Sweet Subterfuge

“What the hell do you mean?” Larissa was no longer able to keep calm, and she leaped to her feet, scaring the waiter who had brought her drink over.

“Your—your lemon tea, miss.” The waiter put the cup on the table nervously, his eyes darting between the two before leaving. Even then, he kept turning back to look at them.

Having been interrupted like that, Larissa recognized that she was in a public setting and somewhat restrained her discontent.

“I paid the down payment, and I’ve been paying the monthly mortgage too. If the house has nothing to do with me, then who else could it belong to?” She struggled to keep her voice low enough so that only the two of them could hear.

Hearing this, Travis unhurriedly retrieved yet another document from his ever-present briefcase.

“Take a look at this.”

On the top of the first page, bold letters announced the document to be an agreement for the gifting of property. Larissa’s gaze stopped at the title for two seconds before she began reading quickly—

Gifter: Larissa Seymour (hereinafter referred to as Party A”)

Giftee: Travis Hardy (hereinafter referred to as Party B)

The gift was precisely the house that they lived in after their marriage.

“What are you showing me this for? You want me to sign this?” Larissa tossed the papers back at him with a cold smile. “I’m telling you, Hardy, dream on!”

his face that he could not hide. He turned to the last page of the document and pushed it toward Larissa again. His index finger pointed at the place

A” was a flamboyant signature that said her name. The penmanship was one that she was

the signature was shown to be dated three months ago! After a bit of

been plotting against her since the beginning! And yet she had been

was trembling. She finally managed to speak through gritted teeth.

how Travis had conned her into signing anything, but she could not recall seeing anything remotely like these papers about gifting property.

whether or not you remember, you did sign it. I’ve had this agreement notarized.” Travis refused to give her an explanation and simply emphasized the last few words. “You’ve given me the house, so it’s mine.

showing a photo to

Travis’s name on

at the image. In an instant, she was unable to

back to reality. “Hurry up and sign the agreement. I still need to look after Amber at the hospital. I don’t have time to waste with

said. Her voice was light but firm. Before she figured out all the fishy stuff in this deal, she would never let Travis have it his way.

it, the house is still mine. It’s impossible

won’t sign it,” Larissa repeated. “I don’t mind wasting time with you. Let’s see

Travis gnashed

20-dollar bill and left it on the table. She then picked up her bag and rose from her seat. Before

voice, his expression savage. “You know what my parents are like. Aren’t you afraid they’ll cause a scene at

was afraid. But she could not show it, or else Travis

on her face. “If they have decided to use their own lives in

shifted a little. “Murder is against the law!” he hissed in a low tone even as a hint of panic flickered through

those words and quickly left the cafe while Travis

…

things out forever with Travis. Not for any other reason but that she