My life completely fell apart the day my husband, Charles, died in a terrible work accident. I was left alone, trying to make sense of the world, and to hold it all together for our six-year-old daughter, Maggie. She was the light of my life, my everything.
For three long years, I stumbled through the pain, trying to be strong for her. But then, something changed. Jacob came into our lives.
Jacob had this easy smile, the kind that made you feel safe, like nothing bad could ever happen when he was around. He was patient and kind, with a heart full of compassion. But most importantly, he adored Maggie, and that won me over.
I found myself falling for him, and before I knew it, we were in a relationship. Two months ago, Jacob and I were married in a small ceremony at a charming farm with a duck pond. It was a peaceful, beautiful day that felt like the beginning of something new.
One evening, after tucking Maggie into bed, she held her favorite rabbit tightly and stared at me with those big brown eyes of hers. I could tell something was on her mind.
“Mommy?” she asked, her voice soft and uncertain.
“Yes, sweetie?” I replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“New Dad asked me to keep a secret from you. Is that okay?” she said, looking up at me with worry in her eyes.
Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach. My heart started racing, and I could feel a sickening twist in my gut.
Maggie fidgeted with the rabbit and bit her lip nervously. “New Dad said I shouldn’t tell you… but yesterday, when you were at work, I woke up early from my nap. I went looking for him because he promised we could play on the PlayStation, but I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
I could hear the anxiety in her voice as she continued, “I called for him, but he didn’t answer. Then I saw him and a pretty lady in a red dress coming out of the basement. He told me not to tell you.”
I was frozen, my mind racing. “What do you mean, a lady in a red dress?”
Maggie nodded, her eyes wide. “She had long blonde hair, like a princess. And a red dress. She smelled nice too.”
The basement? Why would Jacob take a woman there? My mind was spinning with questions, and I didn’t know what to think.
Later that night, I found Jacob sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Maggie told me about a woman who was here yesterday,” I said, my arms crossed tightly. “She said you took her to the basement. Care to explain?”
Jacob didn’t look up at first. Then, he sighed and said, “She’s an interior designer. I wanted to surprise you by fixing up the basement. It’s been a mess for years.”
He took my hand and led me down to the basement. When he flipped the light switch, I was surprised. The place was totally different—freshly painted walls, new furniture, soft lighting. It was cozy, almost beautiful.
But something didn’t feel right. Why had he kept it a secret? And Maggie’s description of the woman made me feel uneasy.
That night, as Jacob slept soundly beside me, I decided to do something I never thought I would. I checked his social media accounts. My heart skipped a beat when I found it.
There was a picture from two years ago, before we even met. Jacob was smiling, his arm around a woman with long blonde hair, wearing a bright red dress.
The next morning, I showed the picture to Maggie.
“Is this her?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Maggie’s eyes widened. “Yes, Mommy. That’s her.”
The shock hit me hard. I could feel the pieces of this puzzle starting to fall into place. Later that day, when Jacob went to work, I set up cameras I had secretly placed around the house, including in the basement and the living room. I had done this after Charles passed away, just to make sure everything was safe. But now, it felt like I needed them more than ever.
I told Jacob I had to go on a last-minute work trip, and I packed Maggie up to stay with my mom for a few days.
That night, I sat in a hotel room, ice cream in hand, watching the camera feed. Hours passed, and nothing happened. Jacob was just sitting there, eating pretzels, drinking milk from the carton, and watching TV. He seemed… normal.
But then, just as I started to think I was overreacting, a new notification popped up.
It was from the basement. Jacob and the woman in the red dress were kissing. She whispered something in his ear, and they both laughed.
I was shaking with anger and hurt. My suspicions had been confirmed. He was cheating… in my own home.
I rushed back to the house, my heart pounding in my chest. As I pulled into the driveway, I saw Jacob leading the woman to her car. When he saw me, his face fell.
I stormed out of the car. “Get out,” I demanded, my voice shaking with fury. “Both of you. Get out now.”
The woman glared at me before storming off, slamming her car door. Jacob stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn’t find the words.
I pointed to the street. “I’m done with you,” I said, my voice cold. “Leave.”
The next day, I packed all of Jacob’s things into garbage bags and took them to my mother’s house. I couldn’t wait to see Maggie again.
We went out for ice cream, and as she dug into her sundae, I turned to her, a soft smile on my face.
“You did the right thing by telling me the truth, sweetheart,” I said, my voice full of pride. “I’m so proud of you.”
As I looked at Maggie, I realized something. I didn’t need Jacob. I had my daughter, my home, and the strength to move forward. And that was all I needed.
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