I should have known my birthday was doomed the moment I spotted my niece and nephew whispering together, eyes darting toward me like little villains plotting their next move. But nothing could have prepared me for the audacity that followed. The morning had started off perfectly. I had fresh highlights, a salon-fresh blowout, flawless makeup, and a dress that made me feel like myself—not just someone’s daughter, sister, or aunt. It was my 30th birthday, and for once, I wanted to feel special. The backyard was buzzing with energy. The

For twenty-five years, I thought my marriage was perfect. I believed in love, in commitment, in the unbreakable bond between two people who promised to stand by each other forever. But one night, my husband revealed a secret that shattered everything I knew. He expected me to break. But I had other plans. A Love Built on Lies I used to believe in soulmates. Benjamin and I met when we were just fifteen—high school sweethearts who stumbled through young love and somehow made it last. Or so I thought. People

Three days. That was how long my mother had been missing. Three days of endless searching, sleepless nights, and gut-wrenching fear. My mother, Edith, who was 67 and battling Alzheimer’s, had somehow wandered out of the house while I was away, dropping the kids off at their summer camp. The camp was four hours away. Nate, my husband, couldn’t take time off work, so we agreed that I would drive the kids there, spend the night at a motel, and then return home the next day. I had left Mom