I sat for a long time, the attic suddenly colder than before. My mind seemed numb. I read the letter again. Then a second time. It was almost impossible to believe.
Paul, the man who kissed me every night before bed, who helped bathe our daughters, who said I was the love of his life, had put pressure on my dying grandmother.
I plunged my hands into the suitcase and pulled out everything I could find. There was the deed to the house, her will, the signed but incomplete preliminary sales agreement, and several other documents that confirmed everything she had written. She had named me as the sole beneficiary of the house months before she died.
When I got back downstairs, the sun had already set. I called a taxi and carried the suitcase to the sidewalk. I didn’t go straight home. First, I went to a 24-hour self-storage facility and locked the suitcase in one of their smallest units. Then, I went to the bank and deposited the most important documents—the will, the deed, and the letter—in a safe deposit box in my name only.
That night, I didn’t sleep.
When Paul came home the next morning, still in his buttoned shirt and tie, I was waiting for him in the kitchen.
« Where are the girls? » he asked casually, putting down his keys.
« At my sister’s, » I replied, staring at him. « I needed to talk to you first. »
Her smile faded.
— Mira, what’s going on?
I took a deep breath.
— Why did you pressure my grandmother before she died? And what did you use that money for?
His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first. Then he let out a short, forced laugh.
« What are you talking about? Did someone brainwash you at the funeral? You’re tired, Mira. You’re grieving. I understand. »
« No, » I said, softly but firmly. « Don’t do that. Don’t try to make me doubt myself. »
He squirmed, uncomfortable.
— This is ridiculous.
— I found her letter, Paul. I found everything. The document is in my name. She wrote everything. Everything you told her.
That’s when I saw it, that flash of fear in his eyes. The mask began to crack.
« She misunderstood, » he said quickly. « I never forced her. I was just trying to help. The house needed work, and we’re not exactly rolling in money, Mira. You know that. »
— Why didn’t you come and talk to me about it?
— I was trying to protect you. This investment… was supposed to fix everything.
I narrowed my eyes.
— What investment?
« I might as well tell you now, » he said. « Because I know you already know I’ve lost money. What you don’t know is how much and where it went. »
He sat heavily at the kitchen table, his face buried in his hands.
« A year ago, » he began, « a colleague—Jason—told me about a great opportunity with a crypto startup. Guaranteed return. Triple what we were putting in. I thought if I pulled it off, we could finally stop worrying about the mortgage, Ellie’s school fees, all that. »
— So you gambled at the casino with our savings?
« Two-thirds, » he said in a low voice.
The air seemed to be ripped from my lungs.
« When everything collapsed, I panicked, » he continued. « I started moving the money. I told you we had extra taxes to pay, that the roof needed repairs. I thought I could catch up before you realized. »
My hands clenched into fists.
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