Nancy’s life is turned upside down at her husband’s funeral when she encounters an older woman holding a baby. The woman claims the child she is carrying is Nancy’s late husband’s. Is she lying? Or do more shocking revelations await Nancy?
Nancy looked at the final traces of her husband’s funeral service. She couldn’t believe Patrick was gone. He had died in a car accident. It had been a week, but she could still feel him around her. How could he be dead?
With a heavy heart, she headed toward the cemetery’s exit, telling herself she had to start figuring out the rest of her life.
Suddenly, an older woman with a baby blocked her path.
“Are you Nancy?” the woman asked while the baby in her arms cried.
Nancy didn’t recognize her. Who was she?
“I am. Who are you?” Nancy replied.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Nancy’s heart wasn’t ready when the woman, Amanda, revealed the baby in her arms was Patrick’s child.
“Only you can look after this child now,” she told Nancy. “Her mother can’t provide for her.”
A shiver ran down Nancy’s spine. She stared at the baby and backed away.
“No, it can’t be! Patrick was a loving husband. He would never do this to me!”
Nancy turned around and left. She would never doubt Patrick.
“Watch out!”
Nancy bumped into one of Patrick’s old friends, Mike. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice where she was heading.
Mike started chatting with her, offering his condolences. Nancy didn’t want to talk to anyone, but she had to be courteous. She finished the conversation as soon as she could and headed to her car.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
The baby’s thoughts replayed in her mind, but she dismissed them. However, as Nancy opened her car door, she was shocked. The same baby lay in her back seat, crying.
Nancy looked around. Amanda was nowhere to be seen. “How did this baby even get here?” she wondered.
It was cold, so Nancy removed her jacket and began wrapping it around the little one.
But she froze when she noticed a birthmark on the baby’s neck. “It can’t be,” she muttered to herself.
The birthmark was exactly like Patrick’s. Nancy didn’t want to suspect her late husband of cheating. But now, she needed the truth. She needed to know if Patrick had been unfaithful to her.
Nancy drove home with the baby, took Patrick’s hair strands from his hairbrush, and went to a hospital.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“Hello, I’d like to get a paternity test done,” she told the receptionist at the counter.
“OK, ma’am. Normally, it takes a few days to get the results,” the woman said.
“Can it be done quicker?” Nancy asked. “I’ll pay extra.”
“Well, we do have expedited service. Let me see what I can do. But it will cost you more.”
“I’ll take it,” Nancy replied. She submitted Patrick’s samples and paid for the test.
Sitting in the hallway, she was awaiting the results when the baby started crying. Nancy sniffed the baby’s clothes. Her diaper didn’t need a change.
Nancy guessed she must have been hungry. There was still time before the results came in, so she drove to a supermarket and bought baby formula, bottles, and a few diapers — just in case she needed them.
She returned to the hallway and sat there, feeding the formula to the baby. After what seemed like an eternity, a nurse approached her with the results.
The woman handed her an envelope and walked away.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“This is the truth, and I’ll have to accept it whether I like it or not,” Nancy thought as she opened the results.
Her head seemed to spin when she read the words, “Paternity rate – 99%.”
Nancy looked at the sleeping baby in her arms and swallowed the tears in her eyes. Patrick had cheated on her and kept her in the dark.
Nancy decided she would not live with the proof of his infidelity forever. She would find the baby’s mother and give the baby back to her.
Pulling herself together, Nancy drove home and began going through Patrick’s things. But she didn’t find anything that could point her to his lover. She moved to his office next, searching his drawers, files, and cabinets. But nothing.
Nancy sighed. The baby was asleep in the living room. Grabbing the baby monitor, she headed to Patrick’s car. She searched under the seats, in the glove compartment, and in all the nooks and crannies of the vehicle. But she didn’t find anything significant.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Nancy sank into the driver’s seat when her eyes landed on the GPS. And it was then it hit her. Patrick was terrible at directions and always used the navigator. If he had ever visited his mistress’ house, that is where she would find her address.
Nancy went straight to recent destinations on the navigator. The list wasn’t long, mostly familiar places: local restaurants, the hardware store, and Patrick’s office. But then, one address caught her eye—it appeared more frequently than others, and she didn’t recognize it.
“This is it,” she thought. She took the baby with her and drove to the address.
***
Arriving there, Nancy found herself in front of a modest house. She scooped the baby in her arms, walked to the front door, and knocked.
“Hello? Anyone home?” she asked.
After the tenth knock, when nobody answered the door, Nancy concluded the house was empty. She looked around and decided to approach the neighbors. She started with the house next door and rang the doorbell.
The door opened with a creak, and Nancy’s eyes widened when Amanda stepped out.
“You?” Nancy asked.
“How…how did you find me?” Amanda stuttered.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“I was trying to find my husband’s…” Nancy paused. “His other woman. I wanted to return her baby.”
A strange sadness flashed across Amanda’s face. “The woman who lived next door… died a few days ago. She had a heart attack when she learned about your husband’s accident. Emma is no more.”
“Wait…did you say Emma?” Nancy asked, shocked.
“Yes,” Amanda nodded. “Did you know her?”
“Was…Was her last name Warren?”
When Amanda nodded, Nancy hung her head in shame. “Can-Can I come inside?” she asked. “There’s something I’d like to tell you. I feel I could use some talk.”
Amanda opened the door wider for her, and Nancy stepped inside. They settled in the living room. “Emma was my classmate,” Nancy began recounting her past. “She was also my friend. But I wronged her and…Patrick…”
20 years ago…
Nancy and Patrick were in their school’s hallway. She was standing next to her locker when Patrick approached her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“Hey, Nancy,” he said quietly, and she looked at him.
“I…I need to tell you something,” Patrick added anxiously.
“Hey,” she smiled. “Yes?”
“I…I’m in love with someone else, Nancy,” he confessed. “I know you’ve been really kind and everything, but I’m sorry.”
Nancy was shocked. “Tell me it’s a joke, Patrick,” she cried. “You can’t be serious!”
But Patrick was serious. Patrick was head over heels in love with Emma, and Emma loved him, too.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Nancy was so distraught that day that she returned home in tears.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” Her mother immediately sensed something had happened at school.
Nancy sobbed as she told her how Patrick had broken up with her.
“I want to break them up!” she yelled. “I won’t let them be together!”
“Nancy, you won’t be able to create your own happiness by destroying someone else’s,” her mother advised her. “Revenge is never an option. Forget about him.”
But Nancy was fueled with the desire for revenge.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
In the next few days, Nancy tried everything she could to drive Patrick and Emma apart—she spread silly rumors, planned coincidental run-ins where she’d flaunt newfound confidence, and even stooped to sending anonymous notes, trying to stir up jealousy.
However, nothing worked. Emma seemed happy, wrapped up in her and Patrick’s world and Nancy was left on the outside, her plans crumbling uselessly around her.
But Nancy wasn’t the one to give up. One night, she had the perfect idea to drive a wedge between Emma and Patrick.
“Hello, Nancy, how are you?” Nancy visited Patrick, and the door was answered by this mother.
“I’m fine, Mrs. White. Is Patrick home?”
“Yes, dear. Let me get him.”
Patrick was confused to see her on his doorstep. “Nancy? What’s going on?”
“I know this will come as a shock to you, Patrick, but…I’m-I’m pregnant!” she announced.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Patrick was shocked and terrified. “What…but…Are you sure?”
When she nodded, Patrick invited her inside. She told him she hadn’t told her parents yet because she was scared. Nancy said her father would definitely be against it and force her to terminate the pregnancy. So she begged Patrick not to tell anyone about it and noticed how easily he succumbed to her lie.
Patrick was a responsible guy. Nancy knew that. He held her hands and said, “I’m the child’s father, so I’ll take the responsibility for our baby. And yes, don’t worry; this will stay between us.”
Present-day…
“I used him. I lied to him. I wasn’t pregnant,” Nancy told Amanda. “I was hurt, and I couldn’t stand losing him to Emma. So I told him a lie that changed everything. He was ready to step up, leave Emma, and be…a father.”
“Lies ruin everything, dear,” Amanda shook her head. “And what after that? Did he never find out the truth?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“He didn’t,” Nancy revealed. “I kept up the act, the morning sickness, the whole thing. But after a couple of months, I…I couldn’t carry on with it. So, I told him there was a mistake with the test and that the doctor was wrong. And by then, Emma had…moved. She was heartbroken and had left town with her parents. Patrick and I stayed together. He never went back to her, never tried to find her. We just moved on. Or pretended to…” Nancy added, looking at the sleeping baby in her arms. Now she knew Patrick had returned to Emma.
“And I guess it’s time to correct what I couldn’t back then,” Nancy said and rose to her feet.
She was leaving Amanda’s house with the baby when the older woman stopped her.
“What are you going to do with the baby?” Amanda asked.
Nancy turned around and smiled at Amanda. “I will raise her as my own child. Maybe that’ll help me seek forgiveness from Patrick and Emma.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
And Nancy followed through on her words. She raised baby Catherine with love. When Catherine turned 16, Nancy told her everything about her past. She was expecting Catherine to hate her. And she was prepared for it.
But Catherine smiled and said, “Nothing changes how I feel about you, Mom. You raised me. You were there for every scraped knee, every fever, every heartbreak. You’re my mom in every way that counts.”
Nancy cried silently and hugged her daughter. Catherine’s words had not only relieved her heart, but they’d also made her believe that Emma and Patrick had forgiven her.
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed reading this story, you might like this one about a gang who mocked a plus-size woman at a beach. Little did they know she would teach them an unforgettable lesson.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
My Sister Asked Me to Babysit Her Daughter, but Hours before She Returned, I Realized the Child Was Missing – Story of the Day
Every man reaches a moment when he wants to settle down and have a loving family. But not Henry—he was convinced he would stay single forever, believing it was the better life for him. However, a day with his nine-year-old niece makes him realize the true reason behind his choices.
The morning light filtered through unfamiliar curtains, and I woke up to the sensation of something warm and wet on my face.
It was a dog—not mine—a small, fluffy creature with wide, eager eyes that seemed to say, You’re mine now.
It licked my cheek persistently, wagging its tail with determination. Did it want food? A walk? Who knew?
As I rubbed my eyes, the events of the previous night slowly returned. I turned my head and saw her—a girl I’d met at the club.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She was asleep, her hair sprawled across the pillow.
This wasn’t my place. If I was here, that meant I’d accomplished what I’d set out for.
And now it was time to do what I always did: gather my things and make a quiet exit.
I slipped out of bed carefully, scanning the room. There were my pants, crumpled on the floor. My shirt hung awkwardly off a chair.
One sock sat beside my shoe, but the other… where was it? My search led me to the dog’s mat.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
There it was, claimed by the little fluffball now wagging its tail with pride.
I crouched down, whispering,
“Hey, buddy, that’s mine.” I reached for the sock, but the dog grabbed it with its teeth, growling playfully.
Just as we began our tug-of-war, a groggy voice broke the silence.“Henry? Are you up already?”
I froze. She was awake. Turning, I saw her smiling at me with sleepy eyes.
“Uh, yeah,” I stammered, “I’ve got work. Running late for a meeting.”She frowned.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“But it’s Saturday…”
“I work weekends sometimes. Important stuff, you know.”
Her smile faded, replaced by a curious tilt of her head.
“So… will I see you again?”
“Of course,” I lied smoothly. “I’ll call you.”Her brow furrowed.
“You’ll call me? Did I even give you my number?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Uh-oh. Panic swirled in my chest.
“I thought you did. Didn’t you?”
“And how did you save my name?” she pressed.
Caught, I stammered, “By your name, obviously.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“And what’s my name?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I swallowed hard. Two options: admit the truth or …
“Nancy?” I guessed weakly.
Her face darkened instantly.
“Get out of here! I knew it! You’re just like the rest—ugh!”
Slippers flew in my direction as I grabbed my jacket and shoes, dodging her fury all the way out the door.
Sitting in my car, I leaned back and sighed. The rearview mirror reflected a face that looked satisfied, smug even.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
This was my life: no strings, no responsibilities, just freedom. Who needed the hassle of a family? Not me.
While others tied themselves down, I lived for the thrill—parties, work, and the kind of independence most people only dreamed about.
A loud ringtone interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and blinked. Riley? My sister hardly ever called. I hesitated before answering.
“Hello, Riley?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Henry,” she said, her voice tight, “I need to talk to you. Got a minute?”
I frowned. “Sure. What’s going on?”
“Come over as soon as you can. I can’t explain over the phone. When can you get here?”
“Fifteen minutes. Is everything okay?”
“Just come. I’ll explain.”
I stared at the phone for a moment, then started the car. Whatever this was, it had to be serious.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Twenty minutes later, I pulled into her driveway and barely made it to the door before it swung open.
Riley stood there, arms crossed, her expression a mix of annoyance and urgency.
“You’re late!”
“By five minutes,” I retorted, stepping inside.
“Relax, Riley. You don’t have to be such a pain in the…”
“Don’t swear,” she hissed. “My daughter’s nearby.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I followed her gaze and saw Mira, her nine-year-old, curled up on the couch with an encyclopedia.
Her tiny face was scrunched up in concentration, her finger tracing the lines of text like a mini scholar.
“As expected, you’re my last option,” Riley said with a sigh. “I need you to watch Mira today.”
“Me? Are you serious?” I asked, glancing nervously at Mira, who hadn’t looked up from her book.
“I wouldn’t ask if I had another choice,” she said, exasperated.
“I have a business dinner tonight. Either I go and close this deal, or I cancel because I can’t leave her alone. Can you help me or not?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Fine,” I muttered. “If it’s that important.”
“Great. Food’s in the kitchen. I left money in case you need to order something, but keep it healthy. No greasy junk. And she’s not allowed outside. Got it?”
“Got it.”
With a quick goodbye, Riley was out the door, leaving me and Mira alone. I looked at her. She looked at me.
Neither of us said a word. Let the longest day of my life begin.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The day dragged on like an endless loop of boredom.
Mira sat on the couch, clutching her encyclopedia, and occasionally glanced at me with a look that made me feel like a failing science experiment.
Her small face was calm, but her raised eyebrows screamed judgment.
I cleared my throat.
“So, uh, you like reading?” I asked, trying to break the awkward silence.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, I do. Mom says books are knowledge, and I want to know a lot,” she said, her voice cool and sharp, like a character straight out of a movie about child prodigies.
I nodded. “Cool, cool… What’s your favorite subject in school?”
Mira sighed, looking at me as if I’d just asked the world’s most boring question.
“That’s such an unoriginal question, but I’ll answer anyway. I like biology because it has lots of animals, and I love learning about them.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Cool,” I mumbled, unsure what else to say. Conversations with kids were harder than I thought.
After a moment, she closed her book and tilted her head. “So, are you my uncle?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “You probably don’t remember me, though. We met when you were little.”
“Got it,” she said simply. Then she hit me with a curveball. “Are you married?”
“Uh, no. I’m not married.”
“Why not?” she asked, her curious tone sounding more like an interrogation.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t want to get married. I like being on my own,” I said, hoping that would end the conversation.
“No one likes being alone,” she replied, crossing her arms.
“I do,” I insisted, though her words stung more than I cared to admit.
“Maybe you’re scared,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Scared? What would I be scared of?”
“Mom says marriage is a lot of work. She also says you don’t like working. So maybe you’re scared of hard work.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I sat up straight.
“She told you that!? Well, just so you know, I’m not scared! Maybe it’s just… not for me. For now.”
“Got it. You’re scared,” Mira concluded, her lips curling into a tiny smirk. “Anyway, I’m hungry.”
“Then eat something,” I said, gesturing toward the kitchen.
“Mom said you’re taking care of me. So take care of me,” she shot back.
“Fine,” I muttered, opening the fridge. It was full of salads, juices, and not a single thing I wanted to eat. I sighed and pulled out my phone.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Pizza it is,” I declared.
Minutes later, we were sitting on the couch, devouring slices while watching TV. Mira was quiet for once, her face lit up by the screen.
Before I knew it, my head rested against the back of the couch, and the exhaustion of the day caught up with me. I didn’t even notice when I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up with a jolt, blinking against the light streaming into the room. Something felt off. The house was too quiet. I glanced around, and that’s when it hit me—Mira was nowhere to be seen.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Mira!” I called out, my voice echoing through the house. “Mira, where are you?”
No answer.
Panic surged through me. I started tearing through the house, opening doors, peeking under beds, and even checking the closets and cupboards.
Every empty space mocked me. My heart raced faster with each passing second.
I had one job. One simple job. Watch Mira for a day, and I couldn’t even manage that.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I pulled out my phone, desperate for a clue, and saw a text from Riley:
“On my way home. I’ll be there in an hour. Everything okay?”
I froze for a moment, then typed back: “All good!” It was a lie, but I needed time to fix this.
Running downstairs, I scanned the living room again and noticed something I’d missed earlier: the window.
It was open, and a faint breeze fluttered the curtains. Mira had gone outside.
I crawled through the window and spotted a small shoe lying by the neighbor’s fence. My breath caught.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Climbing over, I found myself in their backyard, where a tall tree stood with a sturdy wooden treehouse perched near the top.
“Mira!” I yelled, looking up.
“I’m here,” her calm voice replied from above.
I climbed the rickety ladder, my pulse still hammering. At the top, I found Mira sitting cross-legged with another boy.
They were playing with toy figures, completely unbothered.
“Mira! You scared me!” I said, still catching my breath. “Why did you run off like that?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I got bored,” she said, shrugging. “And Sam was here. Sam, say hi to my uncle.”
“Hi, Mira’s uncle,” Sam said, not looking up.
“But your mom said you weren’t allowed outside!”
“She said you were supposed to make sure I didn’t go out,” Mira pointed out, her tone matter-of-fact. “But you were sleeping. Now I know what you’re scared of.”
“Of course I was scared!” I snapped, then softened. “Sorry. But why doesn’t your mom let you play with other kids?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“She says I’ll pick up bad habits,” Mira said.
“But I like playing with Sam.”
“There’s nothing wrong with playing with other kids,” I said gently.
“Your mom’s just… protective.”
“And you’re not protective enough,” she quipped with a smirk.
I sighed. “You’re right. From now on, I’ll be more careful.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
In half an hour, the door creaked open, and Riley stepped into the house, her keys jingling as she set them on the counter. “Mira!? Henry!? Where are you two!?” she called out, her voice bouncing off the walls.
No answer.
The house was dark and eerily silent, with no sign of life. The faint glow of the streetlights seeped through the curtains, casting long shadows that made the empty space feel even more unsettling.
Riley’s heart raced as she scanned the room. “Where are they?” she muttered under her breath, her hands trembling slightly. Her eyes darted to an open window, the curtain flapping lazily in the breeze.
“Oh my god! I knew I shouldn’t have trusted my idiot brother!” she mumbled, panic setting in. She rushed toward the window, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Suddenly—
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Surprise!!” Mira and I popped up from outside, shouting in unison.
Riley jumped back, clutching her chest. “God! I thought you were both gone! What’s wrong with you two!?”
We burst out laughing, and Mira nearly doubled over with glee. Riley’s face softened as she watched her daughter giggling, her playful spirit infectious.
“Sorry, sis. You were asking for it,” I teased, grinning. “Don’t worry so much. Nothing could go wrong, you’ve got to trust Mira a lot more.”
“Yeah, Mom!” Mira chimed in, beaming.
Riley sighed, a reluctant smile creeping onto her face. “You two are impossible,” she said, pulling Mira into a hug. “But I guess I’ll let it slide this time.”
As I left, I realized something: sometimes, kids teach you things about yourself you didn’t even know you needed to learn.
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Laura believed that her writing could change the world. But reality turned out differently, and her boss pushed her to dig up dirt on famous people. Desperate to save her job, she disguises herself as a cleaner compromising a millionaire. However, she uncovers a life-changing truth in the process.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Leave a Reply