After My Grandma’s Death, My Husband Rushed Me to Sell Her House — When I Learned the Reason, I Was Furious and Made Him Regret It

“If you can prove Paul deceived me, the house is yours. I left all the documents in your name. Be careful, my dear. Paul needed a lot of money, and I don’t know why. I hope he doesn’t drag you and the children into trouble.

– Love, Grandma Elizabeth.”

I sat there for a long time, the attic suddenly colder than before. My mind felt numb. I read the letter again. Then I read it a second time. It felt impossible to believe.

Paul, the man who kissed me every night before bed, who helped bathe our daughters, who told me I was the love of his life, had blackmailed my dying grandmother.

I reached into the suitcase and pulled out everything. There was the deed to the house, her will, the signed but incomplete sale agreement, and several other documents that confirmed everything she had written. She had named me the sole beneficiary of the property months before her death.

By the time I climbed back down, the sun had disappeared. I called a cab and carried the suitcase to the curb. I didn’t go straight home. I stopped at a 24-hour storage facility and locked the suitcase inside one of the smallest units they had. After that, I drove to the bank and placed the most important documents, the will, the deed, and the letter, into a safety deposit box registered under only my name.

I didn’t sleep that night.

When Paul walked in the next morning, still in his button-down and tie, I was waiting for him in the kitchen.

“Where are the girls?” he asked casually, setting down his keys.

“At my sister’s,” I replied, staring at him. “I needed to talk to you first.”

His smile faded. “Mira, what’s going on?”

I took a deep breath. “Why were you pressuring my grandmother before she died? What did you need the money for?”

He froze.

His lips parted, but no words came out at first. Then he gave a short, fake laugh. “What are you even talking about? Did someone say something to you at the funeral? You’re tired, Mira. You’re grieving. I get it.”

“No,” I said, quietly but firmly. “Don’t do that. Don’t try to gaslight me.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “This is ridiculous.”

“I found her letter, Paul. I found everything. The deed is in my name. She wrote it all down. Every single thing you told her.”

That’s when I saw it, the flicker of fear behind his eyes. The mask started to slip.

“She misunderstood,” he said quickly. “I never forced her. I was just trying to help. The house needed work, and we’re not exactly swimming in cash, Mira. You know that.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“I was trying to protect you. The investment… it was supposed to fix everything.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What investment?”

He hesitated.

“You might as well tell me the truth now,” I said. “Because I already know you lost money. What I don’t know is how much and where it went.”