Chapter 6: The Woman From Jason’s Past
For three seconds, I forgot how to breathe.
“Jason’s… first wife?””
My attorney’s words echoed in my head.
I looked across the room.
Jason was watching my face.
He knew.
He knew exactly what I had just heard.
“Sarah?””
I ended the call slowly.
Nobody moved.
Then I asked the only question I could.
“Who is she?””
Jason’s expression changed.
“Sarah, it’s complicated.””
I laughed quietly.
“Of course it is.””
Diane immediately stepped in.
“You need to understand the circumstances.””
I looked at her.
“No. I need the truth.””
Jason sat down.
For the first time since I came home, he looked small.
Not innocent.
Just exposed.
“My first marriage ended years before I met you.””
“And?””
“She had financial problems.””
I stared at him.
“So you sent her money?””
“No.””
I pointed at the folder.
“Then explain this.””
Jason rubbed his face.
“I invested in a business she owns.””
I looked at Mark.
“And you helped?””
Mark stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
I opened the bank statements again.
“Why was money from our account going there?””
Jason looked away.
“Because I needed capital.””
I felt sick.
“You took money from our family to fund your ex-wife’s business?””
“It wasn’t like that.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.””
I walked toward the kitchen.
The same kitchen where my mother had stood hours earlier.
The same sink.
The same dishes.
The same house.
But everything felt different.
“You all watched my mother work herself sick while you were moving my money around.””
Jason stood.
“I never wanted her to suffer.””
“But she did.””
My voice broke.
“And you didn’t care enough to stop it.””
That hurt him.
I saw it.
But I couldn’t let his sadness erase what happened.
Diane suddenly grabbed her purse.
“I think this conversation is becoming unfair.””
I turned.
“Unfair?””
She looked offended.
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“You helped my husband hide documents.””
She opened her mouth.
“You encouraged my mother to sign papers.””
She looked away.
“And you sat ten feet away while she washed your dishes.””
Her face turned red.
Then she said something I would never forget.
“She’s your mother. Not mine.””
The room became silent.
Jason looked at her.
“Mom…”
But it was too late.
I had heard enough.
I picked up my phone.
“I’m changing the locks tomorrow.””
Jason froze.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“This is my home too.””
I looked at him.
“No. It’s a home you were allowed to live in.””
His face hardened.
“You can’t just throw me out.””
I smiled sadly.
“I’m not.””
I held up the documents.
“I’m giving you a chance to leave before the law makes that decision.””
For the first time, Jason looked afraid.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
His entire expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
I walked closer.
“Jason.””
Slowly, he turned the phone around.
There was a message.
Only one sentence.
But it changed everything.
*“She knows about the account. We need to finish the transfer tonight.””*
I looked at Jason.
Then at Diane.
Then at Mark.
My voice became cold.
“Finish the transfer?””
Nobody spoke.
I took a screenshot.
And Jason realized something.
The moment I saved that message…
He lost control of the story.
But then another message appeared.
This one came from the same number.
May you like
And it contained my name.
*“If Sarah finds out who really owns the company, we’re all finished.””*
