Chapter 5 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE HOUSE
I showed Leo the message.
His expression changed immediately.
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
He called the number.
No answer.
Then it disappeared.
Blocked.
Deleted.
Gone.
But the damage was done.
Someone wanted me scared.
And it worked.
Not because I was afraid of Agnes anymore.
Because I was afraid there was more.
That night, Leo finally told me something he had hidden.
“The house isn’t actually my mother’s.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“My name is on the deed.”
I stared.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I thought it didn’t matter.”
I shook my head.
“Everything matters when people use it against you.”
He looked down.
“My mother convinced me to let her stay years ago.”
“And Chloe?”
“She was supposed to stay temporarily.”
I laughed.
“Temporary became forever.”
He didn’t argue.
The next day, we went back to collect the rest of my things.
I expected anger.
I expected screaming.
But Agnes was waiting calmly.
That scared me more.
She smiled.
“Welcome home.”
I froze.
Because her voice sounded normal.
Too normal.
Leo stepped forward.
“We’re only here for our things.”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
Then she looked at me.
“I owe you an apology.”
I almost believed her.
Almost.
“I’m sorry you feel hurt.”
There it was.
Not sorry for what she did.
Sorry that I reacted.
I turned away.
Then she said:
“But before you leave, you should know something.”
I stopped.
“What?”
She smiled.
“Leo doesn’t know everything about you either.”
My heart dropped.
“What are you talking about?”
She looked at Leo.
Then back at me.
“Ask him about the hospital bills.”
Leo went silent.
I looked at him.
“Leo?”
He didn’t answer.
And that silence scared me more than Agnes’s words.
Because suddenly I realized...
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There was a secret my husband had been hiding.
And I had no idea what it was.
