Joe thought life was finally falling into place. He had Emily, the woman he believed was the love of his life, and a baby on the way. His mom, Nora, was safe in a nursing home where she would supposedly get the care she needed. Everything seemed set for a bright future.
Emily smiled sweetly as she rested her hand on his stomach while they drove back. “You did the right thing,” she said warmly. “Your mom will have a better life in the nursing home. And guess what—we can turn her old crafts room into a nursery for our baby.”
Joe smiled back, though his heart felt heavy. If only Mom had been able to see how kind Emily really was. But her age and health problems had clouded her mind. He had no choice but to decide for her. At least, that’s what he told himself.
But the moment they parked outside his mother’s house, Joe froze. A moving truck was in the driveway. Two little girls were playing on the lawn, while strangers carried furniture inside.
Joe’s pulse spiked. He jumped out of the car, his voice sharp. “What the heck is going on here?” He waved at the man unloading boxes. “Hey, who are you? And what are you doing in my house?”
The man straightened and smiled. “You must be Joe! I knew you’d come. By the way, this isn’t your house anymore. Your mom sold it to us. Here—these are the papers. And over there is your stuff.”
Joe’s jaw dropped as he saw his suitcases lined up neatly on the porch. Emily snatched the papers from the man’s hand, her eyes scanning furiously. When she looked up, her face was red with rage.
Her silence said it all—Nora had truly sold the house.
Joe felt his world collapse, but instead of comfort, Emily yanked his hand. Her voice exploded. “You fool! Your mother tricked you right under your nose, and you didn’t even notice? Everything is ruined now!”
“Emily, don’t say that. I don’t understand why Mom did this, but we still have each other. We can—”
“There’s no more WE, you loser!” Emily spat, her eyes blazing. She pulled the ring from her finger and threw it on the ground. “Forget about me.”
Joe staggered back, as if struck. “Wait—what about our baby?” he cried desperately.
Emily’s laugh was cruel. “Baby? You’re so stupid. There’s no baby. Now get out of my way.”
“Wha—what do you mean? Emily? Emily, stop!” Joe shouted, but Emily stormed out through the gate and never looked back.
His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the porch steps, his heart breaking into pieces. That’s when he spotted an envelope tucked beneath a cardboard box. His trembling hands opened it, and inside was a letter written in his mother’s familiar cursive handwriting.
“Dear Joe,
I’m sorry this happened. I never wanted to hurt you, but I had no choice. I needed to protect you from something you could not see. Everything began the day you first brought Emily home…”
Joe’s mind traveled back as he read his mother’s words.
A few weeks earlier, Nora had been sitting in her armchair, trying to smile as Joe introduced Emily.
“Joe is so funny and charming,” Emily giggled. “When he asked me to the funfair, I couldn’t resist.”
“It’s only been three weeks, Mom,” Joe added proudly, “but it feels like forever. That’s why I asked Emily to move in with me.”
Nora nearly choked on air. Her son was rushing headlong into something dangerous.
When Emily went to make tea, Nora whispered, “Don’t you think you’re moving too fast, Joey?”
But Joe only grinned. “Mom, Emily’s the one. I’m proposing this weekend.”
Nora’s heart sank. She couldn’t stop him, so she forced a smile.
The very next day, Emily moved in. At first, everything seemed fine. They knit together, watched TV, and laughed as if they were family. But late that night, when Nora slipped out of bed to take her pills, she overheard something chilling.
Emily’s voice echoed from the guest bathroom: “That old crone and her oxygen machine… she’s such a thorn in my way. But Joe’s madly hooked on me. Soon I’ll get rid of her. A little sweet talk, and he’ll agree to shove her into a nursing home. Then the house will be mine.”
Nora froze in horror. Her son’s perfect fiancée was a snake.
The next days were torture. Then came the final blow—Joe himself told her: “Mom, it’s time you move into a nursing home. If you sell your house, I can use that money to help Emily’s business. Don’t worry, I’ll buy the house back later.”
Tears filled Nora’s eyes. “But Joe… this is my home.”
Still, she agreed—buying herself time to expose Emily.
One afternoon, she secretly followed Emily to a café, where she saw her kissing another man. Nora filmed everything and called Joe.
When Joe arrived, his fury erupted. “What the heck is going on here? How long have you been cheating on me?”
But Emily flipped the story. “He’s my cousin! That’s how we greet each other.” She even pulled out a pregnancy test. “I was going to surprise you—you’re going to be a daddy!”
Joe melted instantly, hugging her while Nora cried. “She’s lying, Joey! She’s a gold digger!”
But Joe snapped. “Stop it, Mom! You’re confused. You need proper care. That’s why I want you in the nursing home.”
Nora realized then that anything she said would sound like the ramblings of a sick old woman. So she agreed to his plan, all while secretly preparing her own.
Present day…
The letter ended:
“…I only wished the best for you, son. I hope you finally see the truth.”
Joe’s tears blurred the ink. “I’ve been such an idiot!” he sobbed.
He raced to the nursing home, desperate to see his mother. “I’m here for Mrs. Brady,” he told the receptionist.
Her face fell. “Thank goodness you came. We tried calling. Your mother had respiratory failure. She’s been rushed to the hospital.”
Joe’s world spun. He bolted to the hospital, but the doctor’s words shattered him. “I’m sorry, Joe. Your mother didn’t make it.”
“What? No! Her condition was stable… how could this happen?” Joe collapsed, sobbing.
Then his phone buzzed. A bank notification popped up—his account had just received $500,000. The exact amount his mother had gotten for selling her beloved house.
She had sacrificed everything—not for herself, but to save him.
Joe clutched his phone, his tears falling harder. “Mom… I’m so sorry. I should have listened.”