When my sister Beth told us she was getting married after meeting a man at a wellness retreat, I was truly happy for her. She looked excited, full of hope again—and after everything she’d been through, she deserved some happiness. But as the big day came closer, something about her started to feel… off. Strange. Like she was floating too far away from reality. Let me tell you about Beth. Beth has always been… different. In a magical way. She’s two years older than me, and growing up, she was

I thought a weekend at my future in-laws’ lake house would be relaxing — a chance to unwind and get to know Josh’s family better. But I was wrong. From the moment we arrived, it felt like I was being put to work. Cleaning, cooking, and then—when the shower broke—I had to bathe outside in a basin. Then, late that night, I overheard a phone call that changed everything. It started when Josh’s mom called me a few days before the trip. “We’d love to get to know you better,”

When we hired a new nanny, everything seemed perfect at first. I was relieved—finally, someone to help with Brady, especially since I was juggling work and motherhood like a circus act. But soon, little things started bothering me. The way she looked at my husband, Sean. The way Sean changed whenever she was around. It felt strange, like something was wrong. At first, I thought she was after Sean, trying to steal him away from me. But I was wrong. What she really wanted was something even closer to my