Chapter 4: The Woman She Wanted Removed
David found the file the next morning.
He wasn’t searching through Jessica’s computer.
He was looking through shared financial documents she had accidentally synced to the home account.
The file name was simple.
“House Plan.””
At first, David thought it was about renovations.
Then he opened it.
His expression changed.
The document wasn’t about repairs.
It was a plan.
A plan written by Jessica.
A plan about selling the house.
David read every line.
Jessica wanted to convince him that Margaret was too expensive to keep.
She wanted his mother gone.
She had even written:
“Once Margaret leaves, we can finally make decisions without interference.””
David felt sick.
Interference.
That was what Jessica called his mother.
The woman who brought them meals when they were sick.
The woman who babysat their children.
The woman who never complained.
David printed the pages.
Then he waited.
When Jessica came home, he placed them on the table.
She stopped when she saw them.
“Where did you get that?””
David didn’t answer.
“Jessica.””
She looked nervous.
“I can explain.””
“That’s what you always say.””
She sat down.
“I was frustrated.””
“You wanted my mother gone.””
“No.””
“You wrote it.””
Jessica looked at the papers.
Her silence confirmed everything.
David felt a deep sadness.
“Why?””
She looked away.
“Because everything changed when she came here.””
Margaret, who was standing nearby, looked hurt.
“What did I do?””
Jessica didn’t answer.
David stepped forward.
“My mother cooked. Cleaned. Helped you. Supported this family.””
Jessica shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Jessica’s eyes became cold.
“I wanted a life with just us.””
David stared.
“She’s my mother.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
The argument stopped when Margaret quietly walked upstairs.
David noticed.
He followed her.
He found her sitting on the edge of her bed.
“Mom.””
She looked up.
“I heard enough.””
David sat beside her.
“I’m sorry.””
Margaret smiled weakly.
“Don’t apologize for someone else’s actions.””
“I should have noticed.””
“You trusted your wife.””
“I trusted everyone.””
Margaret touched his hand.
“That’s not a weakness.””
That night, David made a choice.
He transferred his mother’s room into a place where she would never feel temporary again.
He changed the locks.
Not to keep Margaret out.
To make sure nobody could ever force her out again.
But before he could confront Jessica about the final issue, his phone rang.
It was the bank.
David answered.
“Hello?””
The voice on the other end was serious.
“Mr. Wilson, we reviewed the transfers you reported.””
David stood still.
“What did you find?””
A pause.
Then the banker said:
“There is one payment from your mother’s account that doesn’t match the others.””
David frowned.
“What payment?””
The banker lowered his voice.
“It was made to Jessica personally.””
David looked toward the living room.
Jessica was standing there.
Watching him.
May you like
And then the banker said the amount.
“$20,000.””
