I Sold My Houses for His Cure, He Left the Insurance to His Ex

Synopsis

The insurance company called while I was at the funeral home, standing by his casket during the visitation. My phone buzzed in my pocket, the screen glaring brightly against the dark fabric of my mourning dress. I stepped slightly away from the flower arrangements, pressing the phone between my ear and shoulder while smoothing down my skirt with a trembling hand. The low murmur of grieving relatives and the heavy scent of lilies filled the viewing room. "Hello, is this Mrs. Carter?" the voice on the other end asked. "Yes," I replied, keeping my voice low. "This is the Life Insurance Claims Department. We've processed the payout for your husband, David Carter's critical illness policy. Please check your account for the funds." I froze, my hand stopping mid-air as I looked over at David’s framed portrait next to the register book. "It's in my account?" I asked. "The funds have been transferred to the beneficiary's account," the woman replied. "I'm the beneficiary," I said. There was a brief silence, just the sound of keys tapping. When the woman spoke again, her voice was noticeably softer. "Mrs. Carter, our system shows you're not the beneficiary," she said. "Who is it, then?" I asked, my heart dropping. "After the policyholder updated the paperwork, the primary beneficiary is listed as a woman named Bennett. Laura Bennett," she replied.