
Hello, my name is Demodex folliculorum and I live in the pores of the skin of your face that’s why it’s important to wash your face and remove makeup!!
The only way you can see me is with a microscope. I measure between 0,3 and 0,4 mm, and like spiders, I have 8 legs.
I like living in hair follicles that have your nose, cheek and eyelashes. These are places where there’s more fat to feed me.
I feed on your secretions and your dead skin. I can put up to 25 eggs in every hair follicle.
My digestive system is not able to eliminate my waste, so i accumulate them in my body until I explode and die. My remains cause hypersensitivity reactions.
According to some studies, in some people, I can cause infections on eyelids and rosacea.
I am a mite that is present in almost every adult on this planet.
Are you going to sleep in makeup tonight?
My Wife Set Hidden Cameras at Her Ex-husbandâs Home While He Was Away â I Told Him Everything & He Came up with a Plan

When Deniseâs jealousy over her ex-husbandâs new relationship drives her to plant hidden cameras in his home, she sets off a chain of events that forces her to confront her unresolved feelings. As secrets unravel, Denise must choose between holding on to the past or rebuilding her future.
Blended families come with their own unique challenges, but I never expected mine to include hidden cameras, confrontations, and a battle of egos.

A man looking out a window | Source: Midjourney
I married Denise two years ago, and while I knew her past was complicated, I didnât realize how much it would spill into our lives. Denise had a six-year-old daughter, Shelby, with her ex-husband, Elon, and their co-parenting arrangement was⊠tense.
Denise was overbearing when it came to our stepdaughter, and her fixation on Elonâs life didnât help anything.
Elon, to his credit, hadnât dated anyone seriously since their divorce. Denise often said that was better.

A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
âThere will be no witchy stepmom messing up my daughterâs life, Levi,â she said to me one night over a glass of wine and salads. âShelbyâs life will be perfect, and Iâll be the only mother she ever knows.â
But when Elon introduced his new girlfriend, Lena, into the picture, Deniseâs carefully constructed narrative crumbled before her eyes.

Food on a table | Source: Midjourney
âAnd you know what?! Levi! Sheâs met Shelby already!â she fumed over dinner. âWhat kind of woman just waltzes into a childâs life like that? He shouldâve asked me first!â
She slammed the spoon so hard into the pasta dish that specks of food went everywhere.
I kept quiet, unwilling to fuel the fire. Elon didnât owe Denise updates about his personal life anymore. But Denise wasnât one to let things go. She demanded to meet Lena, claiming that it was her right as a mother to âtestâ anyone around her daughter.

An angry woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
âSeriously, Levi. I need to know if this woman is good for my child or if sheâll just cause Shelby to go to therapy.â
A few weeks later, I was using Deniseâs tablet when a message from her mom caught my attention.
Have you checked the feed yet, Denise? Whatâs Lena like?
âWhat the hell? Oh, Denise, what have you done?â I muttered.
The feed?

A tablet on a table | Source: Midjourney
My stomach tightened as I scrolled through their messages, piecing it all together. Denise had used the spare key Elon had given her to install hidden cameras in his house.
âThis key is just in case Shelby leaves something behind when sheâs with you, Denise,â Elon had said over family brunch one weekend. âI know itâs weird for you, given our history, but Iâd rather know that you can get to her things if Iâm not there.â
Iâll admit, I respected the heck out of him for that. Honestly, which man would just give his ex-wife keys to his house?

Keys on a table | Source: Midjourney
But this⊠what Denise had done⊠it actually repulsed me.
When I confronted her, she didnât even look guilty.
âItâs not what you think, babe,â she said defensively. âI just need to make sure Lenaâs treating my baby girl right.â
âBy spying on them? In their private time?â I shot back, almost dropping my cup of coffee. âThis isnât normal, Denise. Itâs invasive, and Iâm pretty sure it breaks a few laws, too.â

A cup of coffee on a table | Source: Midjourney
She crossed her arms, her expression icy.
âYou donât understand. And you donât care about Shelby the way I do. I guess you donât⊠sheâs not your child anyway.â
I was furious. Sure, Shelby may not have been my biological child, but she was as good as! This wasnât about protecting her. This was about Deniseâs obsession with control. And her jealousy over Elon moving on with his life.

A frowning man | Source: Midjourney
I couldnât let it slide. I had to be the bigger person. I had to do the right thing.
When I told Elon about the cameras, he was furious.
His jaw clenched as he paced the room, muttering under his breath. But then he stopped, his expression softened into something I didnât expect: a sly grin.
âThanks, Lev,â he said. âI appreciate the honesty and the heads up. But now itâs my turn to âtestâ Denise.â

An upset man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
âWait,â I muttered. âWhat are you going to do?â
âNothing hectic,â he replied sheepishly. âDonât worry, Iâll let you know everything.â
He laid out his plan.
He was going to pretend he didnât know about the cameras and act perfectly polite and loving with Lena. So much so that it would drive Denise up the wall. Then, he was going to set the stage for a confrontation.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
Look, I wasnât sure that it was the best idea, but even I had to admit that Denise needed to learn that her actions had consequences.
Elon knew Denise would watch every second of the footage. It was something that I believed too, even though the thought of it made me uneasy.
What was Denise still holding onto? Was this really about Shelby? Or was this about Elon finding love with someone else? I didnât know what to think.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
But Elon was absolutely right. Denise did watch every moment. He and Lena played their parts perfectly, making casual but affectionate comments to each other often. One offhand remark from Lena, about Elon loving her cooking, sent Denise spiraling.
âShe thinks sheâs so much better than me, Levi!â Denise ranted that night, pacing the living room. âAs if her cooking could ever compare to mine. Seriously, what is this man thinking? She probably only wants his money⊠and the house.â

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
The next day, Denise announced that she was hosting a family dinner. She spent hours in the kitchen, preparing an elaborate spread.
Elon, of course, thought that it was the perfect chance to expose her publicly.
âOf course, Iâll be there!â he said into the phone. âAnything to make Shelby happy! And the kiddo loves having us all together.â

A woman busy in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
The dinner started off tense but polite. Denise was on edge, glaring at Lena whenever she laughed at one of Elonâs jokes. Elon, meanwhile, played the perfect guest, complimenting the food and chatting warmly.
But Denise couldnât hold back for long. I knew she was biting her tongue. And I also knew that she was going to explode.
As dessert was served, a large cheesecake, Deniseâs act began to crumble.
âSo⊠now you like my cooking? Itâs not so bad after all, is it?â

A cheesecake on a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
Elon set down his fork slowly, his expression calm but cold.
âWhat on earth are you talking about?â
âYou know what I mean!â she snapped loudly, throwing her napkin to the floor. âIâm talking about your girlfriend supposedly cooking better than me. You love her cooking, donât you?â
He leaned back, his gaze piercing.
âWhat are you getting this from, Denise? When have I ever said such a thing to your face? When have I ever told anyone that?â

A crumpled napkin thrown onto the floor | Source: Midjourney
Checkmate, I thought, taking a sip of my wine.
Denise faltered, her composure slipping.
âOf course, you said it⊠to your girlfriend,â she stammered. âI overheard it⊠you must have been here. How else would I hear it?â
Elon stood, his tone suddenly ice cold.

A glass of wine on a table | Source: Midjourney
âI know about the cameras, Denise,â he said evenly. âI know what you did.â
The room went silent.
âThatâs low. Real low. Do you realize that I could take you to court for this? Spying on me and my personal life? But I wonât. For the sake of our daughter, Iâll let this go, but let me be clear, this is your first and only warning. Do not interfere in my life again. Donât even think about it. I have proof, and I wonât hesitate next time.â
Deniseâs face went pale. She looked to me for support, but I shook my head.

An angry man sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
âYes, it was me. I told him about the cameras,â I said firmly. âI couldnât hide something like that. Itâs not just your reputation at stake but mine as well. And honestly, in this situation, Iâm on his side.â
That was the final blow. Denise broke down into tears, apologizing to us all profusely.
Later that night, when Shelby was in bed and Denise and I were sitting on the porch outside, she admitted her true feelings. She admitted that sheâd been struggling to cope with the divorce on a whole and that while she didnât have any feelings for Elon, she was still jealous over Elonâs new relationship.

An upset woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney
âI need you to consider therapy, love,â I said. âThereâs a lot of unresolved feelings here. And theyâre going to poison our marriage, your relationship with Elon, and eventually⊠your relationship with Shelby.â
âBut⊠I donât know, Levi,â she muttered.
âDenise⊠if you donât try, I donât know if weâll survive.â
For once, Denise listened.

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
It had been months since that dinner, the night everything unraveled.
Since then, Denise had started her therapy, and while the progress wasnât instant, I could see a change in her. She wasnât as quick to lash out, and she seemed more focused on being present for our family.
One afternoon, she approached me in the kitchen, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

A woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
âElon asked me to meet him for coffee,â she said hesitantly.
I raised an eyebrow while chopping the vegetables for our noodles.
âI think I need to do this,â she said. âFor closure.â
Denise sat across Elon, a steaming cup of tea between them. She had rehearsed this moment in her head for days, but now, the words caught in her throat.

Food in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
Elon waited patiently, his expression unreadable.
âI owe you an apology,â she said quietly.
âFor what, specifically?â
âFor everything. For invading your privacy, for trying to control your life, for⊠not letting go.â
Elon leaned back in his chair, studying her.

A man sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
âWhy now?â
âTherapy has made me realize a lot of things, things I wasnât ready to face before. I was angry about the divorce, and about how easily you seemed to move on⊠But then, how could I feel that way when I was already married to Levi? Instead of dealing with those feelings, I buried them under my need to be⊠right.â
âYou always did hate losing,â he said.
A small smile tugged at her lips.

A smiling woman sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
âThat hasnât changed, but Iâve realized that being right isnât the same as being happy. And I wasnât fair to you. Or Lena. Or Levi. Or Shelby.â
âI wonât lie, Denise,â Elon said. âWhat you did⊠it crossed a line. But I do appreciate you owning up to it. Now, for the love of all thatâs good, live your life, Denise. Have some fun with Levi. Make memories. New memories. Donât worry about the past, weâre good. And we can co-parent our child in peace.â
Denise laughed softly.
âThatâs the last time Iâll actually accept your instructions,â she said.

A smiling little girl sitting on a swing | Source: Midjourney
If you enjoyed this story, hereâs another one for you |
When Hayleyâs exâs mom invites her to design a wedding dress for her big day, it seems strange, but nothing prepares Hayley for the truth. What follows is a confession, a second chance at love, and a surprise she never saw coming. Sometimes, life gives you the most unexpected twistsâŠ
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided âas is,â and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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