When Olivia noticed that her stepson Josh was acting strangely, she became really worried. Despite her efforts to get her husband Patrick to talk to Josh, the boy stayed quiet. Then, one day, Olivia overheard a conversation between Josh and his biological mother, Linda, that revealed a heartbreaking truth.
Every Sunday at 5 p.m., Josh came back from his mom’s house. He would walk in quietly, take off his shoes, and head straight to his room. This routine was normal now, but something had changed in Josh. The once cheerful and talkative ten-year-old had become distant and gloomy.
He never talked about his weekends with Linda, and Olivia felt unsure about asking, unsure of her role as his stepmother.
One evening, while Olivia was cooking dinner, she asked Patrick, “Do you think he’s okay? He seems really off after coming home from his mom’s.”
Patrick shrugged and said, “I’m sure he’s fine. Linda probably gave him a hard time about school again. She can be a lot.”
Olivia nodded but couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was troubling Josh. She remembered when Josh first moved in with them. He was always excited to share his day and ask endless questions. They used to bake together and have fun. But now, that joy seemed gone. Despite their best efforts—cooking his favorite meals and planning movie nights—nothing seemed to make him happy.
Later that evening, Patrick tried to talk to Josh. “It’s just exhausting being at Mom’s,” Josh said. “But I know it’s important to spend time with her.”
Patrick suggested they could cut back on the visits if it was too much for Josh, but Josh quickly brushed it off and went to his room. He gave Olivia a quick hug on his way, which made her feel both comforted and even more concerned.
Olivia’s worries continued to grow until one Sunday, when everything became clear. While waiting for Josh to come back from Linda’s, Olivia saw the feed from their porch security camera on the TV. Josh and Linda were standing outside. Olivia’s curiosity was piqued. She watched as Linda handed Josh a container of cookies and said, “You know what you have to do.”
Olivia’s stomach twisted as she watched. Josh hesitated and said, “Mom, I don’t want to lie anymore. They know something’s wrong. If Dad found out you’ve been making me steal from his house every week, he’d be furious!”
Olivia’s heart dropped. Stealing from his own family? She listened in shock as Linda coldly told Josh to keep taking things from their house—Olivia’s toiletries, Patrick’s emergency cash, and even some of Olivia’s jewelry to help pay off Linda’s debts.
Furious and heartbroken for Josh, Olivia marched to the front door and said, “Linda, I heard everything.” Josh hugged Olivia tightly, his face showing guilt and shame.
Linda tried to explain, but Olivia cut her off. “I’ll help you get back on your feet, but Josh is staying with us until you can properly care for him. And you will never ask him to steal again. Understood?”
Linda, realizing how serious the situation was, reluctantly agreed. After Linda left, Josh broke down in tears. “I didn’t want to do it. I’m so sorry, Liv.”
Olivia hugged him tightly. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll fix this, and everything will get better.”
Even though Olivia was shocked and hurt, her main concern was Josh. She promised to protect him from being used again and to make sure he felt safe and loved in their home.
