My Husband Called to Say He Demolished My House, I Just Laughed

It was a listing on a flea market app. The apron Judy mentioned, similar to my mother’s, was a unique one I had made for her.

“What? This is Grandma’s apron. I made it, so I’m sure,”

I said. Judy quickly checked other listings.

The seller seemed to have recently joined the app with no transactions or reviews yet. There were nearly 50 items listed, and to my horror, all of them belonged to my mother.

I immediately realized it was Scott. He was the only one who could have taken my mother’s belongings after demolishing the house.

I called Scott right away.

“What’s this about the app?”

I asked.

“App?”

Scott responded, sounding annoyed.

“Don’t play dumb! You’re selling Mom’s things without permission, aren’t you? Cancel those listings right now!”

I demanded. Scott, sounding panicked, replied:

“What? No, it wasn’t me!”

“Who else would do such a thing? I’m coming over right now to get everything back,”

I said and hung up. Then I immediately headed to Scott’s parents’ house with Judy.

“Where are Mom’s things?”

I demanded as soon as we arrived, confronting Scott at the door.

“I… I don’t know anything about it,”

he stuttered.

“Tell the truth, Dad!”

Judy joined me in pressuring Scott. He seemed flustered.

Scott’s parents noticed our presence and came out.

“Oh, Judy, you’re here!”

Scott’s mom greeted, smiling at the sight of her granddaughter.

“Grandma, tell Dad to tell the truth!”

angry Judy said.

“The truth?”

“Grandma’s belongings that passed away recently—Dad seems to be selling them,”

Judy said. At Judy’s words, Scott’s mom burst into laughter.

Scott, with a troubled look, kept repeating:

“It really wasn’t me.”

Then his mother loudly exclaimed:

“Scott is selling them? That’s impossible. I am the one selling them!”

I felt my blood run cold. Scott probably knew about it.

With a look that almost said this is bad, he turned to his mother. Despite Judy’s shock, his mother cheerfully continued:

“What? It’s a lot of work, you know. I have to pack everything carefully and make sure the photos look good.”

She seemed oblivious to the fact that she was selling stolen goods, chatting happily about the app. I struggled to restrain myself from lunging at her.

“Cancel the listings! Those aren’t yours to sell!”

Judy, red with anger and tears in her eyes, pleaded with her grandmother. However, Scott’s mother seemed displeased.

“What’s the big deal? I finally found a hobby I enjoy. I use the things I can and sell the rest for a little pocket money. It’s good for preventing dementia,”

she said.

“I’m the only grandma left, so Judy wants me to stay healthy and live long, right?”

she said nonchalantly. Pleading with her to stop had no effect.

There was no sign of remorse.

“If talking won’t help, then action is the only option. Judy, let’s go!”

“But it’s okay, let’s go,”

I insisted, pulling Judy out of the house and heading straight to the police station. I wasn’t planning to file a report for the demolition of the house, but theft was a different story.

When I explained to the police that my mother’s belongings were being stolen and sold, they acted immediately. Scott’s mother’s account on the flea market app was suspended.

The items wouldn’t be sold anymore. I called Scott on the way back from the station.

“I had your mother’s account stopped. You knew about it, right? You’re complicit!”

“No, I…”

“I filed a police report about this. Please cooperate with the investigation,”

I said. Scott became frantic.

“What? We’re family, right? Withdraw it, please!”

“Family? You still haven’t paid any compensation for the house or alimony and there’s no sign of remorse!”

I shouted. Faced with my shouting, Scott was taken aback.

Despite everything, I still had feelings for Scott, having lived with him for so long. Sighing, I said:

“I’ll wait for the money, but I won’t forgive the theft. Return everything.”

“And Scott, your father looked quite unwell. Has he seen a doctor?”

“What?”

“I’m not a monster, so just passing on that message,”

I said and hung up. Scott’s father, whom I had just seen, was alarmingly thin and hadn’t spoken much.

His complexion was more than just pale; it was unnaturally dark. His ill health was obvious, but that family probably hadn’t noticed.

His wife was nonchalant, selling stolen items, and Scott only acted tough with me. They lacked any real concern for others.

The next day, I received a call from Scott’s father. Expecting it to be a thank-you call, I answered.

I got the complete opposite reaction.

“What do you mean by treating me like a sick person? Planning to dump me in a hospital to get rid of the hassle?”

he scolded.

“I need to protect Scott and my wife from you. I’m not going to any hospital!”

It was shocking to be reprimanded when I was just concerned. “Sorry for overstepping. I was just worried.”

“Hmph! I’m not frail or short-lived like your parents. Don’t make a fool of me!”

he snapped. I was infuriated by his words.

But a few days later, he apparently felt unwell enough to visit the hospital. The diagnosis was terminal cancer.

Scott called me in a panic.

“Dad’s got terminal cancer! What am I going to do?”

I just snorted.

“I don’t know.”

“What did he say when I suggested going to the hospital? He said, ‘I’m not frail or short-lived like your parents.’ So deal with it yourself,”

I said.

“How can you be so heartless, Amy? I never thought you’d be such a person,”

Scott said.

“Did you ever say a single warm word when my mother was sick? Reflect on your own actions,”

I said and hung up. As expected, Scott’s father passed away soon after.

As a human being, I didn’t want to harbor negative feelings towards the deceased. But recalling everything that had been done and said, I couldn’t shed a tear.

After his funeral, his will was found. Despite all this talk of not being short-lived, he had made thorough preparations.

“The house goes to the grandson Eric. The rest of the estate is to be divided between my wife and eldest son.”

I was surprised to see Eric’s name. Scott’s father had always favored him, wanting to live with him.

He must have wanted Eric to have the house even after his death. It was a nuisance for Eric.

“Renounce the inheritance. You don’t need that house, do you?”

I told Eric. But he was happy to receive it.

Inheriting the house was more of a burden than a benefit due to inheritance tax. But if he was pleased, I had no right to say anything.