Chapter 8 - WHAT AVA HEARD
Jessica grabbed Ava’s wrist.
“We’re leaving.”
Ava pulled free.
“Did you leave Grandma at the clinic?”
Jessica’s expression changed.
“She’s being dramatic.”
“I saw her sweater.”
Martha looked down.
The blue sweater was hanging near the fireplace, still dripping onto the tile.
Ava’s eyes filled with tears.
“You told me she decided to take the bus.”
“She did.”
“No, she didn’t.”
Jessica turned toward Martha.
“You’re turning my daughter against me.”
“I haven’t said anything to her.”
Brittany gathered the documents.
“We should go before this gets uglier.”
Daniel stepped between them and the table.
“The papers stay.”
“They belong to Jessica.”
“They contain Martha’s financial information.”
Brittany hesitated, then released the folder.
Jessica pointed at Martha.
“You think freezing one account makes you powerful? You need me. Who takes you to appointments? Who handles your bills? Who will help you when you fall?”
Martha’s voice remained steady.
“Not the daughter who leaves me in the rain.”
Jessica’s face twisted.
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
“No,” Martha said. “I regret financing you.”
Jessica dragged Ava toward the door.
Before leaving, Ava turned back.
Her eyes moved toward the upstairs guest room.
Then she silently touched two fingers to her school backpack.
Martha did not understand.
Not until midnight.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Grandma, Mom took my phone. I’m using my school laptop.
A second message followed.
She left her old tablet in the guest room last week. Her messages are still on it.
Martha climbed the stairs slowly.
Inside the dresser drawer, beneath a stack of towels, she found Jessica’s tablet.
It was not locked.
The most recent conversation was with Brittany.
At the top of the screen was a photograph of Martha’s house.
Underneath it, Brittany had written:
May you like
Once the old woman is out, this place will sell in three days.
👉 Martha now knew Jessica wanted the house, but one unfinished message showed they had already chosen where to send her.
