“You Have to Sign Everything Over to Me! Why Did You Believe Her? She’s Trying to Scam You!”: Screamed the Son

Winter had settled in, blanketing the neighborhood in a thick layer of snow. The late evening air was crisp and cold, seeping through the cracks of our old house. My daughter, Emily, had finally fallen asleep after a long day of school and play. I tiptoed out of her room and headed to the kitchen to brew myself a cup of chamomile tea, hoping it would soothe my frayed nerves.

We lived alone now, just the two of us. It hadn’t always been this way. Not long ago, our home was filled with laughter and warmth. But that all changed one fateful day when my husband, Mark, called me out of the blue.

“I won’t be coming home,” he said flatly. “Ever.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I had suspected for some time that Mark was seeing someone else. The late nights at the office, the secretive phone calls, the sudden disinterest in family activities—it all pointed to one thing. But hearing him say it out loud was a different kind of pain.

“I’ve fallen in love with someone else,” he continued, his voice devoid of any emotion.

I didn’t know what to say. My mind raced with questions and accusations, but I couldn’t find the words. I hung up the phone and sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

In the weeks that followed, I tried to keep things as normal as possible for Emily’s sake. She was too young to understand why Daddy wasn’t coming home anymore. I told her he had to go away for work, but I knew she sensed something was wrong.

One evening, as I was tucking Emily into bed, my son, Jake, barged into the house. He was furious.

“You have to sign everything over to me!” he screamed. “Why did you believe her? She’s trying to scam you!”

I was taken aback by his sudden outburst. Jake had always been a hothead, but this was different. He was livid.

“Calm down, Jake,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “What are you talking about?”

“That woman Dad’s with,” he spat out. “She’s a con artist! She’s going to take everything from us if you don’t act now!”

I felt a knot form in my stomach. I had heard rumors about Mark’s new girlfriend, but I didn’t want to believe them. Jake’s words confirmed my worst fears.

“I can’t just sign everything over to you,” I said weakly. “There are legal processes—”

“Legal processes?” Jake interrupted, his face turning red with anger. “By the time you get through all that, it’ll be too late! She’ll have taken everything!”

I didn’t know what to do. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Jake stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Days turned into weeks, and the situation only got worse. Mark’s new girlfriend started making demands—money, property, even custody of Emily. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of legal battles and emotional turmoil.

Jake stopped coming around as often. When he did, it was only to argue about what needed to be done. Our once close-knit family was falling apart at the seams.

One cold winter night, as I sat alone in the living room, sipping my now lukewarm tea, I realized that there was no happy ending in sight. The life I had known was gone forever, replaced by uncertainty and heartache.

Emily stirred in her sleep, mumbling something incoherent. I went to her room and watched her for a moment, her innocent face peaceful in slumber. She was my only source of strength now.

As I closed her door and headed back to the kitchen, I knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult. But for Emily’s sake, I had to keep going.