “Oh? Why’s that?”
She leaned in, her voice amused. “I showed her the video of her kids trying to push me into the pool. Told her if she kept up this nonsense, I’d be happy to take it to the police.”
I burst out laughing.
Jessica didn’t argue. She grabbed Ava’s hand, stormed off, and within seconds, their car was gone.
For the first time ever, Jessica had nothing to say.
By the next morning, the family group chat was flooded with messages. My mom tried to smooth things over. My dad ignored it. Mark sent a weak “Sorry about that.”
Jessica? Not a word.
Until one final message popped up.
Jessica: Ava’s party was a disaster because of you. Hope you’re happy.
I smiled, sipping my coffee.
Me: Oh, I am. Thanks for checking.
