The FaceTime call was supposed to be harmless. Owen Mercer had called so we could choose table runners for our wedding, and I was walking through a quiet apartment filled with flowers and candles while my children slept nearby. Then I heard voices that weren’t meant for me. Owen, his mother, and his brother were discussing me like a financial problem they needed to solve. I wasn’t a partner or a future wife in that conversation. I was a target.

At first, they talked about paperwork, prenups, and “asset protection.” Then the words changed. They called me desperate and said I wouldn’t go anywhere. Someone mentioned using my children to ensure I complied. There were even discussions about agreements that could give Owen authority over my finances and potentially influence custody decisions by labeling me “unstable.” I stood completely still, listening until the call ended. I wasn’t crying. I was already deciding what I needed to do next.’