When Angela stumbles upon her late husband’s wristwatch inside her second husband Bryan’s nightstand drawer, her world shatters. She confronts Bryan, but his answers reveal a devastating truth that tears her life apart.
I don’t know how to begin, but maybe it’s best if I just tell it as it happened. There are days that start out ordinary, and then, in the blink of an eye, everything changes. This was one of those days.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
I was tidying up the house, keeping busy, keeping my mind from wandering too much into the past. Bryan’s side of the bed was its usual mess, with socks kicked off hurriedly and his nightstand drawer slightly open.
I wasn’t snooping, I swear, but something about that open drawer caught my eye. Maybe it was just instinct, or maybe it was fate pushing me toward the truth.
When I opened it fully, I didn’t expect to find anything out of the ordinary. But then I saw it.
An open drawer | Source: Pexels
A wristwatch. And not just any wristwatch. It had belonged to my late husband Jeff. The one I gave him on our first anniversary, with the words “Forever Yours, A.” engraved on the back. My heart stopped and literally skipped a beat as I picked it up with trembling hands.
I knew that watch like I knew my heartbeat. But it shouldn’t be here. Bryan didn’t even know Jeff. I only met him six months after Jeff died. I felt a cold wave of confusion wash over me.
How could Bryan have this? It didn’t make sense. Nothing about this made sense.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
I dropped the watch, my hands shaking too much to hold onto it. It fell to the carpet with a soft thud, but the noise echoed in my head like a bomb going off.
When Bryan came home that evening, I didn’t even let him take off his coat before I confronted him. My voice was tight, barely controlled, as I held up the watch in front of him.
“Where did you get this?”
The look on his face told me everything and nothing at the same time.
A man with an unreadable expression | Source: Midjourney
He went pale, eyes wide like he’d seen a ghost. He just stared at the watch, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn’t find the words. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, until I thought I might scream just to break it.
Finally, Bryan spoke, but his voice was so soft that I had to strain to hear him. “I… I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“Find out what?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over.
An angry woman | Source: Midjourney
He looked away, running a hand through his hair, his whole body tense like he was bracing for impact. “Angela, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you from the beginning, but I didn’t know how.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. “What are you talking about?”
“Jeff was… Jeff was my brother.”
I stared at him, my mind rejecting the words. It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach, and I couldn’t breathe.
A woman gasping in shock | Source: Midjourney
“Your brother? But Jeff never said he had a brother… and you never said anything either. We’ve been married three years! How could you—”
“I didn’t just not say anything, Angela. I hid it. Years ago, I changed my name, left the country, and cut all ties with my past. I was bitter, angry, and I couldn’t stand being around my family anymore. Jeff and I had a falling out. A big one. And I thought the only way to move on was to leave it all behind, including him.”
Bryan’s voice cracked, and he looked at me with such sorrow in his eyes that it made my heart ache.
A sad man | Source: Midjourney
“I didn’t know Jeff was gone until months later. By the time I came back, it was too late. He was already dead. I went to his grave, and that’s when I saw you.”
I could feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. “You saw me there? At Jeff’s grave?”
Bryan nodded, his hands shaking. “Yes. I didn’t know who you were at first, but when I found out, I… I don’t know, Angela. I was drawn to you.”
A thoughtful man | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was something else, but I couldn’t stay away. And then… then we fell in love.”
I felt like the room was spinning. This man, the one I had trusted, had kept this from me? This wasn’t just some mistake; this was my entire life, everything I thought I knew, turned upside down.
“But the watch,” I managed to say, my voice shaking as much as my hands. “How did you get Jeff’s watch?”
A woman speaking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
“After I came back, I found my mother at Jeff’s grave. She forgave me, even though I didn’t deserve it. And she gave me this,” he gestured to the watch, his voice heavy with regret. “It was the only thing she had left of Jeff. A way to make peace, she said. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you’d hate me.”
I stood there, staring at the man I thought I knew, and I couldn’t make sense of anything anymore.
Close up of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
His words kept circling in my head, wrapping tighter around my heart, choking the life out of me. Jeff’s brother. How had I missed it? How could I have been so blind?
“Angela, please,” he started, taking a step closer. But I held up my hand to stop him, needing distance, needing to breathe. I couldn’t look at him without seeing all the lies, all the secrets that had been hiding in plain sight.
“I… I can’t do this,” I said, my voice sounding foreign, hollow.
A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
The room felt like it was closing in on me, the walls pushing in until there was no space left to think, to feel anything but the overwhelming weight of betrayal.
“Angela, listen to me,” Bryan pleaded, his voice breaking. “I know I should have told you from the beginning, but I didn’t want to lose you.”
“But you already have,” I whispered, barely able to say the words out loud. They hurt too much, like shards of glass scraping against my throat.
A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney
“You lost me the moment you decided to hide this from me. You let me fall in love with a lie.”
He shook his head, desperation in his eyes. “No, it wasn’t a lie. My love for you is real. Everything we’ve built together, it’s real. I swear to you, Angela, I never meant to deceive you.”
“Maybe not,” I said, my voice trembling as I fought to keep it together. “But you did. You deceived me every day you looked me in the eye and didn’t tell me the truth. I trusted you, Bryan. I trusted you with everything I had left after Jeff, and now… now I don’t even know who you are.”
A woman pointing her finger | Source: Midjourney
The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating. Bryan’s shoulders slumped, his face a mask of sorrow and regret. I could see the pain in his eyes, but it didn’t change the fact that I felt like I’d been living in someone else’s story, a story I didn’t sign up for.
I turned away from him, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilling over.
“I need to pack,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. I needed to move, to do something, anything, to keep from falling apart completely.
A woman in a darkened hallway | Source: Midjourney
“Please, Angela, don’t go,” Bryan begged, but his voice sounded distant. It was as if it was coming from the other end of a tunnel. “We can work through this. We can—”
“There’s nothing to work through,” I interrupted, choking on my own words. “I can’t stay in this marriage, Bryan. Not after this. I can’t stay with someone I don’t even recognize anymore.”
I walked to the bedroom, each step feeling heavier than the last. My hands shook as I pulled out a suitcase, the sound of the zipper echoing in the room.
A woman packing a suitcase | Source: Pexels
Bryan stood in the doorway, his face pale, watching me pack with a helplessness that almost broke me. Almost. But the anger and betrayal were stronger, driving me forward and pushing me to leave behind everything we had built.
“Angela, please,” he said one last time, his voice so soft, so broken, it was almost a whisper.
But I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I’d crumble, and I couldn’t afford that. Not now. Not ever.
A woman hanging her head | Source: Midjourney
I zipped up the suitcase and lifted it from the bed. My heart pounded as I walked past him without a word. As I reached the front door, I hesitated, just for a moment.
Part of me wanted to turn back, to give him one last look, but I couldn’t. I knew if I did, I might lose the strength I’d gathered to walk away.
So I stepped out the door, the cool evening air hitting my face like a slap. I didn’t look back as I walked to my car and climbed in, each step feeling like I was tearing my heart out.
A woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
But I kept going because there was no other choice. The man I loved, the man I thought I knew, was a stranger. And I couldn’t live with that. Not anymore.
My Daughter Started Sleepwalking, I Followed Her One Night and Was Shocked by What I Saw—Story of the Day
My mother-in-law Cynthia moved in, and soon after, my daughter Lisa began acting oddly. She was no longer her cheerful self, and it worried me deeply. One night, I saw her sleepwalking through the house, clutching her teddy bear. I quietly followed her, and what I discovered that night shocked me, leading to a bigger mystery I needed to solve.
We were a happy family, living together in peace. Our days were filled with laughter, playful moments with our daughter, Lisa, and cozy family dinners.
Tony worked as a financial analyst, always dreaming of starting his own business, while I balanced my career and took care of our home.
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One evening, Tony came home with exciting news.
“Amelie, I found partners, and I can finally start my own business, just like I’ve always dreamed!” he announced, grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s amazing, Tony!” I hugged him, feeling proud. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”
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“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said, looking a bit hesitant.
“With our new jobs, we’ll be even busier. Mom has been complaining about her health and suggested moving in with us. She wants to help with taking care of Lisa.”
I frowned.
“Tony, you know how Cynthia feels about our marriage. She never really accepted me.”
“I know, but she insisted,” Tony replied. “And we really could use the help right now.”
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I sighed, unsure.
“Alright, but only because we need the help. And of course, she wants to move in now that things are looking up for us.”
***
A few days later, Cynthia moved in. She entered the house with a big smile, her hands held in front of her, carrying a gift for Lisa.
“Hello, Lisa! Look what Grandma brought you,” she said, handing Lisa a fluffy teddy bear.
“Thank you, Grandma!” Lisa hugged the bear tightly, her eyes sparkling with joy.
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Tony looked at me, hoping I would make an effort. “Thanks, Cynthia. I’m sure Lisa will love it,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Amelie, I know we’ve had our differences,” Cynthia began. “But I want to make this work for Tony and Lisa.”
“I hope so,” I replied cautiously.
***
Days turned into weeks, and I noticed changes in Lisa. She became cranky and sleepy during the day. She wasn’t her usual cheerful self, and it worried me.
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“Lisa, honey, why are you so tired?” I asked one afternoon as she rubbed her eyes.
“I don’t know, Mommy. I just feel sleepy,” she replied, yawning.
That night, as I checked on her, I saw her walking around. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be in a daze.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Lisa, sweetie, what are you doing?” I whispered, gently taking her by the hand.
She didn’t respond, just continued clutching the teddy bear. I carefully guided her back to bed and tucked her in, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach.
The next morning, over breakfast, I decided to bring it up with Tony.
“Tony, I saw Lisa sleepwalking last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “She was wandering around with that teddy bear your mom gave her.”
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Tony looked surprised. “Really? That’s strange.”
Before he could say more, Cynthia, walking nearby, chimed in.
“Oh, that’s perfectly normal. Tony used to sleepwalk as a child too. There’s nothing to worry about,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking at her thoughtfully.
“Absolutely. It’s just a phase,” Cynthia insisted, her tone final.
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I nodded, but the worry didn’t leave me. Later that morning, as Tony was getting ready for work, he suddenly frowned and checked his wallet.
“Amelie, have you seen some money I left in my wallet? It’s missing,” he said, looking puzzled.
“No, I haven’t touched your wallet,” I replied honestly.
Tony sighed. “Maybe I misplaced it. It’s probably just somewhere around.”
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I decided to get my purse to give my husband some money. But I was surprised to find a much larger sum than I had yesterday.
“Tony, look at this. Is this the amount you were missing?” I said, showing him the money.
Tony peered into the purse and nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly how I tied and stored the amount in my wallet yesterday. That’s strange. Maybe you took it by mistake?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m sure I didn’t. It’s really odd.”
How did it get there?
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Tony shrugged, trying to brush it off. “Let’s not worry about it.”
But I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. Something was definitely wrong, and I needed to figure out what was happening. That night, I couldn’t sleep, thinking about Lisa and the strange occurrences.
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***
The next few days, I kept a closer eye on Lisa. She was still cranky and tired during the day, and I noticed she clung to the teddy bear more than usual.
I decided to follow her if she sleepwalked again, to see if I could find any answers.
That night, it happened again. I saw Lisa get up from her bed, holding the teddy bear tightly in her arms. This time, her eyes were wide open, but she didn’t seem to notice me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
She walked out of her room and down the hallway. I quietly followed her, making sure not to wake her. My heart pounded as I watched her small figure move through the dimly lit house.
This time, she went straight to Cynthia’s room. I paused outside the door, straining to hear. I heard Cynthia’s voice, low and insistent.
“Go to your parents’ room… Take the money from the safe, Lisa. Remember, it’s our little secret.”
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My blood ran cold. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I stood frozen for a moment, then hurried back to my room to wake Tony.
“Tony, wake up! You have to see this,” I whispered urgently, shaking him awake.
Tony groggily opened his eyes. “What’s going on, Amelie?”
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“It’s Lisa. She’s in your mom’s room. I heard Cynthia giving her instructions to take money from the safe,” I said, my voice trembling.
Tony sat up, looking frustrated. “Amelie, you’re overreacting. Mom wouldn’t do that.”
“Please, Tony, just come and see,” I begged.
Reluctantly, he got out of bed and followed me to Cynthia’s room. We quietly opened the door and saw both Cynthia and Lisa seemingly asleep. Tony sighed in exasperation.
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“See, they’re both asleep. You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“No, Tony, I know what I heard,” I insisted.
Frustrated, Tony stomped over to the safe.
“I’ll prove to you that this is all a misunderstanding. The money should be right here. I was going to invest it in my project tomorrow.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Then Tony’s face went pale.
“What? No, this has to be a joke. The money was here this morning!” he shouted, his voice filled with anger.
“Tony, it’s not a joke. Your mother is responsible for this,” I said firmly.
The commotion woke everyone up. Cynthia came into the room, looking defensive.
“What’s all this noise about?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tony turned to her, fury in his eyes. “Mom, did you ask Lisa to steal money from the safe?”
Cynthia’s eyes widened, and she started to deny it. “Of course not! How could you even think that?”
Just then, Lisa started to cry, scared and confused by the shouting. I knelt down and gently took her hand.
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“Lisa, sweetie, can you tell us what happened? It’s important.”
Lisa sniffled and nodded. She walked over to my purse and pointed.
Tony looked inside my purse and found the missing money. His face contorted with rage and disbelief.
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“Amelie, how could you? Were you trying to frame my mother?”
“No, Tony! I didn’t know the money was there! It was your mother’s doing!” I protested.
But Tony was too angry to listen.
“This is too much. I can’t deal with this right now. Amelie, I think it’s best if you stay somewhere else for a while. Mom will watch over Lisa.”
“Tony, please, you have to believe me. I’m not the one at fault here!” I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.
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Cynthia stood behind Tony, a look of satisfaction hidden in her eyes.
“It’s for the best, Amelie. We need some time to sort this out.”
My heart was breaking, but I knew I had to find a way to prove the truth and protect my family.
***
In the morning, Tony left for work while I started packing my things. My heart was heavy with sadness and frustration.
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As I gathered my belongings, I went into Lisa’s room and noticed her sitting on the bed, talking to the teddy bear.
“Lisa, sweetie, who are you talking to?” I asked gently, trying not to startle her.
She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes.
“The teddy bear, Mommy. But it doesn’t want to talk anymore.”
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I frowned, feeling a knot of worry. “What do you mean, it doesn’t want to talk anymore?”
Lisa hugged the bear tightly.
“It used to talk to me before bedtime. Grandma said it was our little secret.”
My heart sank. This was worse than I had imagined.
“Lisa, can I borrow the teddy bear for a bit? I need to wash it,” I said, trying to sound casual.
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She hesitated, then answered, “Okay, Mommy. Just be careful with him.”
I didn’t leave the house. I was waiting for the evening to put everything in its place. I had a hunch about what was happening and who was behind it all.
***
That evening, while preparing dinner, Cynthia entered the kitchen. She stood there with her arms crossed, looking smug.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Why haven’t you left yet, Amelie? Tony doesn’t want a thief in his house.”
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “I have some unfinished business, Cynthia. Everything will be resolved when Tony returns.”
Cynthia’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning?”
“You’ll see,” I replied, turning back to the stove.
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When Tony came home, I was ready.
“Tony, I need to show you something,” I said, holding the teddy bear.
He looked weary. “What is it now, Amelie?”
“Please, just trust me,” I urged.
I brought out the teddy bear and carefully opened it, revealing a small talking device inside.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Tony, Lisa wasn’t sleepwalking. She was being manipulated by this device. Cynthia has been using it to give her instructions.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Cynthia shouted, her face turning red. “You’re making this up!”
“Let’s check Cynthia’s room for the other half of the device,” I suggested, keeping my voice steady.
Cynthia backed away, her eyes wide with fear. “No, you can’t go in there!”
Tony, now suspicious, insisted, “Mom, we need to see.”
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I pressed the button on the bear’s device and spoke into it. At that moment, we heard my voice echoing from Cynthia’s room.
Tony rushed in and found the other device hidden under Cynthia’s pillow.
Lisa, hearing the commotion, peeked into the room. “Grandma, are we playing a new game since our secret is out?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tony looked puzzled. “Mom, how did you use the bear to control her?”
Cynthia sighed, wiping her tears. “I put a walkie-talkie inside the teddy bear and another one under my pillow. When Lisa would start sleepwalking, I would whisper instructions to her through the bear. I would tell her to come to my room, and we would play a game. She would take money from your wallet and put it in her mom’s purse, and then back again.”
“Mom, why? Why would you do this?” Tony exclaimed.
In tears, Cynthia finally broke down.
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“At first, it was just to see if it would work. Then it became a way for me to feel in control, to have a role in the family. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt everyone.”
Tony, filled with anger and disappointment, shook his head.
“Mom, this is wrong. You can’t use Lisa like that. If you want to be part of this family, you have to stop these manipulations and respect our lives.”
Realizing her mistakes, Cynthia nodded, her face wet with tears.
“I’m sorry, Tony,” Cynthia said, her voice trembling with emotion.
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“I just wanted to feel needed. I promise I’ll do better. I’ll only visit on weekends and spend time with Lisa occasionally.”
Tony looked at me. “Amelie, what do you think?” he asked softly.
I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears.
“Cynthia, we all make mistakes. But if you truly want to be part of this family, you need to accept us and respect our boundaries. I think it would be good for Lisa to spend time with her grandmother.”
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Cynthia nodded, wiping her tears.
“I understand. I’ll respect your family’s peace and unity.”
I smiled faintly, looking at my sleepy daughter and feeling a glimmer of hope.
“Let’s take it one step at a time and work together to create a loving environment for Lisa.”
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Cynthia reached out and took my hand.
“Thank you, Amelie. I promise I’ll make it right.”
The truth was finally out, and now we could begin the process of rebuilding our trust and unity. It wouldn’t be easy, but with love and understanding, we could overcome this challenge together.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Six-year-old Ethan had recently lost his mother, leaving a deep void in his heart. In his grief, he started writing letters to her, pouring out his feelings on paper. One day, while wandering the streets, he stumbled upon an old, rusty mailbox at an abandoned house. He decided to slip one of his letters inside, never expecting anyone to see it. To his astonishment, the very next day, he found a mysterious reply waiting for him.
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