On our wedding night, as Scott leaned in for a kiss, I gently turned away, exhausted from the whirlwind of the day.

He smiled, understanding, and wrapped an arm around me. But my rest didn’t last long.

In the middle of the night, I woke to a strange sensation—the bed was shaking. Groggy, I turned over, only to freeze at the sight of Scott kneeling beside the bed, cradling a baby.

My heart raced.

He looked away, visibly struggling with an answer. “This is Ella,” he murmured. “She’s my niece. My stepsister, Maya…she passed away a few weeks ago.”

His words were stilted, and my mind spun with questions. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

I managed, feeling the weight of this revelation on our wedding night.

Scott lowered his head, guilt clouding his face. “I was scared, Everly. Scared you’d walk away if you knew.”

We spent the rest of the night in silence. The next morning, we returned to Scott’s estate, bringing Ella with us as though an unspoken decision had been made.

I felt swept up in Scott’s choices, helpless yet unable to voice my concerns. Days passed with me wrestling between my love for Scott and the hidden truths he seemed reluctant to share.