Chapter 3 - The Point of No Return
Margaret walked over to the mahogany desk and laid down the leather folder.
She flipped open the first page.
The red tab marked the spot.
The signature line was waiting.
"It's time, Ava," Margaret said, her tone devoid of any motherly warmth.
"Let's get this over with before the lawyer calls."
Ava stared at the papers.
VANCE TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY TRANSFER.
If she signed this, Margaret would gain full control over her inheritance.
She could commit Ava to a permanent psychiatric facility in Europe.
Daniel would never see his wife again.
And Margaret would control every single penny.
"I... won't... sign," Ava managed to croak out.
Margaret’s face darkened.
The sweet, polished mother-in-law vanished instantly.
A venomous glare replaced her gentle facade.
"You don't have a choice, child," Margaret hissed.
She picked up the paper cup from the silver tray.
She grabbed Ava’s jaw with one hand, squeezing hard until Ava gasped in pain.
"Drink it. It will make your hand steady enough to write."
"No!" Ava choked, trying to turn her head away.
But her neck muscles were too weak.
Margaret forced the medicine cup toward her mouth.
The bitter chemical scent filled Ava's nostrils.
The liquid touched her bottom lip.
Suddenly, a shadow burst through the doorway!
Rosa lunged forward and struck Margaret’s arm with all her strength!
The glass cup flew through the air, crashing against the hardwood floor.
The milky white liquid splashed across the polished wood and onto the crisp paper documents.
“She didn’t sign!” Rosa screamed, standing between Margaret and the wheelchair.
Margaret’s mask broke into pieces.
Fury erupted in her eyes like a storm.
"You useless bitch!" Margaret shrieked.
CLACK!
Margaret’s open palm struck Rosa across the face with deafening force.
Rosa stumbled backward, clutching her reddened cheek as blood trickled from her lip.
Margaret grabbed Rosa by her collar and hair, dragging her violently toward the door.
"I will destroy you for this! You're fired! I'll have you thrown in prison!"
"Stop... leave her... alone!" Ava screamed internally, her voice failing her.
Desperation surged through Ava's veins like fire.
She forced her hands onto the rubber rims of her wheelchair.
With every ounce of life left in her body, Ava pushed the wheels forward to stop Margaret.
The front right wheel caught on the edge of the thick Persian rug.
The chair tipped violently to the side.
CRASH!
Ava was thrown out of the seat.
She slammed onto the hard floor, hitting her shoulder against the edge of the desk.
She lay helpless on the cold floor, panting, right beside the unsigned, liquid-stained papers.
At that exact fraction of a second...
The front double doors of the mansion creaked open.
Footsteps hurried down the foyer.
The heavy study door slammed fully open.
Daniel stepped into the study and saw everything.
His mother stood near the threshold, her hands red, pulling Rosa by the hair.
Rosa was on her knees, crying, her face bruised.
The medicine spilled like milk across the floorboards.
Ava lay collapsed on the ground, pale, helpless, and trembling.
And right next to her lay the thick legal folder, open to the signature page.
The lie arranged like paperwork was laid bare.
Daniel’s face drained of all color.
His suitcase dropped from his hand, hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
He had caught an emergency flight home three weeks early because something felt wrong in his gut.
And now, his nightmare was real.
Daniel took a slow, agonizing step forward.
His eyes shifted from the spilled drug to his weeping wife, and finally to his mother.
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“Mom…” Daniel’s voice trembled, cracking with pure horror.
“...what did you do to my wife?”
