Chapter 8: The Other House
Leon didn't sleep.
At six-thirty the next morning, he was already sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and his laptop.
The house was quiet.
Miles was still asleep.
Tessa hadn't come downstairs.
Denise's bedroom door remained closed.
Leon searched through the emails Mark had sent.
The first contained the property transfer proposal.
The second included a preliminary financial assessment.
The third contained a link to a property listing.
Leon opened it.
A large detached house appeared on the screen.
Four bedrooms.
A landscaped garden.
A modern kitchen.
A separate office.
It was beautiful.
But it was also nearly twice the price of their current home.
Leon checked the details.
The listing had been marked as reserved.
He clicked the attached correspondence.
A message from Denise appeared.
We love the property. My husband will finalize the financial arrangements once the existing house is transferred.
Leon leaned back.
He read it again.
Then he checked the date.
Three weeks earlier.
He had been working late that evening.
Denise had told him she was meeting a friend for dinner.
Apparently, she'd been discussing buying another house.
His phone rang.
Daniel.
"Leon, I've reviewed the documents.""
"Tell me what you found.""
"The property transfer hasn't been completed. But someone has prepared a draft declaration using your details.""
"Did I sign anything?""
"Not according to the information you've provided. I need to inspect the original documents, but don't authorize anything.""
Leon rubbed his forehead.
"There's another property. My wife has apparently reserved a house.""
Daniel paused.
"Have you agreed to purchase it?""
"No.""
"Has any money been paid?""
"I don't know.""
"Then we need to establish that immediately.""
Leon opened his banking application.
He checked the joint account.
There was a transfer from their savings account three weeks earlier.
The amount was substantial.
The recipient was a property agency.
Leon felt his hands go cold.
"Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"I think money has already been paid.""
"How much?""
Leon read the figure.
Daniel went quiet.
"Send me the transaction details. Don't move any money until we've reviewed the account arrangements.""
Leon forwarded the information.
Then he closed his laptop.
He heard footsteps.
Denise walked into the kitchen.
She looked surprised to see him awake.
"You're up early.""
"Where's the money?""
Her expression changed.
"What money?""
"The transfer to the property agency.""
Denise opened the refrigerator.
"Can we not start this again?""
Leon placed his phone on the table.
"Almost forty thousand dollars, Denise. What was that for?""
She closed the refrigerator.
"That's the reservation deposit.""
"For a house I never agreed to buy?""
"We discussed moving.""
"We discussed possibilities. We never agreed to spend our savings.""
Denise poured herself a glass of water.
"I was trying to create a better home for Tessa.""
Leon stared at her.
"By using our money without telling me?""
"I was going to explain.""
"When?""
"When everything was finalized.""
Leon stood.
"You don't get to finalize a financial decision and then inform me afterward.""
Denise placed the glass down.
"You make everything about control.""
"No. I make it about honesty.""
She looked toward the stairs.
"Where's Miles?""
"Sleeping.""
"Good. Then perhaps we can discuss this without him listening.""
Leon shook his head.
"He isn't the reason we're having this conversation.""
Denise leaned against the counter.
"I found the property months ago. It was perfect for us.""
"Why?""
"More space. A bigger garden. A separate room for Tessa.""
"And no room for Miles?""
Denise didn't answer.
Leon continued.
"Did you plan to give him a bedroom in the new house?""
"I thought he could stay with Claire.""
Leon stared at her.
"So you planned to buy a new house, move Tessa into a different school, transfer our current property into your name, and make my son stop visiting.""
Denise's eyes narrowed.
"When you say it like that, it sounds terrible.""
"How else should I say it?""
She looked away.
"I wanted a fresh start.""
Leon lowered his voice.
"You wanted a fresh start without my son.""
Before Denise could answer, Tessa entered the kitchen.
She was wearing her school uniform.
"Mom, can I have breakfast?""
Denise immediately softened.
"Of course, sweetheart.""
Tessa looked at Leon.
"Are you still angry?""
Leon shook his head.
"I'm not angry with you.""
She sat at the table.
Then she looked at her mother.
"Are we moving?""
Denise froze.
Leon didn't answer for her.
Tessa continued.
"I heard you talking last night.""
Denise walked over.
"Sweetheart, we've been considering a new house.""
"Do I have to change schools?""
"Possibly.""
Tessa's eyes filled.
"But I don't want to.""
Denise sighed.
"We've discussed this.""
"No, you discussed it. You didn't ask me.""
Leon looked at his daughter.
Tessa continued.
"I like my school. I like my friends. And I don't want Miles to stop coming here.""
Denise's expression hardened.
"Why does everyone keep making this about Miles?""
Tessa looked at her mother.
"Because you keep making it about him.""
The words struck Denise harder than anything Leon had said.
She looked at her daughter.
Then she turned away.
A few minutes later, Leon received a message from Daniel.
I have contacted the property agency. They confirm the reservation was made in your wife's name, with funds transferred from the joint account. They also say a further payment is due on Monday.
Leon read the message.
Monday was two days away.
He called Daniel.
"Can we stop the transaction?""
"We can request that no further payment be processed, but we'll need to review the contract and your account authority.""
Leon nodded.
"Do it.""
He ended the call.
Denise was watching him.
"What are you doing?""
"Protecting our finances.""
"You can't just cancel everything!""
"I haven't canceled anything yet.""
She stepped toward him.
"That house is important to me.""
Leon looked at her.
"More important than telling me the truth?""
She didn't answer.
Then her phone rang.
She checked the screen.
Mark.
She rejected the call.
It rang again.
This time, Leon noticed the message appearing beneath the caller's name.
Denise, we need to talk. The seller wants confirmation today.
Denise quickly silenced the phone.
Leon looked at her.
"Call him.""
"What?""
"Put him on speaker.""
"Absolutely not.""
"Then give me his number. I'll call him myself.""
Denise backed away.
"You have no right.""
Leon remained calm.
"I have every right to understand what has been arranged using our money.""
She stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, she began crying.
"I didn't think you'd react this way.""
Leon shook his head.
"That's because you never gave me the chance to react before you made the decisions.""
Denise covered her face.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Tessa stood.
"Mom?""
Denise looked at her.
Tessa's voice was small.
"If we move, will Miles still be allowed to visit?""
Denise looked at her daughter.
And instead of answering, she turned toward Leon.
That was when Leon understood.
His wife hadn't simply planned a different house.
May you like
She had planned a different family.
And she had expected him to sign the paperwork afterward.
