By Roman / Jul 17, 2024
Something Didn’t Feel Right
She had always sensed there was something wrong between them. Having finally received validation, she felt relieved. After five years of marriage, Marissa Jones was deeply in love with her husband.
His relationship with his mother was always off. It seemed he was always canceling plans with Marissa to spend time with her, and she couldn’t figure out why he did that.
Investigating Further
Marissa became interested in their relationship one day and decided to investigate it further. Her first step was to go through old family photos and videos, hoping to find some clues.
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She broke down in tears when she discovered what she had found. It was impossible to find any pictures of her husband with Marissa because there were so many of him with his mother. They were rarely photographed together.
Shutting Her Down
It caused her husband to become defensive when she approached him about it. His mother was a very important part of his life, so he told her she was just being paranoid.
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There was nothing Marissa could do. The feeling that she was losing her husband to his mother was unbearable to her, and she couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t see it either.
Finding Answers
Having lost her way and feeling alone, Marissa sought support from friends. Her friends encouraged her to investigate why her husband was so close to his mother.
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In order to find out more, Marissa dug deeper. She wasn’t prepared for what she found. As his mother tried to guilt-trip him into spending time with her, even at the cost of neglecting his own wife, she feared he would lose his marriage to her. There was, however, something much bigger at work.
Showing The Receipt
It was then that Marissa found the receipt she could not believe. In spite of spending thousands of dollars on his mother, her husband would not even take her out to dinner. It was time to confront him. Marissa’s receipt shocked him when she showed it to him.
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Despite his honesty, Marissa nearly collapsed to the floor in tears when he explained what it was for.
Her Story
In her heart, Marissa Jones had always wanted to settle down, raise a family, and bask in the warmth of marriage.
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When she was a child, she lost herself in the fanciful reveries of a knight in shining armor sweeping her away from the mundane existence of her childhood home. She became increasingly desirous of a fulfilling life as she progressed through high school.
All Alone
She had no idea fate had something special in store for her. The day Marissa met her soulmate is still vividly in her mind. Her friends had bailed on her, and she was waiting alone at a bar. It was a typical evening for her.
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The bartender had been nursing her drink for hours, and Marissa was contemplating whether to leave.
The Conversation
In the midst of getting up and leaving, a man took the seat next to her. His charm and good looks immediately captivated Marissa when he introduced himself as Tom.
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During their hours-long conversation, they shared stories about their lives and interests, as well as their future goals.
Love At First Sight
The chemistry between them became evident as the night wore on, and Marissa knew in her heart that Tom had something special to offer.
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Tom and Marissa began going on dates over the next few weeks. During their conversation, they discussed everything under the sun, from their favorite movies to their deepest fears.
True Love
Tom was the youngest of four siblings, and he grew up holding his mother’s care in high regard.
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Tom was left to care for his aging parent alone after all of his siblings moved out of the country. Marissa admired Tom for his selflessness despite the challenges he faced.
A Special Relationship
As they continued to date, their connection grew stronger, and Marissa knew that she had found someone truly special.
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Marissa was pleased to meet someone who valued family as much as she did. She found it refreshing to come across someone who placed their family above all else. As they got to know each other, their relationship grew and progressed quickly.
Meant To Be
Marissa felt that they were meant to be together and nothing could ever tear them apart. However, their blissful love affair was interrupted when Tom asked her an important question. Marissa had no idea what was coming, and she was about to find out that their relationship was not as perfect as it seemed.
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Tom and Marissa had been dating for a few months now, and their relationship was going steady. But something was going to happen that no one expected.
Living Alone
Tom’s mother was another story. She lived alone after Tom’s father passed away, and seldom left the house. Tom had been her primary caregiver, but he often found it challenging to balance his responsibilities towards his mother and his relationship with Marissa.
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One day, when they were out on a walk, Tom turned to Marissa and asked her a question that carried a lot of weight behind it.
An Important Question
He asked her if she would be keen to meet his mother. Marissa was taken aback by the question but felt that it was the next important step in their relationship.
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However, things wouldn’t be exactly as she expected. Tom’s mother had been struggling with depression and anxiety since her husband’s passing, and she wasn’t the most hospitable person. Marissa quickly realized that she had to be patient and understanding towards Tom’s mother, and it would take time for them to develop a relationship.
Going To Meet Her
Tom drove Marissa out to a remote-looking location. It was past the built-up areas in town and even further than the residential ones.
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Finally, at the top of a large hill, Tom stopped in front of an old ivy-covered gate. Tom had to manually open it before driving up an old cobblestone path, and then finally, they were at their destination. But what Marissa saw she couldn’t believe.
An Expensive House
After Tom parked the car, he opened the door for Marissa, and she stepped out, but she couldn’t believe what she saw. The couple stood in front of an enormous house. It looked a little run down, but it must have been worth a few million dollars.
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Tom didn’t seem to think twice before walking up to the door and unlocking it with the strange key that Marissa always saw on his keyring.
Going Inside
He beckoned her inside, and she couldn’t believe her eyes. The main hall had a marble floor with a beautiful statue in the center and a spiral stair swirling around it. Clearly, Marissa didn’t know as much about Tom as she thought.
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They headed towards the east wing, passing a dozen or so rooms, including a fine dining room and ornate kitchen.
One Final Door
Then Tom stopped at a door before slowly opening it. Marissa peered in and saw something she hadn’t expected. She saw beautiful paintings hanging on every wall and an easel sitting in the corner with an unfinished painting on it.
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This clearly used to be an art room, but it had been converted into a bedroom. A small figure sat up on the bed and peered at them.
A Dark Expression
The second Tom’s mother sat up in her bed and spotted Tom and Marissa, her expression changed. It went from neutral to something far darker.
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Marissa wasn’t certain, but from where she sat, she could have sworn that she saw a glare on the old woman’s face. But the situation would only get worse.
An Uneasy Feeling
Tom grabbed Marissa’s hand and began walking her toward his mother’s bed, but with each step, the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach grew.
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Tom grabbed Marissa’s hand and began walking her toward his mother’s bed, but with each step, the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach grew.
Someone Special
But Tom hardly seemed to notice this displeased look in his mother’s eyes as he walked Marissa to the foot of his mother’s bed.
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He had a large grin on his face. “Mom, I brought someone special home for you to meet,” he said proudly. But that day would not end well.
Meeting Carmilla
“Mom, I’d like for you to meet my girlfriend, Marissa,” Tom said, holding Marissa’s hand tightly. Marissa watched as the glare left his mother’s face. Suddenly, she arose from the bed with a smile on her face.
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But it didn’t look like she was happy to meet Marissa. She looked Marissa up and down before saying, “Nice to meet you. I’m Carmilla.” But she could tell it wasn’t sincere.
Unaware
“Why don’t we head to the kitchen? I can prepare us all a nice pot of tea,” Carmilla suggested. Tom smiled at the idea and began walking toward the door.
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But as soon as he turned his back on Marissa and his mother, Carmilla’s expression shifted once again. Marissa could see a mixture of suspicion and anger behind her eyes.
Regret
Marissa quickly turned away from the woman’s angry eyes and began heading toward the door. Suddenly, she regretted coming over. But that day was far from over.
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Before Marissa knew it, they were in the kitchen, sipping on tea and eating the cookies Carmilla had baked the day before. But that was when Marissa noticed something.
Not Speaking To Her
In the half an hour that they had been sitting around the coffee table in the kitchen, Carmilla and Tom hadn’t spoken to Marissa once.
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They had turned to face one another and had begun speaking about things Marissa had no knowledge of. She tried to follow the conversation, but it was useless.
Left Out
Carmilla was only speaking to her son, and whenever he would turn toward Marissa, his mother would change the topic, pulling his arm to make her face him once again.
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It was like she didn’t want Tom to include Marissa in their conversation. But why? She knew nothing about Marissa. How could she instantly decide that she didn’t like her?
A Bad Feeling
Marrisa began to feel increasingly anxious and left out as she sat beside Tom who almost had his back turned to her. All she wanted was to go home.
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Every now and then, she would notice the way Carmilla glanced at her over Tom’s shoulder. She would smirk like she could see the disappointment behind Marissa’s eyes.
Carmilla Noticed
Marissa’s mind began to wander as she sat on that chair, staring at the empty cup of tea in front of her. As she drifted into her thoughts, she stopped listening in on their conversation.
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But as soon as Carmilla noticed, she did the unthinkable. That was when the older woman decided to include Marissa in their conversation. “Marissa, dear. Have you met Tom’s ex, Mandy?” she asked.
Caught Off Guard
Marissa was caught off guard, surprised to hear her own name being called by the older woman. She quickly turned toward her, noticing the smirk on her face. “Uh, no,” she responded.
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Tom looked visibly uncomfortable as he begged his mother not to talk to Marissa about his ex. But Carmilla continued anyway. Marissa couldn’t believe what the older woman said next.
What A Shame
“Oh, what a shame you haven’t met her! She is the most lovely woman you will ever meet,” Carmilla gushed about the woman Tom had dated years prior.
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“Oh, Mom. Let’s not talk about her. I’m sure there are far less awkward things to talk about,” Tom chuckled nervously. But Carmilla was not done yet.
Big Shoes To Fill
“I’m afraid you have some big shoes to fill. I always hoped that my son would marry Mandy. Now I see he truly has moved on,” she shrugged.
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Marissa didn’t know what to say as she and Tom stared at each other awkwardly. “Why don’t we head out to grab some breakfast,” Tom suggested nervously.
Changing The Topic
That morning, the three of them left Carmilla’s house and headed to a nice breakfast spot in town. But Marissa couldn’t stop thinking about what Carmilla had said.
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Marissa began to wonder if Carmilla was angry that her son had brought a new girl home. It wasn’t until they left that she was about to get some answers from Tom.
It Takes Time
“I’m sorry about my mother,” he said on the way home from his mother’s house. “Sometimes she just takes a little while to warm up to new people. I promise it will get better with time,” he said.
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But as Marissa sat in the seat beside him, she wondered if what he was saying was true. If only she knew what awaited her.
A Bad Feeling
After that day, Marissa had a bad feeling about Carmilla. The old woman didn’t seem to approve of her, but there was more to it than just that.
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After a few months, Tom took her out on a moonlit stroll before proposing to her. It was the happiest day of her life. But she was blissfully unaware of what she was marrying into.
A Beautiful Wedding
Tom and Marissa had a beautiful wedding full of guests. Marissa even got to meet all of Tom’s older siblings, but what one of them said stuck with her. It was Tom’s step-sister, Angie. At the wedding, she whispered into her ear, “Watch out for our mother,” before disappearing back into the crowd.
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Marissa was on edge after getting the warning from Tom’s step-sister. But she thought she was just being paranoid.
Good Months
Things were good for a few months, and that was until Tom’s behavior changed. Out of the blue, he started coming home later in the day. What’s more, when confronted about it, he told her that he had been visiting Carmilla.
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Marissa understood having a good relationship with a parent is important, but this seemed a bit too far.
Neglecting Her
They had only just moved in together, and he was seeing his mother more than she had. She thought about the big house.
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Did it have something to do with that? She feared she had been lured into a trap. With nothing else to do, she decided that she would start investigating her husband a little more. But the truth would only break her heart.
A Unique Opportunity
Just a few weeks later, Marissa had a unique opportunity. Tom stopped at a gas station to grab a few things on their way home from a hike. While he was inside, the glove box popped open of its own accord. She should have just closed it, but she couldn’t help herself and had to snoop.
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Marissa found a receipt at the back of the glove box as if it had been hidden there. She unfolded the crumpled paper, but the ink was very faded.
A Ludicrous Amount Of Money
She couldn’t tell what he had bought, but she could see the amount at the bottom. Her hands started shaking as she felt the weight of betrayal fall on her shoulders. How could he have done this to her?
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Marissa read the figure on the receipt, and tears started to form in her eyes. How could he have spent so much money without telling her?
His Emails
Tom and Marissa were now married and had to hold each other financially responsible. She decided that she had to confront him, but she wanted more evidence first.
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Marissa took things a step further and decided to go through Tom’s emails. A lot of them were spam or business-related, but then she saw one that stuck out. It was for delivery of a parcel, it was incredibly large, and the shipping alone cost a small fortune.
Blood Boiling
This was what the receipt must have been for. But Marissa covered her mouth when she saw where it was shipped – Carmilla’s house.
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Marissa’s blood boiled. How could he be spending all this money on his mother yet barely be able to afford to take her out? Something didn’t add up. His mother seemed wealthy because of the house she lived in. She knew she had to set up cameras.
Setting Up Cameras
Marissa walked to a security store and bought a few small cameras. They stuck to the wall with an adhesive for an easy installation. She needed to know where he was going so often. But the truth would only make her cry.
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Marissa watched the footage from the previous day. She had installed a camera in Tom’s car – it looked out of the window and was nearly impossible to see.
A Huge Box
She watched as Tom drove from work straight to his mother Carmilla’s house; what was he doing there? Then she saw it, a huge box – the parcel.
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Tom got to work taking it inside, and that’s where she couldn’t see anymore, but he spent two hours inside. She knew that enough was enough and decided to confront him. Marissa stormed into Tom’s office at home and demanded to know what was going on.
Confronting Him
She showed him the footage and the receipt. “Do I have to call your step-sister to get the truth?” She said through teary eyes.
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Tom’s face contorted with pain. “She’s always trying to ruin my life, but I promise there’s nothing weird going on. Look, Carmilla recently got diagnosed with stage two cancer. I’ve been spending more time with her because I don’t know how much more time she has left,’ He explained, but there was more.
Moving In With Them
Tom explained that the box was a hospital bed complete with a motorized incline to sit up and even a monitor to watch her vitals. He didn’t even pay for it. She did. Tom was telling the truth, and Marissa was brought to tears.
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She should have trusted him. With everything out in the open, she decided to do something unexpected. Marissa told Tom that Carmilla should move out of the big empty house and in with them. It was something that he didn’t expect but was overjoyed to hear. Family was always the most important thing.
