When I married Ben, a widower with a son, Lucas, our blended family seemed perfect—until Lucas whispered, “My real mom still lives here.” At first, I dismissed it as imagination, but strange events followed: toys moved, cabinets rearranged, and Irene’s photo returned to its original spot.
One night, I found Ben’s sister, Emily, living secretly in the attic. She had been pretending to be Irene, comforting Lucas by feeding his belief that his mom was still around.
Ben revealed he hid Emily, struggling with her mental health, out of guilt. We got Emily professional help and explained the truth to Lucas, helping him process his grief.
Despite the challenges, our family grew stronger, bound by love and resilience.
