Joe thought life was finally on track. He had just placed his sick mother, Nora, in a nursing home where she would get proper care, and he returned home with his fiancée Emily, dreaming of a bright future together. But the sight that greeted him at the doorstep nearly stopped his heart.
His suitcases were lined up outside like trash. And even worse—a strange family was already moving into his house. Two little girls were chasing each other across the lawn while their parents carried furniture inside.
Joe’s heart pounded as he stormed forward. “What the heck is going on here?” he shouted, waving at the man carrying a lamp. “Hey! Who are you people, and what are you doing in my house?”
The man calmly set the lamp down and wiped his hands on his jeans. “You must be Joe! I was expecting you. Listen, this isn’t your house anymore. Your mom sold it to us. Here—these are the papers. And that over there—” he pointed at the porch “—that’s your stuff.”
Joe froze. His jaw dropped. His eyes darted to the papers.
Emily rushed forward, snatched the contract from the man’s hand, and skimmed through it. Her face turned red with rage. She spun toward Joe, her eyes blazing. “It’s true! Your mother sold the house! Can you believe this? She tricked you under your own nose!”
Joe felt as if the ground had been ripped away. He expected Emily to hug him, to tell him everything would be alright. Instead, she yanked his hand and pulled him toward the car.
“You fool!” Emily snapped. “Do you realize what just happened? Everything is ruined now!”
“Emily, wait… please don’t say that. I don’t understand why Mom did this. But we still have each other, right? We can figure this out.”
Emily glared at him, her lips curling in disgust. “There’s no more ‘we,’ you loser. Forget about me!”
She tugged off the engagement ring and hurled it to the ground. The clink echoed in Joe’s chest like a knife.
“Emily! Wait!” Joe begged, running after her. “What about our baby?”
Emily stopped, turned, and laughed cruelly. “Baby? You’re so stupid. There was never a baby. I just told you that so you’d let me move in faster. Now get out of my way!”
Joe’s voice cracked as he reached out to her. “Wha—what do you mean? Emily? Emily, stop!” But she stormed out the gate without looking back, leaving him shattered.
Joe sank onto the porch steps, clutching his head. His chest felt hollow, like someone had scooped his heart out. That’s when he noticed an envelope sticking out from beneath a cardboard box. He pulled it free, and his breath caught—Mom’s handwriting.
His hands trembled as he tore it open.
“Dear Joe,
I’m sorry this happened. I never wanted to take such drastic steps, but you left me no choice. It all started the day you first brought Emily home…”
Flashback — a few weeks earlier
Nora sat in her armchair, her oxygen mask strapped to her face, trying to process Joe’s announcement. Emily sat on the couch beside him, flashing her charming smile.
“…Joe is so funny and charming,” Emily giggled, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I couldn’t say no when he asked me out at the funfair.”
“It’s only been three weeks, but it feels like forever,” Joe beamed. “That’s why I asked Emily to move in. Mom, she’s the one. We’re soulmates.”
Nora nearly choked. Her coughing fit lasted minutes. Joe rubbed her shoulder, worry clouding his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I know it’s sudden, but you always told me to fight for love—just like you and Dad did.”
Nora forced a smile, though her stomach twisted. “Emily, darling, would you make me some tea? The kitchen’s that way.”
As soon as Emily left, Nora turned to Joe. “Joey, don’t you think this is too fast?”
“Mom, I love her. Please trust me. She’ll be a wonderful wife.”
Nora gave in, though unease gnawed at her heart.
The next days seemed normal—knitting with Emily, watching documentaries together, even laughing as a family. But one night, Nora forgot her pills and crept to the kitchen. On her way back, she froze at the sound of Emily’s voice from the bathroom.
“That old crone with her oxygen machine,” Emily hissed. “She’s a thorn in my way. But Joe’s hooked. I’ll get rid of her soon.”
Nora clutched her chest in horror. Emily wasn’t the sweet girl Joe thought.
“And once Joe shoves her into a nursing home, I’ll kick him out too. This house will be mine!”
Nora staggered back to her room, shaken to the core. How could she tell Joe without him thinking she was imagining things?
Days later, Joe approached her. “Mom, it’s about Emily. She’s running a business and needs money for machinery. I want to help her… but I’ll need you to sell this house.”
Nora gasped. “What? Joey, this is my home!”
“Mom, please. You’ll be comfortable in the nursing home. I’ll buy back the house as soon as the business grows.”
Tears welled in Nora’s eyes. She knew Emily was behind this, but Joe’s mind was made up. For now, she pretended to agree.
Then one afternoon, she followed Emily secretly to a café. What she saw crushed her—Emily in another man’s arms, kissing him passionately.
She called Joe immediately. “Joey, hurry! Come to the café on 3rd Street. It’s urgent!”
When he arrived, Nora pointed through the window. “Look—Emily’s cheating!”
Joe stormed inside. “What the heck is this? How long have you been seeing him?”
Emily jumped up. “Cheating? He’s my cousin! That’s just how we greet each other in New York!”
“You expect me to believe that?” Joe growled.
Emily wiped fake tears and pulled a pregnancy test from her bag. “I was going to surprise you… you’re going to be a daddy, Joe.”
Joe melted instantly, hugging her tight. Nora’s voice trembled. “She’s lying! Don’t fall for it!”
“Stop it, Mom!” Joe snapped. “You’re confused. You need proper care.”
Nora realized then—Joe was blinded. Her only choice was to outsmart Emily.
Back to the present
Joe’s tears splashed onto the letter as he read his mother’s final words:
“…I did what I had to, to protect you. One day, you’ll understand.”
Joe pressed the letter to his chest, sobbing. “I’ve been such an idiot.”
He rushed to the nursing home, desperate to see his mom. But the receptionist’s face was grim. “Thank goodness you’re here. We’ve been calling you. Your mother was rushed to the hospital.”
Joe sped to the hospital, praying she’d be alright. But when the doctor emerged, his words broke Joe into pieces.
“I’m sorry, Joe. She didn’t make it.”
Joe fell into a chair, shaking, tears streaming down his face.
His phone buzzed. A text from the bank blinked on the screen. His mother had transferred $500,000 into his account—the money from selling her beloved home.
Joe buried his face in his hands, drowning in guilt. His mother had sacrificed everything—her home, her dignity, even her final strength—to protect him.
