The podcast kept going for another two episodes. One was about being “erased by your support system.” Another about “financial manipulation inside families.” I didn’t listen, but Cara did. She said Bethany was stretching the truth so hard it stopped making sense. People stopped engaging. Comments slowed. Sponsorship vanished. After that, nothing.
The silence wasn’t just digital. It bled into real life. I stopped checking her socials. My mom stopped sending passive-aggressive group texts. My dad didn’t mention her the one time he called to ask about a mechanic. Eventually, Cara told me that Bethany enrolled for part-time classes again using my parents’ money this time. Apparently, they dipped into a rainy day fund they’d kept for emergencies. I almost laughed. Turns out they had it all along. They just didn’t want to use it. Not until I refused to.