Maria used to think she had it all. For two years before the wedding, she and Adrian were inseparable. Everywhere she went, he seemed to be there—bringing her lunch at the office, holding her hand in public, whispering about their future as though it was a story written just for them. He was gentle, attentive, and affectionate in a way that made her believe love could truly conquer everything. When they finally married, the celebration felt like a royal affair. Both families praised them as the perfect couple. Maria’s mother

After my brother died, his best friend became my lifeline — and then my husband. I truly believed love had rescued me from grief. I believed I had been saved. Until our wedding night. Until I found a box hidden in our bedroom. Inside was a letter written in my brother’s handwriting that said, “My sister must never know the truth.” When my older brother Alex died in a car accident, my life didn’t explode. It didn’t fall apart loudly. It went quiet. So quiet it felt unreal, like the