Three years after her husband\u2019s tragic death, Hillary thought that she had found love again. But when her 6-year-old daughter reveals a chilling secret about her new stepdad, everything unravels\u2026After Charles, my husband, passed away in a freak work accident, my world fell apart. For three years, I stumbled through life, keeping it together for my 6-year-old daughter, Maggie. She was my everything. Is my everything.Since then, she\u2019s been the biggest reason for me to get out of bed. But after a while, even her sweet smiles couldn\u2019t fill the aching void.\n\n\n\n

He had this warm smile that made you feel safe, like everything would be okay. He was patient, kind, and most importantly, he adored Maggie.\n\n\n\n

I saw my child light up around him in ways I hadn\u2019t seen since my husband\u2019s death. Slowly, I let myself believe again. Maybe life after Charles did have happiness, and maybe that also involved another person, too.\n\n\n\n

\u201cHillary,\u201d I imagined him saying. \u201cWe had years of being each other\u2019s \u2018great\u2019 love, but it\u2019s time to find another kind of love now. Go be happy. Do it for Maggie. Do it for you.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Two months ago, I married Jacob on a little farm with a duck pond. I thought I had found the missing piece of our family. Or at least, a piece that would help Maggie and I move on with our lives.\n\n\n\n

But sometimes, life doesn\u2019t just throw you curveballs. Instead, it aims straight for your heart.\n\n\n\n

One evening, as I tucked Maggie into bed, she clutched her favorite bunny tightly and looked at me with those big brown eyes.\n\n\n\n

\u201cBaby girl, you know you can call Jacob \u2018Dad,\u2019 right?\u201d I asked, trying to pace myself before my little girl spewed out whatever secret she was going to unleash.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like New-Dad better,\u201d she said, pouting. \u201cSo\u2026 is it okay? The secret?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, sweetheart,\u201d I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. \u201cYou can always tell me anything. What\u2019s wrong?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cNew-Dad said I shouldn\u2019t tell you\u2026 but yesterday, when you were at work, I woke up early from my nap and went looking for him. He promised me that we could play on the PlayStation. I couldn\u2019t find him anywhere.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d I asked, brushing her hair back gently. \u201cDad wasn\u2019t here when you woke up? He left you alone?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cI called for him, but he didn\u2019t answer,\u201d she continued, glancing at me nervously. \u201cThen I saw him and a pretty lady in a red dress come out of the basement. He told me not to tell you.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Mama. I just know he told me not to tell you. But you said secrets are bad, so\u2026\u201d Her voice faltered, and she looked at me like she\u2019d done something wrong.\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou did the right thing, sweetheart,\u201d I said, trying to mask my growing unease. \u201cWhat did she look like?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe had long blonde hair, like a princess. And a red dress. She smelled nice, too.\u201d\n\n\n\n

It was just a dusty, unfinished space filled with old boxes and tools. Jacob and I barely stepped foot in there since he moved in.\n\n\n\n

Later that night, as Jacob scrolled through his phone on the couch, I confronted him.\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaggie told me there was a woman here yesterday,\u201d I said, arms crossed. \u201cShe said you took her to the basement. Care to explain?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, that?\u201d he asked with a laugh. \u201cShe\u2019s an interior designer. I wanted to surprise you by fixing up the basement. It\u2019s been a mess for years.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn interior designer?\u201d I repeated, skepticism lacing my voice.\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah! I wanted to turn it into a cozy family space for us. I thought it\u2019d be a nice gift, you know? I wanted a projector, a mini-fridge, and maybe even a popcorn maker.\u201d\n\n\n\n

He led me to the basement and flipped on the light. To my shock, the dingy space had been transformed \u2014 painted walls, new furniture, warm lighting.\n\n\n\n

I forced a smile. But something didn\u2019t sit right. Why had he been so secretive about it? And there was something about Maggie\u2019s description of the woman that just nagged at me.\n\n\n\n

That night, while Jacob slept, I opened his social media. I wasn\u2019t sure what I was looking for, but my gut told me there was more to this story.\n\n\n\n

A photo from two years ago, before we met. It was of Jacob, who was smiling widely, his arm wrapped around a woman with long blond hair, wearing a red dress.\n\n\n\n

I felt the room spin. Jacob had lied. He did know the woman. But I needed proof before confronting him again.\n\n\n\n

When Jacob left for work, I retrieved the hidden cameras I\u2019d installed in the garage and the porch after my husband\u2019s death, and set them up in the basement and living room. I knew Jacob wouldn\u2019t notice them, he was aloof when it came to details.\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot a problem, love,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll watch Maggie.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I was actually thinking of taking her to my mother. She\u2019s been asking for a sleepover for a while, and I think Maggie could use some time out from our routine. Are you okay with that?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can all just have a break. You too, Hillary. You need a break in between work, okay?\u201d\n\n\n\n

Later that day, I took Maggie to my mother and told her what was going on.\n\n\n\n

\u201cDarling, I hope you get the answers you need,\u201d she said, pushing a plate of cookies toward me. \u201cYou and Maggie have been through too much. The last thing you need is to worry about a man who is supposed to be your peace.\u201d\n\n\n\n

She was right, of course. Jacob\u2019s presence in our lives had been peaceful, and he had lit our lives in a light that had been dimmed by Charles\u2019s death. But since Maggie\u2019s confession, I had felt nothing but anxiety and a sense of dread that refused to leave me.\n\n\n\n

That night, I camped out in a hotel room nearby. I sat on the bed eating a tub of ice cream, watching the camera feed obsessively. But as the hours went by, nothing happened. Jacob lounged in front of the TV, drinking milk from the carton, eating chocolate-covered pretzels, and just\u2026 being.\n\n\n\n

The next morning, as I sat by the window eating my breakfast, my paranoia felt consuming and ridiculous. The day went by without anything out of the ordinary. Jacob lazed around the house. I went to bed thinking that I was just being unreasonable.\n\n\n\n

My heart pounded as I opened the app, switching to where motion had been detected. There he was, Jacob, standing in the basement, kissing the woman in red. I watched as she whispered something in his ear, and they laughed.\n\n\n\n

Fueled by adrenaline, I raced back to the house and pulled into the driveway just as Jacob was walking her to her car. When he saw me, his face turned into a grimace.\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, honey! You\u2019re home now? In the middle of the night?\u201d he stammered. \u201cThis is the designer I told you about.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d I gasped sarcastically, crossing my arms. \u201cShe does late-night calls?\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight, and I just watched you make out with her in my basement, Jacob. Is that part of the job?\u201d\n\n\n\n

Jacob froze, his mouth opening and closing. The woman rolled her eyes and turned to him.\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinally, she knows,\u201d she snapped. \u201cHillary, you\u2019ve finally gotten with the program. Jeez. How did you not see anything sooner? Now, you, Jacob, can come back to me.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been together for 10 years, sweetheart. He told me that he was only with you because you had a fancy house and a steady paycheck. Being a sad widow was a bonus, really.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Her words felt like a slap. I stared at Jacob, waiting for him to deny it.\n\n\n\n

The woman stormed off, slamming the car door. Jacob tried to apologize, but I pointed to the street.\n\n\n\n

\u201cOut. Now,\u201d I hissed. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever come back.\u201d\n\n\n\n

The next day, I packed all of Jacob\u2019s things and threw them into bin bags. I was going to leave them outside his mother\u2019s house, but then I decided to do something better.\n\n\n\n

I left them at a construction site. I figured the workers could help themselves. Then, I drove to my mother\u2019s house, ready to see my little girl.\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you tomorrow,\u201d I said. \u201cToday is about Maggie.\u201d\n\n\n\n

I packed Maggie into the car and took her for ice cream. As she dug into her sundae, I leaned over.\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou did the right thing by telling me the truth, sweetheart. I\u2019m so proud of you.\u201d\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d I said, pulling her into a hug. \u201cBut when we get home, I need you to know that Jacob won\u2019t be there. He\u2019s not going to be with us anymore.\u201d\n\n\n\n

Jacob was gone, and so was the life I thought we were building. But as I looked at Maggie, I realized I didn\u2019t need him. I had her, my home, and the strength to keep going.\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, losing the wrong person is the way to make room for the life you truly deserve.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"