Chapter 2: The Secret They Hid From Me
My mother had always been the strongest person I knew.
She raised me alone after my father left.
She worked double shifts.
She skipped vacations.
She wore the same winter coat for twelve years because she wanted me to have new shoes.
So when she looked scared, I knew something was wrong.
I ended the call before my lawyer answered.
“Mom,” I said, “sit down.””
She shook her head.
“I’m fine.””
“No, you’re not.””
Jason crossed his arms.
“Sarah, this is getting dramatic.””
I turned toward him.
“Dramatic?””
I pointed at the kitchen.
“My sixty-eight-year-old mother is standing here with swollen hands while you watch television.””
Diane rolled her eyes.
“She offered.””
Mom looked at her.
“No, Diane. I didn’t.””
Nobody spoke.
Jason’s jaw tightened.
“Why are you attacking my family?””
I stared at him.
“Your family?””
I laughed softly.
“My mother is the one who helped us when Noah was born. She slept on the floor because we didn’t have another bedroom. She cooked meals for us when you were working late.””
Jason looked away.
Diane immediately interrupted.
“Well, this house has always been stressful because too many people think they have a say.””
I froze.
“What does that mean?””
She looked uncomfortable for the first time.
“Nothing.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“What does that mean?””
Jason moved between us.
“Sarah, calm down.””
I looked at him.
“Why does your mother talk like this house belongs to her?””
Nobody answered.
That silence told me everything.
Mom slowly sat at the kitchen table.
“Sarah…”
I sat beside her.
“What happened?””
She looked down at her hands.
“A few months ago, Jason asked me to help with some paperwork.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What paperwork?””
“He said it was just family paperwork. Something about making things easier if something happened.””
I looked at Jason.
“What did you make her sign?””
His face hardened.
“It wasn’t like that.””
“Then what was it like?””
Diane stood up.
“Your mother is confused.””
Mom looked up sharply.
“I am not confused.””
That was the first time I had heard anger in her voice.
“I know exactly what happened.””
Jason stepped forward.
“Mom, don’t make this worse.””
I immediately noticed his words.
Not “that’s not true.””
Not “you misunderstood.””
Just:
Don’t make this worse.
I pulled out my phone again.
“I’m calling my attorney.””
Jason’s expression changed.
“You’re really doing this?””
“Yes.””
Diane walked toward me.
“You have no idea what you’re accusing us of.””
I looked at her.
“Then you shouldn’t be worried.””
She stopped.
Jason lowered his voice.
“Sarah, we need to talk privately.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I spent months trusting you.””
I looked around the house.
The house I bought before we married.
The house my mother helped me choose.
The house I paid for.
Then I noticed something sitting on the kitchen counter.
A stack of mail.
I picked it up.
My name was printed on the envelope.
But the return address made my blood run cold.
It was from a real estate company.
I opened it.
Inside was a letter requesting confirmation of ownership details.
My hands started shaking.
“Why is a real estate company contacting me?””
Jason went completely silent.
Diane looked away.
I looked at both of them.
“What did you do?””
Jason finally spoke.
“Sarah…”
But before he could finish, my phone rang.
It was my attorney.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A serious voice came through the speaker.
“Sarah, I received your message. I checked the property records.””
I looked at Jason.
The color had disappeared from his face.
My attorney continued.
“There is something you need to know.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
A pause.
May you like
Then he said:
“Someone attempted to transfer ownership of your house.””
