Chapter 5: The Sale That Was Never Supposed to Happen
For a few seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own heartbeat.
The house behind me.
The phone in my hand.
My mother's frightened face staring through the glass door.
Someone was trying to sell the house.
The house I bought.
The house my mother lived in.
The house that was supposed to be the one place in the world where she would always be safe.
"Excuse me?"" I finally said.
Melissa's voice remained calm, but I could hear the seriousness underneath it.
"I said we received paperwork regarding a possible ownership transfer.""
"From who?""
There was a pause.
"According to the request, the documents were submitted by an authorized representative.""
My eyes moved slowly toward the living room.
Julian was watching me.
He couldn't hear the conversation.
But he knew.
I could see it.
The confidence in his face was gone.
"Who submitted it?""
"I can't provide all details over the phone without verification," Melissa said.
"But I can tell you that the request is connected to your mother's name.""
I lowered my voice.
"Did she sign something?""
Another pause.
"That's what we're trying to determine.""
My stomach dropped.
Trying to determine.
That meant something was wrong.
"Melissa, listen to me.""
"I'm listening.""
"My mother is the owner of the property.""
"Yes.""
"And she did not tell me she was selling.""
"I understand.""
"No, I need you to understand.""
My voice shook.
"Someone is trying to take her house.""
The silence on the other end told me she understood exactly.
"I recommend you come into the office as soon as possible.""
"When?""
"We can meet first thing tomorrow morning.""
I looked back at my mother.
Tomorrow felt impossible.
Every minute mattered.
"Is there anything I can do tonight?""
"You can gather any documents related to the property and make sure your mother does not sign anything else.""
That last sentence hit me.
"Why would you say that?""
Melissa hesitated.
"Because, Ms. Carter, when we reviewed the request, there were some unusual elements.""
"What kind of elements?""
"I'd rather discuss that in person.""
I hated that answer.
But I knew enough.
Someone was moving.
And they thought they had time.
"Thank you.""
I ended the call.
For a moment, I just stood there.
Then I walked back inside.
Julian immediately straightened.
"What happened?""
I looked at him.
"You tell me.""
Khloe frowned.
"What does that mean?""
I held up my phone.
"Someone tried to transfer ownership of this house yesterday.""
The color drained from my mother's face.
"What?""
She grabbed the edge of the table.
"No.""
Julian immediately stepped forward.
"That's impossible.""
I looked at him.
"Is it?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because nobody is selling this house.""
The way he answered was too fast.
Too certain.
I noticed.
"So you know?""
He froze.
"What?""
"You know nobody is selling it?""
He shook his head.
"Because I live here.""
I stared at him.
"That's not an answer.""
Khloe stepped between us.
"Stop attacking him.""
I looked at her.
"Your husband knows about a sale attempt involving Mom's house, and your concern is that I'm attacking him?""
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
My mother looked between all of us.
"Natalie.""
I turned.
"Mom, did anyone talk to you about selling?""
Her face went pale.
"No.""
"Did anyone ask you to sign something recently?""
She hesitated.
My heart sank.
"Mom.""
She looked down.
"Julian asked me to sign some papers last week.""
The room went silent.
"What papers?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I stared at her.
"You don't know?""
"He said it was about updating information.""
My hands went cold.
"What information?""
"I don't know.""
Julian suddenly spoke.
"She is confused.""
I turned toward him.
"Excuse me?""
"Your mother gets overwhelmed by paperwork.""
My jaw tightened.
"Do not talk about her like she isn't standing here.""
"I'm not insulting her.""
"You're dismissing her.""
He looked frustrated.
"You're making a simple situation into a crime.""
"Then explain the simple situation.""
He said nothing.
I stepped closer.
"What did you have her sign?""
"It was nothing.""
"Nothing?""
"Yes.""
"What kind of nothing?""
He looked away.
That was when I knew.
The truth was never in the answers.
It was always in the things people avoided.
I picked up the folder again.
"I want copies of everything.""
Julian laughed.
"You don't have authority.""
I looked at him.
"I have more authority than you.""
"Do you?""
His words were quiet.
Almost confident.
That bothered me.
"What is that supposed to mean?""
He looked at my mother.
Then at me.
"Ask her.""
My mother looked terrified.
I felt a cold feeling move through my body.
"Ask her what?""
Nobody answered.
I walked toward my mother.
"Mom.""
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
"What aren't you telling me?""
She sat down slowly.
"There was another document.""
"What document?""
She covered her face with her hands.
"I don't know exactly.""
"Mom.""
"Julian said it was for emergencies.""
I stared at her.
"What kind of emergencies?""
"He said if something happened to me, someone needed to manage everything.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Manage everything?""
She nodded.
"And you agreed?""
"I thought it was just paperwork.""
I looked at Julian.
"You made her sign a backup plan for her own life.""
His expression hardened.
"Watch how you speak.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"Not anymore.""
For years, my mother had been trying to keep peace.
For years, everyone had benefited from her silence.
That ended tonight.
I took out my phone again.
"I need a locksmith.""
My mother looked confused.
"Natalie?""
I looked at her.
"Mom, I need you to listen carefully.""
She nodded slowly.
"Tonight, nobody enters this house without your permission.""
Julian laughed.
"You can't be serious.""
I ignored him.
"Tomorrow morning, we meet with an attorney.""
Khloe's face changed.
"An attorney?""
"Yes.""
"You would do that to family?""
I looked at her.
"You mean like family using Mom's money?""
She looked away.
That hurt more than anger would have.
Because somewhere inside her, she knew.
I called the locksmith.
Then I called my attorney.
Then I did something I never thought I would do.
I changed the emergency contact information connected to the property.
Not Julian.
Not Khloe.
Me.
Because apparently the person who had been protecting my mother from across the world was the only person who had forgotten to protect her from the people standing right beside her.
An hour later, the locksmith arrived.
The entire time, Julian stood by the staircase watching.
Silent.
Angry.
Waiting.
When the first lock was removed, he finally spoke.
"You are making a mistake.""
I didn't look at him.
"No.""
"You think you know everything.""
"I know enough.""
He walked closer.
"You don't understand what happens when people start asking questions.""
I stopped.
"What does that mean?""
He smiled slightly.
A cold smile.
"The truth has a way of hurting everyone.""
I turned around.
"Maybe.""
I looked at my mother.
"But lies already did.""
The new lock clicked into place.
A small sound.
But it felt like the first moment my mother had control again.
After the locksmith left, I helped my mother pack a bag.
She moved slowly.
Like she was afraid someone would stop her.
Like she had forgotten she was allowed to leave.
As she folded clothes into a suitcase, I noticed something hidden at the bottom of her closet.
A small wooden box.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the box where she kept things she considered precious.
Old photos.
My childhood drawings.
Letters.
Memories.
I picked it up.
"Mom, is this yours?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I opened it carefully.
Inside were dozens of old photographs.
A bracelet my father gave her before he left.
My first tooth.
My graduation picture.
And underneath everything...
An envelope.
With my name written on it.
The handwriting was my mother's.
But the date made me stop.
It was dated three months ago.
Before I came home.
I looked at her.
"Mom.""
She froze.
"What?""
"Why did you write me a letter?""
Her face changed.
Not fear.
Sadness.
Deep sadness.
"I didn't know if I would ever tell you.""
I opened the envelope.
The first line made my heart stop.
Natalie, if you are reading this, it means I finally found the courage to tell you what happened.
I looked at my mother.
Then back at the letter.
Because whatever she had been hiding...
was bigger than the house.
May you like
Bigger than the money.
And bigger than Julian.
