After My Husband’s Sudden Death, His Family Sold Everything We Owned But I Got Justice!
T Stories
[{'start': '0.240', 'end': '5.680', 'text': "My name is Rachel. I'm 33 years old. And"}, {'start': '3.600', 'end': '8.000', 'text': 'until recently, I thought I had'}, {'start': '5.680', 'end': '10.400', 'text': 'everything figured out. I was married to'}, {'start': '8.000', 'end': '13.360', 'text': 'Mark, 5 years older than me, for 7'}, {'start': '10.400', 'end': '16.480', 'text': 'years. We had a stable life together, or'}, {'start': '13.360', 'end': '18.560', 'text': "so I thought. But now I'm living with my"}, {'start': '16.480', 'end': '19.640', 'text': 'mother, Sarah, and trying to piece my'}, {'start': '18.560', 'end': '22.160', 'text': 'life back'}, {'start': '19.640', 'end': '24.560', 'text': 'together. It all started 2 years ago'}, {'start': '22.160', 'end': '26.320', 'text': 'when Mark and I built our dream house.'}, {'start': '24.560', 'end': '29.119', 'text': 'We had always talked about settling down'}, {'start': '26.320', 'end': '32.160', 'text': 'in a place of our own, a cozy, welcoming'}, {'start': '29.119', 'end': '34.320', 'text': 'home. At the time, Mark had just started'}, {'start': '32.160', 'end': '36.320', 'text': 'a new job, and while our finances were'}, {'start': '34.320', 'end': '38.640', 'text': 'tight, we figured it was the perfect'}, {'start': '36.320', 'end': '41.040', 'text': "time to take the plunge. We didn't have"}, {'start': '38.640', 'end': '43.280', 'text': 'much savings, but we managed to secure a'}, {'start': '41.040', 'end': '45.760', 'text': 'mortgage. Mark had left his previous job'}, {'start': '43.280', 'end': '47.440', 'text': 'at a major corporation. He had once'}, {'start': '45.760', 'end': '50.719', 'text': 'thrived there, but everything changed'}, {'start': '47.440', 'end': '53.039', 'text': 'when a new boss took over. His boss was'}, {'start': '50.719', 'end': '55.039', 'text': 'a master of psychological torment.'}, {'start': '53.039', 'end': '57.280', 'text': 'small, insidious comments that chipped'}, {'start': '55.039', 'end': '59.600', 'text': "away at Mark's confidence. I remember"}, {'start': '57.280', 'end': '62.480', 'text': 'the sleepless nights watching him toss'}, {'start': '59.600', 'end': '64.159', 'text': 'and turn, unable to find peace.'}, {'start': '62.480', 'end': '66.720', 'text': "Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore"}, {'start': '64.159', 'end': '68.720', 'text': 'and took a medical leave. The 3-month'}, {'start': '66.720', 'end': '70.840', 'text': 'leave stretched on with no improvement,'}, {'start': '68.720', 'end': '73.200', 'text': 'and finally, Mark'}, {'start': '70.840', 'end': '75.439', 'text': 'resigned. For a while, we survived on'}, {'start': '73.200', 'end': '77.119', 'text': 'just my income. I was working in a small'}, {'start': '75.439', 'end': '79.920', 'text': "marketing firm, and though it wasn't"}, {'start': '77.119', 'end': '81.680', 'text': 'much, it was enough to get by. Mark,'}, {'start': '79.920', 'end': '83.439', 'text': 'unemployed and struggling with his'}, {'start': '81.680', 'end': '85.840', 'text': 'mental health, slowly started to'}, {'start': '83.439', 'end': '88.000', 'text': 'recover. I could see the spark return in'}, {'start': '85.840', 'end': '90.720', 'text': 'his eyes as he began to eat more, sleep'}, {'start': '88.000', 'end': '92.479', 'text': 'better, and even crack a few jokes. His'}, {'start': '90.720', 'end': '95.040', 'text': 'psychiatrist said he was on the mend,'}, {'start': '92.479', 'end': '98.079', 'text': 'and I believed it. My loving, upbeat'}, {'start': '95.040', 'end': '100.000', 'text': 'husband was coming back. After 2 months'}, {'start': '98.079', 'end': '102.560', 'text': 'of job hunting, Mark found a new'}, {'start': '100.000', 'end': '104.720', 'text': 'opportunity at a smaller company. The'}, {'start': '102.560', 'end': '107.119', 'text': "salary wasn't as high as before, only"}, {'start': '104.720', 'end': '109.280', 'text': 'about 2/3 of what he used to make, but'}, {'start': '107.119', 'end': '110.600', 'text': 'he seemed genuinely happy for the first'}, {'start': '109.280', 'end': '113.119', 'text': 'time in a long'}, {'start': '110.600', 'end': '114.920', 'text': 'while. "This is better than being stuck'}, {'start': '113.119', 'end': '117.280', 'text': 'at that horrible place," he\'d say,'}, {'start': '114.920', 'end': '119.520', 'text': 'grinning. "His enthusiasm was'}, {'start': '117.280', 'end': '122.640', 'text': 'contagious, and despite the financial'}, {'start': '119.520', 'end': '124.880', 'text': 'challenges, I felt optimistic. We had'}, {'start': '122.640', 'end': '126.479', 'text': 'always dreamed of starting a family, but'}, {'start': '124.880', 'end': '128.879', 'text': "we knew that wasn't possible with our"}, {'start': '126.479', 'end': '130.640', 'text': 'financial situation. We discussed it'}, {'start': '128.879', 'end': '133.680', 'text': 'often, and though we both wanted'}, {'start': '130.640', 'end': '135.440', 'text': 'children, the timing was never right. We'}, {'start': '133.680', 'end': '138.000', 'text': 'made peace with the idea that it might'}, {'start': '135.440', 'end': '139.840', 'text': 'just be the two of us, focusing instead'}, {'start': '138.000', 'end': '142.080', 'text': 'on building our careers and enjoying'}, {'start': '139.840', 'end': '144.760', 'text': "each other's company. Just when we"}, {'start': '142.080', 'end': '147.200', 'text': 'thought life was stabilizing, disaster'}, {'start': '144.760', 'end': '150.160', 'text': 'struck. My mother, Sarah, was in a'}, {'start': '147.200', 'end': '152.280', 'text': 'terrible car accident. She survived, but'}, {'start': '150.160', 'end': '154.560', 'text': 'was left paralyzed and confined to a'}, {'start': '152.280', 'end': '156.480', 'text': 'wheelchair. My heart broke seeing her'}, {'start': '154.560', 'end': '158.480', 'text': 'like that, but I knew we had to do'}, {'start': '156.480', 'end': '160.879', 'text': "something. She couldn't live alone in"}, {'start': '158.480', 'end': '163.360', 'text': 'her old two-story house anymore. At'}, {'start': '160.879', 'end': '165.760', 'text': "first, I didn't know what to do. Mark,"}, {'start': '163.360', 'end': '168.640', 'text': 'ever the problem solver, suggested, "Why'}, {'start': '165.760', 'end': '171.360', 'text': 'don\'t we move her in with us?" The idea'}, {'start': '168.640', 'end': '173.200', 'text': "caught me off guard. I wasn't sure how"}, {'start': '171.360', 'end': '176.239', 'text': 'my mother would react, but to my'}, {'start': '173.200', 'end': '178.560', 'text': 'surprise, she was open to it. And so,'}, {'start': '176.239', 'end': '180.120', 'text': 'with a new purpose, we decided to build'}, {'start': '178.560', 'end': '183.040', 'text': 'a house that could accommodate her'}, {'start': '180.120', 'end': '185.599', 'text': 'needs. We applied for a mortgage, even'}, {'start': '183.040', 'end': '187.599', 'text': 'though we knew it would be tough.'}, {'start': '185.599', 'end': '189.400', 'text': 'Mark had only been at his new job for a'}, {'start': '187.599', 'end': '192.400', 'text': 'few months and our finances were still'}, {'start': '189.400', 'end': '194.640', 'text': 'shaky. But we were determined. And after'}, {'start': '192.400', 'end': '196.239', 'text': 'being rejected by several banks, we'}, {'start': '194.640', 'end': '198.599', 'text': 'finally found one that was willing to'}, {'start': '196.239', 'end': '201.840', 'text': 'take a chance on us. It felt like a'}, {'start': '198.599', 'end': '203.280', 'text': 'miracle. The house was perfect. We'}, {'start': '201.840', 'end': '206.800', 'text': "designed it with my mother's wheelchair"}, {'start': '203.280', 'end': '208.319', 'text': 'in mind. Wide hallways, ramps,'}, {'start': '206.800', 'end': '211.120', 'text': 'everything she needed to move around'}, {'start': '208.319', 'end': '213.200', 'text': 'comfortably. I could already picture her'}, {'start': '211.120', 'end': '215.680', 'text': 'sitting by the large windows soaking in'}, {'start': '213.200', 'end': '218.560', 'text': 'the sunlight. For the first time in a'}, {'start': '215.680', 'end': '219.640', 'text': 'long while, I felt hopeful, but that'}, {'start': '218.560', 'end': '221.920', 'text': 'hope was'}, {'start': '219.640', 'end': '223.879', 'text': 'short-lived. The land on which we built'}, {'start': '221.920', 'end': '226.000', 'text': "the house was a gift from Mark's"}, {'start': '223.879', 'end': '229.280', 'text': "grandfather. Mark's family wasn't"}, {'start': '226.000', 'end': '231.760', 'text': 'wealthy, but his grandfather adored him.'}, {'start': '229.280', 'end': '233.360', 'text': 'The land was a blessing. It meant we'}, {'start': '231.760', 'end': '235.159', 'text': "didn't have to pay for the property,"}, {'start': '233.360', 'end': '237.760', 'text': 'which helped us afford the'}, {'start': '235.159', 'end': '239.280', 'text': 'house. However, the land came with a'}, {'start': '237.760', 'end': '241.360', 'text': 'price of its own.'}, {'start': '239.280', 'end': '244.000', 'text': "It was only a 5-minute walk from Mark's"}, {'start': '241.360', 'end': '246.640', 'text': "family home. At first, I didn't think"}, {'start': '244.000', 'end': '248.640', 'text': "much of it. Mark's mother, Linda, and"}, {'start': '246.640', 'end': '250.560', 'text': 'his sister, Jessica, had always been'}, {'start': '248.640', 'end': '254.000', 'text': 'distant, but I assumed they would be'}, {'start': '250.560', 'end': '255.519', 'text': 'happy for us. I was wrong. When we told'}, {'start': '254.000', 'end': '257.759', 'text': 'them that my mother would be moving in'}, {'start': '255.519', 'end': '259.799', 'text': 'with us, Jessica sneered, "Why is your'}, {'start': '257.759', 'end': '262.639', 'text': 'mother moving in, too? How'}, {'start': '259.799', 'end': '264.080', 'text': 'shameless." Linda added, "Isn\'t it awful'}, {'start': '262.639', 'end': '267.919', 'text': 'that Mark has to take care of your'}, {'start': '264.080', 'end': '270.600', 'text': 'mother now? You\'re a burden." Their'}, {'start': '267.919', 'end': '274.560', 'text': 'words stung, but Mark stood by'}, {'start': '270.600', 'end': '276.479', 'text': 'me. "It\'s our house," he said firmly.'}, {'start': '274.560', 'end': '279.360', 'text': '"Grandpa gave me the land, and we\'ll'}, {'start': '276.479', 'end': '281.440', 'text': 'decide who lives here." I was grateful'}, {'start': '279.360', 'end': '282.880', 'text': "for his support, but I couldn't shake"}, {'start': '281.440', 'end': '285.919', 'text': 'the feeling that this was just the'}, {'start': '282.880', 'end': '288.000', 'text': 'beginning of a bigger problem. As time'}, {'start': '285.919', 'end': '289.960', 'text': "passed, the tension with Mark's family"}, {'start': '288.000', 'end': '292.560', 'text': 'grew worse. They would show up'}, {'start': '289.960', 'end': '295.759', 'text': 'unannounced, often making snide comments'}, {'start': '292.560', 'end': '297.840', 'text': 'about the house or my mother. One time,'}, {'start': '295.759', 'end': '299.919', 'text': 'Jessica brought her husband along, and'}, {'start': '297.840', 'end': '302.160', 'text': 'despite the rain, they walked through'}, {'start': '299.919', 'end': '305.440', 'text': 'the house in muddy shoes, ignoring the'}, {'start': '302.160', 'end': '307.919', 'text': 'slippers we had laid out. "It\'s no big'}, {'start': '305.440', 'end': '309.639', 'text': 'deal," Jessica laughed. "You can just'}, {'start': '307.919', 'end': '312.880', 'text': 'wipe the floors'}, {'start': '309.639', 'end': '315.520', 'text': 'later." I was furious, but I bit my'}, {'start': '312.880', 'end': '317.759', 'text': "tongue for Mark's sake. He had enough on"}, {'start': '315.520', 'end': '319.600', 'text': 'his plate without me adding to it.'}, {'start': '317.759', 'end': '323.520', 'text': "Still, I couldn't help but feel the"}, {'start': '319.600', 'end': '325.199', 'text': 'cracks forming in our once perfect life.'}, {'start': '323.520', 'end': '327.520', 'text': 'Things finally came to a head one'}, {'start': '325.199', 'end': '329.840', 'text': "evening. We had invited Mark's family"}, {'start': '327.520', 'end': '331.919', 'text': 'over for a housewarming party, hoping to'}, {'start': '329.840', 'end': '333.360', 'text': 'smooth things over. But instead of'}, {'start': '331.919', 'end': '335.160', 'text': 'celebrating with us, they made it clear'}, {'start': '333.360', 'end': '337.600', 'text': "that they didn't respect our"}, {'start': '335.160', 'end': '339.440', 'text': 'home. Linda walked through the rooms,'}, {'start': '337.600', 'end': '341.600', 'text': 'eyeing everything as if it belonged to'}, {'start': '339.440', 'end': '344.240', 'text': 'her. When she saw the room we had'}, {'start': '341.600', 'end': '345.919', 'text': 'designed for my mother, she said, "I\'m'}, {'start': '344.240', 'end': '349.360', 'text': 'fine with this room. I want to live'}, {'start': '345.919', 'end': '352.000', 'text': 'here." I couldn\'t believe my ears. This'}, {'start': '349.360', 'end': '356.000', 'text': 'room is for my mother, I said, trying to'}, {'start': '352.000', 'end': '358.080', 'text': 'keep my voice calm. Linda smirked. Well,'}, {'start': '356.000', 'end': '360.880', 'text': "your mother's lucky. That accident"}, {'start': '358.080', 'end': '363.360', 'text': "worked out well for her, didn't it? The"}, {'start': '360.880', 'end': '365.360', 'text': 'words hit like a punch to the gut. My'}, {'start': '363.360', 'end': '367.560', 'text': 'mother, sitting quietly in the corner,'}, {'start': '365.360', 'end': '370.479', 'text': 'looked down, her eyes filled with'}, {'start': '367.560', 'end': '372.400', 'text': 'sadness. I was shaking with anger, but'}, {'start': '370.479', 'end': '376.400', 'text': 'before I could say anything, Mark'}, {'start': '372.400', 'end': '378.400', 'text': 'stepped in. What did you just say? His'}, {'start': '376.400', 'end': '381.039', 'text': 'voice was low, but there was a dangerous'}, {'start': '378.400', 'end': '383.039', 'text': 'edge to it. There are things you just'}, {'start': '381.039', 'end': '386.639', 'text': 'don\'t say, "Mom, I can\'t believe you\'d'}, {'start': '383.039', 'end': '389.680', 'text': 'stoop that low." Jessica, ever ready to'}, {'start': '386.639', 'end': '392.000', 'text': 'escalate things, jumped in. "Oh, come'}, {'start': '389.680', 'end': '393.840', 'text': "on, Mark. Don't act like a big shot just"}, {'start': '392.000', 'end': '396.560', 'text': "because you built a house. You're still"}, {'start': '393.840', 'end': '398.960', 'text': 'just a loser with a jinx for a wife."'}, {'start': '396.560', 'end': '401.600', 'text': 'The room went cold. I could see the hurt'}, {'start': '398.960', 'end': '404.319', 'text': "in Mark's eyes, and it broke my heart."}, {'start': '401.600', 'end': '406.160', 'text': "He didn't deserve this."}, {'start': '404.319', 'end': '409.080', 'text': 'I think it\'s time for you to leave,"'}, {'start': '406.160', 'end': '412.240', 'text': 'Mark said quietly. "We\'re done'}, {'start': '409.080', 'end': '414.280', 'text': 'here." Linda and Jessica left, but their'}, {'start': '412.240', 'end': '416.720', 'text': 'presence lingered in the air like a dark'}, {'start': '414.280', 'end': '419.080', 'text': "cloud. I knew that this wasn't the end"}, {'start': '416.720', 'end': '421.280', 'text': 'of the conflict. It was only the'}, {'start': '419.080', 'end': '422.800', 'text': 'beginning. A few months later, when we'}, {'start': '421.280', 'end': '426.160', 'text': 'were finally starting to adjust to our'}, {'start': '422.800', 'end': '427.680', 'text': 'new life, the unthinkable happened. One'}, {'start': '426.160', 'end': '430.880', 'text': 'day, while I was at work, I got a call'}, {'start': '427.680', 'end': '434.319', 'text': 'from my mother. Her voice was panicked.'}, {'start': '430.880', 'end': '436.639', 'text': "Rachel, it's Mark. He collapsed at work."}, {'start': '434.319', 'end': '439.039', 'text': 'My heart dropped. I grabbed my things'}, {'start': '436.639', 'end': '441.759', 'text': 'and rushed to the hospital, hoping,'}, {'start': '439.039', 'end': '443.520', 'text': 'praying that it was a mistake. But when'}, {'start': '441.759', 'end': '446.400', 'text': 'I arrived, the scene in front of me felt'}, {'start': '443.520', 'end': '449.520', 'text': 'like a nightmare. Mark was unconscious,'}, {'start': '446.400', 'end': '451.280', 'text': 'hooked up to machines, his face pale.'}, {'start': '449.520', 'end': '453.360', 'text': 'The doctors told me he had suffered a'}, {'start': '451.280', 'end': '456.880', 'text': "brain hemorrhage. They didn't know if he"}, {'start': '453.360', 'end': '459.599', 'text': 'would wake up. I stood there frozen,'}, {'start': '456.880', 'end': '461.840', 'text': 'unable to process what was happening.'}, {'start': '459.599', 'end': '464.560', 'text': "This couldn't be real."}, {'start': '461.840', 'end': '466.319', 'text': 'Just that morning, Mark had been fine.'}, {'start': '464.560', 'end': '468.599', 'text': 'We had plans to go to the movies that'}, {'start': '466.319', 'end': '471.680', 'text': 'weekend. How could everything change so'}, {'start': '468.599', 'end': '475.520', 'text': 'quickly? And then, just like that, Mark'}, {'start': '471.680', 'end': '478.160', 'text': 'was gone. "My world collapsed." "At the'}, {'start': '475.520', 'end': '481.599', 'text': 'funeral, Linda and Jessica arrived, not'}, {'start': '478.160', 'end': '484.400', 'text': 'with sympathy, but with venom." "You did'}, {'start': '481.599', 'end': '486.960', 'text': 'this, didn\'t you?" Jessica spat. "Did'}, {'start': '484.400', 'end': '489.759', 'text': 'you poison him for the insurance money?"'}, {'start': '486.960', 'end': '491.840', 'text': 'I was too numb to respond. It was as if'}, {'start': '489.759', 'end': '493.479', 'text': 'they were determined to break me, to see'}, {'start': '491.840', 'end': '496.280', 'text': 'how far they could push before I'}, {'start': '493.479', 'end': '498.960', 'text': 'shattered. After the funeral, things got'}, {'start': '496.280', 'end': '500.960', 'text': 'worse. I came home one day to find all'}, {'start': '498.960', 'end': '503.599', 'text': 'of our belongings gone, replaced with'}, {'start': '500.960', 'end': '505.199', 'text': 'unfamiliar furniture. Jessica and her'}, {'start': '503.599', 'end': '508.000', 'text': 'husband were sitting in the living room'}, {'start': '505.199', 'end': '510.560', 'text': 'acting like they owned the place. "What'}, {'start': '508.000', 'end': '513.360', 'text': 'is going on?" I demanded, my voice'}, {'start': '510.560', 'end': '516.240', 'text': 'trembling with anger. Jessica smirked.'}, {'start': '513.360', 'end': '519.279', 'text': '"We\'re taking over. You can leave now."'}, {'start': '516.240', 'end': '522.479', 'text': 'I was stunned. This is my house. You'}, {'start': '519.279', 'end': '524.959', 'text': 'have no right. We sold your stuff, she'}, {'start': '522.479', 'end': '528.160', 'text': 'said casually. Got a good price for it,'}, {'start': '524.959', 'end': '530.959', 'text': 'too. You can take your boxes and go. I'}, {'start': '528.160', 'end': '532.399', 'text': 'was livid. They had sold everything.'}, {'start': '530.959', 'end': '535.200', 'text': 'Everything Mark and I had built'}, {'start': '532.399', 'end': '537.839', 'text': 'together. Everything we had cherished. I'}, {'start': '535.200', 'end': '539.600', 'text': "couldn't let them get away with this. I"}, {'start': '537.839', 'end': '540.440', 'text': 'called the resale company and explained'}, {'start': '539.600', 'end': '542.560', 'text': 'the'}, {'start': '540.440', 'end': '544.320', 'text': 'situation. Thankfully, they agreed to'}, {'start': '542.560', 'end': '547.760', 'text': 'return our items, but the damage had'}, {'start': '544.320', 'end': '548.920', 'text': 'been done. My home, my sanctuary had'}, {'start': '547.760', 'end': '551.360', 'text': 'been'}, {'start': '548.920', 'end': '553.880', 'text': 'violated. As I stood in the empty house'}, {'start': '551.360', 'end': '556.839', 'text': "surrounded by boxes, I knew I couldn't"}, {'start': '553.880', 'end': '560.560', 'text': "stay. Mark's family would never leave us"}, {'start': '556.839', 'end': '562.880', 'text': 'alone. It was time to move on. With the'}, {'start': '560.560', 'end': '564.680', 'text': 'life insurance money Mark had left us, I'}, {'start': '562.880', 'end': '567.200', 'text': 'found a new apartment for my mother and'}, {'start': '564.680', 'end': '569.839', 'text': "me. It wasn't the dream house we had"}, {'start': '567.200', 'end': '571.760', 'text': 'built together, but it was safe and it'}, {'start': '569.839', 'end': '574.160', 'text': 'was ours.'}, {'start': '571.760', 'end': '576.440', 'text': 'I cut ties with Linda and Jessica,'}, {'start': '574.160', 'end': '579.440', 'text': 'vowing never to let them back into my'}, {'start': '576.440', 'end': '582.040', 'text': 'life. Months passed and I heard rumors'}, {'start': '579.440', 'end': '584.399', 'text': "about Mark's family. They had lost"}, {'start': '582.040', 'end': '586.240', 'text': 'everything. Jessica and Linda were now'}, {'start': '584.399', 'end': '588.720', 'text': 'living in public housing, causing'}, {'start': '586.240', 'end': '590.720', 'text': "trouble wherever they went. I didn't"}, {'start': '588.720', 'end': '593.680', 'text': 'feel sorry for them. They had brought'}, {'start': '590.720', 'end': '596.160', 'text': 'this on themselves. As for me, I found'}, {'start': '593.680', 'end': '598.160', 'text': "peace in my new life. It wasn't the life"}, {'start': '596.160', 'end': '600.480', 'text': 'I had planned, but it was one I could'}, {'start': '598.160', 'end': '602.680', 'text': 'live with. I knew that Mark would want'}, {'start': '600.480', 'end': '605.519', 'text': 'me to move forward to find happiness'}, {'start': '602.680', 'end': '609.360', 'text': 'again. And so with his memory in my'}, {'start': '605.519', 'end': '609.360', 'text': 'heart, I did just that.'}]