Chapter 1 - Overheard at Christmas
The fireplace crackled warmly in the cozy living room, glowing softly against the decorated Christmas tree with its red baubles. Outside the large glass windows, a gentle winter snow fell over the estate.
Martha, sixty-eight years old, stood tall in her dark charcoal cardigan blazer and dark burgundy top. Her silver-grey hair was neatly styled, but her face was cold as ice. She held a small brown leather planner in her left hand, her knuckles white around the binding.
Sitting in the beige wingback chair, sipping hot tea from a ceramic pine tree mug, was her daughter-in-law, Vanessa. Vanessa smiled with an arrogant, untouchable smirk, relaxing back in her cream sweater. Beside her sat Martha’s son, Julian, staring guiltily at the hardwood floor in his navy blue sweater, unable to raise his eyes.
Martha uncapped her pen and opened the planner, holding up a folded paper.
“I overheard your phone call, Vanessa,” Martha said, her tone calm and frigid. “I know about the Maine house.”
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Vanessa lowered her mug slightly, tilting her head with a dismissive, condescending grin. “You were never meant to find out... but it’s our property now.”
👉 Read PART 2 to see the chilling accusation Martha levels against Vanessa and Julian!
