Joe thought life was finally falling into place. He had his fiancée Emily, a baby on the way—or so he believed—and he had made the tough choice of placing his mother, Nora, in a nursing home so she could get better care. It wasn’t easy, but he told himself it was for the best.
“You did the right thing,” Emily said sweetly as she stroked his stomach with her fingers. Her lips curved into a grin. “Your mom will have a better life in the nursing home…and we can turn her old crafts room into a lovely nursery for our baby.”
Joe smiled, though a small ache tugged at his chest. If only Mom could’ve seen what a kind heart Emily has, he thought. But Nora was old and frail, her illness clouding her mind. Joe had no choice—he did what he thought was best.
But as he drove up to his mother’s house that day, a strange scene unfolded before his eyes. A moving truck was parked outside. Strangers were carrying furniture inside while two little girls played on the front lawn.
Joe slammed the brakes, his heart thumping wildly. “What the heck is going on here?” he muttered, rushing out of the car.
He jogged to the porch, his fists clenched. “Hey! Who are you people, and what are you doing in my house?”
A tall man carrying a lamp turned to him with a smile. “You must be Joe! I was expecting you to show up. By the way, this isn’t your house anymore! Your mom sold it to us. Here are the papers…and over there, that’s your stuff.”
Joe’s jaw dropped as his eyes shifted to the suitcases neatly lined up on the doorstep. His entire life—sitting outside like garbage.
Emily snatched the papers from the man’s hand, her face burning red as she scanned them. Joe stared at her, desperately hoping there was some mistake. But the look on her face said it all—his mother really had sold the house.
“You fool!” Emily snapped, her voice like venom. “Your mother tricked you right under your nose…and you had no clue? Everything is ruined now.”
Joe felt his chest tighten. “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 yanked her hand out of his grip. She ripped the ring off her finger and hurled it to the ground. “Forget about me.”
Joe staggered back as though she had slapped him. “Emily, please…don’t do this. What about our baby?”
Emily threw her head back and laughed cruelly. “Baby? You’re so stupid, Joe! There’s no baby. There never was. Now get out of my way.”
His lips trembled. “Wha—what do you mean? Emily…Emily? Stop!” he cried, chasing after her. But she stormed out the gate, slamming it shut, leaving him in ruins.
Joe sank onto the porch, numb and broken. That’s when he noticed an envelope peeking out from beneath a cardboard box. His hands trembled as he pulled it out. The handwriting on the front made his heart ache—it was his mother’s cursive.
He tore it open.
“Dear Joe,
I’m sorry this happened. I wish I never had to take such drastic steps. But you left me with no other choice. It all started the day you first brought Emily home…”
A few weeks earlier…
Nora had been sitting in her armchair, her oxygen mask hissing softly, trying to process the news her son had just dropped on her. Emily, perched on the couch beside Joe, laughed prettily.
“…Joe is so funny…and charming,” Emily giggled. “I couldn’t say no when he asked me out to the funfair.”
Joe beamed. “It’s only been three weeks, Mom…but it feels like we’ve known each other forever. That’s why I insisted Emily move in with me.”
Nora’s hand shook so badly she nearly dropped her mask. “It’s…sudden…” she rasped.
Joe squeezed her shoulder. “Mom, relax. Emily is the one. We’re soulmates.”
Emily excused herself when Nora asked for tea, and the moment she was gone, Nora whispered, “Don’t you think this is too fast, Joey?”
“Mom, you taught me to fight for love. You and Dad did the same thing when you eloped, remember?”
Nora’s heart sank, but Joe’s happiness was blinding him. Against her better judgment, she nodded.
That night, as she tiptoed to the kitchen to take her medicine, she heard Emily’s voice from the bathroom.
“That old crone and her oxygen machine…she’s such a thorn in my way. But Joe is hooked. I’ll have him send her to a nursing home, then I’ll take the house for myself.”
Nora froze. Her blood ran cold. She’s a gold digger. She wants to destroy me…and Joey will never believe me.
Days later, Joe told her, “Mom…it’s time. You need better care. If you sell the house, I can invest the money into Emily’s business.”
Nora’s heart broke. Her own son was asking her to leave her home for Emily’s sake. But she nodded, hiding her pain. I need time…I’ll find a way to expose her.
Her chance came when she followed Emily one evening to a café. Through the window, she saw Emily in another man’s arms, kissing him passionately.
Nora recorded it and called Joe. “Joey, come quick! She’s cheating on you.”
Joe arrived, furious. He stormed into the café. “What the heck is going on here?? How long have you been seeing this guy?”
Emily gasped, then turned on the waterworks. “He’s my cousin! That’s how we greet each other in New York.”
Joe hesitated. “Your cousin? Why didn’t you ever mention him?”
Emily sniffled. “Because…my past is complicated. But if you don’t believe me, I’ll prove my love.” She pulled a positive pregnancy test from her purse.
Joe melted instantly. He hugged her tight while Nora shook her head in disbelief. “Joey, she’s lying! She’s a snake!”
“Stop it, Mom!” Joe barked. “You’re confused. Emily loves me. Why can’t you just accept it?”
And just like that, Nora realized her son was completely under Emily’s spell. She had no choice. She agreed to the nursing home and sold her beloved house. But secretly, she had one plan left to protect Joe.
Present day…
As Joe finished reading the letter on the porch, tears poured down his face. “I’ve been such an idiot!” he cried.
He rushed to the nursing home. “I need to see my mother, Mrs. Brady.”
The receptionist’s face turned pale. “Thank God you’re here! We’ve been trying to reach you. Your mother suffered respiratory failure and was rushed to the hospital.”
Joe bolted to his car, his chest on fire. At the hospital, he cornered the doctor. “How is she? When can I see her?”
The doctor sighed. “I’m sorry, Joe…your mother didn’t make it.”
Joe’s world collapsed. He staggered into a chair, sobbing uncontrollably.
Then his phone buzzed. A text from the bank: $500,000 transferred to your account.
Joe’s tears blurred the screen. His mother had sold her treasured house…not for Emily…not for herself…but for him. To save him from the woman who nearly destroyed his life.
For the first time, Joe understood the depth of her sacrifice. But it was too late to tell her he finally believed her.