My late father left me a house, but the woman who lived there revealed a secret that changed everything – story of the day

I looked at the old woman again. “I’ll stay here until we find a solution.”

“Fine. Would you like to play at home? Go ahead. But don’t think I’m going to lay out a welcome mat for you.” “By the way, my name is Deborah,” she murmured, stepping aside just enough for me to enter.

Inside, there was a faint scent of time and glamour. It wasn’t just any house. It was Deborah’s house. But it was mine, too.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

The tension between us was palpable, like a storm that could erupt at any moment. I wasn’t sure how this would end, but one thing was clear: neither of us would give up.

***

Living under the same roof as Deborah felt like a battle I hadn’t chosen. It seemed as if she enjoyed embarrassing me. Deborah would be busy in the kitchen in the middle of the night, making noise with pots and pans as if she were preparing a feast. But there was no feast.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

That morning, the water mysteriously stopped running while I was brushing my teeth.

“Really, Deborah?” I murmured quietly, staring at the dry faucet.

When I confronted her, she looked at me with an almost comical expression.

“It must be those old pipes,” she said with a shrug. But the gleam in her eyes gave her away.

She had lost my keys, my shoes, and even my phone charger. I found them in strange places, like the pantry or under the couch. It was small, but effective.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

But despite all the frustration, there was still a glimmer of sympathy. She seemed alone, desperate, as if this house were the last vestige of control over her life.

On Monday morning, I was mentally exhausted but still determined to carry on. I had an appointment with my lawyer that day, and I wanted everything to go smoothly. My clothes were neatly ironed and ready. Or so I thought.

I went outside to retrieve them from the wire rack where I had left them to air overnight, but instead, I found them in a sodden heap in the mud. The white dress I had carefully prepared was now covered in dirt and grass stains.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“Are you kidding me?” I shouted and stormed back into the house.

Deborah was sitting in the kitchen, casually sipping her tea. She barely looked at me.

“Is something wrong?”

“You threw my clothes in the mud!” My voice broke with rage.