David carried his frail mother to the soft velvet sofa in the living room.
He wrapped a warm wool blanket around her shivering shoulders gently and carefully.
Evelyn kept her eyes cast down as tears dripped onto the warm blanket.
David sat beside her and gently lifted her swollen, red hands into his.
"How long has this been happening, Mom?" David asked in a soft voice.
Evelyn wiped her eyes with the corner of the blanket before speaking quietly.
"She started acting cold right after you signed the new business contract," Evelyn whispered.
David remembered bringing his mother into their home six long months ago.
He had promised to protect her after his father passed away last year.
Jessica had agreed to care for Evelyn while David worked long corporate hours.
"She told me I was a burden on your fortune," Evelyn wept softly.
"She said I didn't deserve to live in this big house with you."
David felt a sharp pain in his heart as he heard her words.
He had trusted his wife completely with his mother's daily well-being.
Every evening when David returned, Jessica had acted sweet and caring toward everyone.
She had served dinner and smiled while Evelyn sat quietly in the corner.
David had assumed his mother was simply quiet due to her deep grief.
He had no idea that cruel mistreatment happened the moment he left.
"She forced me to clean every single room every day," Evelyn confessed.
"If I rested, she threatened to send me to a cheap nursing home."
David stood up from the couch with his fists balled tightly together.
He walked toward the kitchen where Jessica was hiding near the counter.
Jessica was pouring a glass of water with shaking, nervous hands inside.
She turned around quickly as David entered the modern bright kitchen space.
"David, let me explain everything to you please," Jessica begged instantly.
"I was just trying to keep her active for her own health!"
"Shut your mouth right now!" David commanded with terrifying quiet authority.
"You forced a sick old woman to scrub heavy floors on her knees!"
"I spent my hard-earned money to make sure you both were comfortable!"
Jessica set the glass down on the granite counter with a clatter.
"You spend all your time on your family business!" she yelled back.
"I am your wife, but I became her full-time unpaid nurse!"
"You lied to me every day for months!" David spat back angrily.
"You pretended to love her while torturing her behind my back!"
David pointed toward the grand front hallway near the main entrance door.
"Go upstairs and pack a small bag right now," David ordered cold-heartedly.
"You are not staying under this roof for another single night!"
Jessica stared at him in disbelief as tears filled her dark eyes.
"You cannot throw me out of our house!" she screamed in anger.
"Watch me do exactly that," David replied with icy resolve today.