The night was supposed to be a joyful celebration—my sister Emma’s 40th birthday. Laughter and conversation filled the house, the rich aroma of roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread lingering in the air. Emma had outdone herself, as always. Her two kids, Ava and Ben, darted around the room, giggling as they stole tiny bites of cake when they thought no one was looking. Our parents and Emma’s friends were scattered in small groups, chatting, sipping wine, and enjoying the evening. Emma looked beautiful, glowing with happiness.

Food kept disappearing from Christine’s house—first small things, then entire meals. At first, she tried to ignore it, but when her husband, Samuel, swore he wasn’t sneaking midnight snacks, she decided to set up a hidden camera. When she saw the footage, her blood ran cold. At first, it was little things. A few chocolates missing from the box she had been saving. A juice box gone before she could even remember drinking it. The premium snacks she cherished vanishing faster than she expected. Christine started questioning herself. Maybe she

I dragged myself through the front door at 8:30 p.m., my whole body aching after a brutal twelve-hour shift at the hospital. The second I stepped inside, the noise hit me like a freight train. The TV blasted cartoons at full volume, and Zach and Penny were running in circles, shrieking like little tornadoes of chaos. And there was Garrett—my husband—lounging on the couch, sprawled out like he was the king of the castle, a beer in one hand, his phone in the other. “Hey, babe,” he said, eyes glued