PART 1

I had raised Mabel alone.

Her father left before she learned to walk, and from that day on, everything I did was for her.

Then I met Matthew.

He was kind, steady, and made me believe our little family might finally feel complete.

But Mabel never warmed to him.

Whenever Matthew entered the room, she became quiet.

She refused to sit beside him in the car, and one evening, she climbed into my lap and whispered, “Mommy, don’t leave me alone with him.”

“Why, sweetheart?”

She hugged her favorite plush bunny.

“Because he acts MEAN when you’re not there.”

I confronted Matthew that night.

“She’s afraid I’m taking you away from her,” he said.

“She just needs time.”

I wanted our new family to work so badly that I believed him.

But after that, I stopped leaving them alone together.

On our wedding day, the church was full, the organ had begun, and Matthew was already waiting at the altar.

Five minutes before the ceremony, Mabel slipped into the bridal room.