The next morning, the grand house felt unusually cold and dead quiet.
David sat in his private office, staring at a stack of legal documents.
His family business was growing fast, but his home life was falling apart.
Clara walked into the office carrying a tray with hot fresh coffee.
She looked tired, with light bruises painted soft red across her cheek.
David stood up quickly and helped her put the tray on his desk.
David: You should be resting in bed today, Clara.
Clara: I cannot sleep when I think about what she tried to do.
David: My mother will never step foot in this house again.
Clara: Are you sure you will really cut her off, David?
David: She harmed you and threatened our baby's safety.
Clara: She has always hated me because I came from nothing.
David wrapped his arms around Clara and held her very tightly.
He hated seeing his wife feel so unsafe in her own home.
Yet deep down, a quiet thought bothered his mind continuously.
His mother had always been strict, but never violent or cruel.
He looked over Clara's shoulder at the small velvet box on his desk.
He had picked it up from the nursery floor late last night.
David: Why would she bring this old ring to the house?
Clara: She probably wanted to pretend she was being nice to me.
David: It belonged to my grandmother a long time ago.
Clara: Forget about the ring, David, focus on our child.
David: You are right, our family comes first before anything.
Clara smiled softly, but her eyes remained cold and completely empty.
She turned around and walked out to check on the quiet baby.
David sat back down and picked up his smartphone from the wooden desk.
He saw five missed calls from his mother's local lawyer's office.
He deleted the notifications without opening a single one of them.
He believed he was doing the right thing for his wife.
He did not know that truth had a way of uncovering itself.