The Tale of a Devious Son-In-Law and a Resourceful Mother-In-Law

In a quiet suburban neighborhood, a treacherous man named Derek duped his wife, Francesca, and mother-in-law, Jasmine, into parting with their money. He then vanished, unaware that Jasmine was far more cunning than he anticipated.

“Don’t worry, Mom. You’re going to live with us from now on,” Francesca assured her mother, Jasmine, after the passing of her father. “You won’t be alone in this big house.”

“Is Derek okay with that? Your husband should have a say in that decision,” Jasmine asked, concerned about her son-in-law’s feelings.

“Derek will have to get on board with it. Family is the most important thing to me, and it’ll be nice to have you around once again,” Francesca replied. However, Derek was not pleased with this arrangement.

“You should’ve talked to me about that sooner, Fran. No guy in the world wants their mother-in-law to move in,” Derek grumbled that night when Francesca informed him that Jasmine was moving in the next day.

“Derek, please have a little compassion. My father just died, and I’m struggling. My mother is doing even worse. We need to be together. Also, I was hoping you could help navigate the estate arrangements and set my mother up with her retirement,” Francesca explained.

“That’s not my—” Derek began to protest but then changed his tone abruptly. “Oh, well. That’s fine. Yes, I should help your mother out. My bank has some amazing setups, and it’ll be easy for me to get it done.”

Francesca did not notice the sudden shift in Derek’s demeanor. She was simply relieved that he had agreed to help. But Derek was already scheming about the money left by his father-in-law and what Jasmine’s future earnings could bring in.

As a banker, handling such accounts could offer him significant benefits. He was already plotting how to utilize that money without his wife and mother-in-law being any the wiser.

The next day, Jasmine moved in with Francesca and Derek. Initially, everything seemed fine, but Jasmine began to notice Derek’s peculiar behavior. He often took late-night phone calls, disturbing her sleep.

He also frequently came home late from work, despite the bank closing at 4 p.m. in their town. Francesca seemed oblivious, accepting his excuses without question. When Jasmine voiced her concerns, Francesca reassured her that it was normal for Derek.

However, Jasmine couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss with her son-in-law. Determined to uncover the truth, she waited for the right moment. One weekend, Francesca announced a business trip, leaving Derek less cautious, and Jasmine seized the opportunity to investigate.

“No, baby. It’s ok. I’ll leave when the old witch is asleep. She won’t notice at all,” Jasmine overheard Derek say on the phone. Though eavesdropping was wrong, Jasmine felt justified given her suspicions.

Who was this “baby”? That night, she followed Derek discreetly as he left the house. He walked a few blocks and knocked on another house’s door. A woman answered and greeted him with a passionate kiss. Derek was cheating on Francesca, and his mistress lived nearby!

Shocked, Jasmine confronted Francesca upon her return. Yet, Francesca was in denial, unable to believe Derek would betray her. She was in love and blind to his faults.

Unbeknownst to them, Derek overheard their conversation and realized he needed to act quickly. They had already sold Jasmine’s house, and the idea of a nursing home seemed more appealing to him now.

Francesca had initially rejected the idea, but Derek was determined to change her mind. “I don’t know, Derek. I can’t send my mother to one of those places,” she said.

“Well, Fran. I’m sorry, but I can’t live with my mother-in-law forever. I think she hates me for no reason. She might even be trying to break us up,” he argued.

Francesca was conflicted. It did seem like Jasmine harbored resentment toward Derek, especially after accusing him of infidelity. The tension simmered until it erupted into a massive argument one night.

“I can’t take this anymore, Francesca. This man is cheating on you with a woman nearby, and you need to kick him out immediately!” Jasmine screamed.

“Mom! That’s not true. Derek is not that kind of man! Please don’t lie,” Francesca pleaded.

“See? This is what I’ve been telling you, darling,” Derek interjected smugly. “She has something against me. Maybe she wants you all to herself. But I can’t live with someone like that in my own home anymore,” he added, knowing Francesca would side with him.

“You liar! You’re the worst kind of man in the world! You won’t get away with this!” Jasmine yelled in frustration.

“Mother, stop! I can’t have this in my house either. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Francesca said sternly. Despite Jasmine’s desperate attempts to make her daughter see the truth, Francesca remained unconvinced and sent her mother to a nursing home.

At the private facility, Jasmine quickly made friends and adapted. Yet, she remained concerned for Francesca, knowing Derek’s true nature. Fortunately, she met Mr. Erickson, a kind man with a background in banking.

Months later, Francesca came home to find a note from Derek. He had run off with his mistress, taking all their savings, including Jasmine’s money. The note cruelly ended with, “Don’t try to find me. I never loved you.”

Distraught, Francesca called her mother, sharing the devastating news. “I should’ve believed you, Mom. I’m such an idiot,” she sobbed.

“Don’t worry, baby. There are plenty of good men out there, and you’ll get over that cheating slob soon enough,” Jasmine said, surprisingly calm.

“Mother, he took all our money and yours!” Francesca exclaimed.

“Oh no, he didn’t. I met a nice man over here named Mr. Erickson. He’s the owner of the bank where your husband works. Or should I say ‘worked,’” Jasmine revealed.

“I don’t understand. What do you mean ‘worked?’” Francesca asked, puzzled.

“I asked Mr. Erickson to keep an eye on Derek. His employees monitored Derek’s every move, and yesterday, your husband quit his job. I knew something was up, and Mr. Erickson suggested freezing his accounts and mine,” Jasmine explained.

“So, the money is safe?” Francesca asked, hopeful.

“Not only that. The bank has launched an investigation. Derek’s been involved in ‘creative accounting’ with many clients. He has no access to any funds now, and he’ll likely be arrested soon. I bet he’s stranded at the airport as we speak,” Jasmine concluded.

Francesca was immensely grateful for her mother’s foresight and Mr. Erickson’s help. Derek was soon arrested for his fraudulent activities. Francesca swiftly finalized her divorce and eventually started dating Mr. Erickson’s son, finding happiness once more.

Lessons from This Story

Not Everyone Has Good Intentions: Francesca’s trust in Derek blinded her to his deceit. It’s crucial to listen to those who genuinely care about you.

Look Out for Red Flags: Early signs of dishonesty often go unnoticed. Paying attention to subtle cues can prevent heartache.

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