Chapter 7: The House Was Never What She Wanted
Leon read the email three times.
The words remained unchanged.
Transfer the current property into your wife's sole ownership before the new family arrangement begins.
He placed his phone on the kitchen counter.
For months, he had believed the biggest problem in his marriage was Denise's resentment toward Miles.
Now he was beginning to understand that Miles might only have been the first obstacle in a much larger plan.
He opened the attachment again.
There were several documents.
A proposed property transfer.
A financial assessment.
A list of household assets.
And a draft agreement that included a section about future occupancy.
Leon scrolled slowly.
His name appeared beside the property address.
Denise's name appeared beneath it.
But the proposed ownership arrangement left him with no legal interest in the house once the transfer was completed.
He stared at the screen.
"What on earth have you been doing, Denise?""
A floorboard creaked behind him.
Miles appeared at the kitchen doorway.
"Dad?""
Leon locked his phone.
"Why aren't you asleep?""
"I heard you.""
Miles walked toward the counter.
"Are you angry?""
Leon looked at his son.
"No. I'm trying to understand something.""
Miles glanced at the phone.
"Is it because of me?""
Leon immediately shook his head.
"No. And I don't want you thinking that.""
Miles sat down.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Miles asked quietly, "Are we going to have to leave?""
Leon felt his chest tighten.
He pulled out the chair beside him.
"Listen. Whatever happens between the adults in this house, you are not being sent away.""
Miles nodded.
But his expression didn't change.
Leon knew why.
Promises were easy.
It was the actions that mattered.
"I want you to do something for me," Leon said.
"What?""
"Tomorrow, I want you to enjoy your weekend. Don't worry about Denise, the house, or any of these documents. That's my responsibility.""
Miles looked down.
"Okay.""
Leon walked him upstairs and waited until he entered his bedroom.
Then he returned to the kitchen.
He forwarded the email to his solicitor, Daniel.
He added one sentence.
I need an urgent meeting tomorrow morning. Please review these documents before we discuss anything.
Within five minutes, Daniel replied.
Do not sign anything. We need to establish exactly what has been submitted and whether any transfer has actually been initiated.
Leon put the phone down.
Then he heard a door open upstairs.
Denise appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was wearing a dressing gown.
"Are you still awake?""
Leon looked up.
"Yes.""
"Can we talk?""
He nodded.
She came downstairs slowly.
Her eyes moved toward the phone.
"What's that?""
"An email from Mark.""
Her expression changed.
"What did he send you?""
"Documents about our house.""
Denise stopped.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she sighed.
"Leon, I can explain.""
"Good. Start with why you asked someone to transfer our property into your sole ownership.""
Denise looked toward the hallway.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why?""
"Because Tessa is asleep.""
Leon leaned against the counter.
"Then answer quietly.""
She sat opposite him.
"I was trying to protect our future.""
"From whom?""
"From uncertainty.""
He stared at her.
Denise continued.
"You own this house. You have a son from your previous marriage. If something happened to you, everything could become complicated.""
Leon frowned.
"That's what wills and proper estate planning are for.""
"I wanted to make sure Tessa had security.""
"And you thought removing me from the ownership documents was the answer?""
"I never said I wanted to remove you.""
Leon opened the attachment.
"Your proposed agreement says otherwise.""
Denise looked at the screen.
Her face tightened.
"Mark said it was a preliminary arrangement.""
"Did you ask him to prepare it?""
She didn't answer.
"Denise.""
"Yes.""
"Did you intend to submit it?""
She looked away.
"I wanted to see what was possible.""
Leon shook his head.
"You could have spoken to me.""
"I knew you'd bring up Miles.""
"Because Miles is my son!""
Denise stood.
"Everything comes back to him!""
Leon looked at her.
"No. Everything comes back to the fact that you keep making decisions that affect my family without discussing them with me.""
Denise's eyes filled.
"You think I wanted this?""
"I don't know what you wanted anymore.""
She sat down again.
For the first time, her voice became softer.
"When I married you, I thought we would build something permanent. Something that belonged to us.""
Leon looked at her.
"We did build something.""
"But there was always someone else.""
"There's no one else, Denise. There's my son.""
She pressed her hands against her forehead.
"You don't understand what it's like to feel second.""
Leon remained quiet.
Then he said something she clearly wasn't expecting.
"Have you ever considered that Miles feels exactly the same way?""
Denise looked up.
Leon continued.
"He comes here every other weekend. He has to leave his mother, his friends, and his normal routine because he wants to spend time with his father. And every time he arrives, you've made him feel like he's taking something from you.""
Denise didn't respond.
Leon closed the documents.
"I'm meeting Daniel tomorrow.""
Her head snapped up.
"Why?""
"Because I need to know exactly what you've submitted.""
"You're going to involve lawyers?""
"You involved a property consultant.""
She looked furious.
"You're making this sound like a crime!""
"I'm making sure nobody signs away something they don't understand.""
Denise stood.
"Fine. Do whatever you want.""
She walked toward the stairs.
But halfway up, she stopped.
"There's something else you should know.""
Leon looked at her.
"What?""
"Mark didn't just prepare the property documents.""
"What else?""
Denise turned.
"He contacted the school. He arranged the enrollment meeting. He also spoke to someone about the possibility of moving Tessa before Christmas.""
Leon felt his stomach drop.
"Moving where?""
Denise hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"To the new house.""
Leon stared at her.
"What new house?""
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
And in that moment, Leon realized there was another property involved.
May you like
A property he had never agreed to buy.
A property his wife might already have promised to someone else.
