When Emily’s husband suddenly becomes frantic after receiving a simple text message from her about replacing a loose panel on the bathtub, Emily is taken aback. In that place, what could he possible be concealing himself? Emily is desperate to find out, and what she finds about the situation completely alters everything. She is driven by skepticism.

Are you familiar with the peculiar tales that you tend to hear about individuals finding bizarre stuff concealed inside their homes? The majority of the time, they are peculiar and even humorous. Under the floorboards, there is a cache of ancient coins, love letters that have been lost in the attic, and a message contained in a bottle. In the past, I had the misconception that they were nothing more than urban legends or, at most, events that occurred to other people.

On the other hand, something occurred to me, and it altered the course of my life in ways that I had not anticipated.

It began with a rather little thing. Approximately two weeks ago, one of the beautiful wooden panels that was attached to our bathtub became dislodged and fell off. It did not make a big bang or smash; rather, it simply sort of clattered lightly upon the tile while it was falling. It’s not a huge deal. Since my husband, Aaron, was gone on a business trip that lasted for a week, I decided to take a short picture and send it to him by text message.

The panel for the bathtub has fallen off, darling. Is it possible for me to repair it?

I wasn’t anticipating much at all. “Sure, go ahead,” or “Leave it and I’ll fix it when I get back,” are two examples of possible responses. However, the message that I got almost caused me to drop my phone.

“NOOO! ” Do not come into contact with it. No one should peek inside. “I truly mean it—Never.”

The only thing I could do was stand there and stare at the television, absolutely bewildered. Aaron is the easiest-going guy I’ve ever met. It had been 10 years since we had been married, and I had never seen him respond to anything with such a level of terror.

As a result, my curiosity was piqued even more by it.

As I bent down next to the bathtub, I looked into the open area that was hidden behind the panel. In spite of the darkness, there was no sign of any danger. No indications of exposed cables or pipes that are leaking. Just little dust, a little piece of cobweb, and…

It’s an envelope.

Placed at a position that is just out of reach, as if it had been pushed down there in a haste by someone. The act of pulling it out caused my hands to shake.

There was just one picture inside, and it was an ultrasound. There was a little figure that looked like a bean floating in a swirl of black and white. In a handwriting that was crooked and uneven, the following words were scrawled across the top:

“Hello, Daddy. I’ll be here very shortly.”

I was fixated on it, and my eyesight began to blur. I had the sensation that my heart had stopped beating. Suddenly, I found myself unable to breathe.

I was unable to move. Was unable to think.

The most severe wound that our marriage had sustained was that of infertility. Aaron and I had finally come to terms with it barely a year ago, after years of treatments and expectations that were smashed with disappointment. Together, we grieved and shed tears for one another. We reassured ourselves that our love would satiate our needs.

However, it does not seem to be for him.

I was numb as I sat on the floor of the restroom. It seemed as if the ultrasound picture was playing a terrible joke on me on my lap. It was a stab to the stomach.

Is she a person? When did this go place exactly? At what point in time had he been keeping it a secret from me?

Over the course of three days, I was like a ghost as I roamed throughout the home. I was unable to eat, and nor could I sleep. My phone would ring with a message from Aaron, which would be a happy update from his vacation, and I would feel like shouting every time it did. During the time that this secret was hiding under our bathtub, he was texting selfies from restaurants and making jokes about airline delays.

I refrained from confronting him. Not at this time.

Rather than that, I decided to contact a private investigator named Sam Hayes. He is a guy who is reserved and serious, with nice eyes and a keen intellect.

During our first encounter, I told him, “I think it’s important for me to know the truth.” In every respect. What she is, how long it has been going on, and everything else about it.”

While not asking an excessive amount of questions, Sam nodded. “I will find out soon.”

I was on the verge of breaking down from the wait.

in long last, a week later, Sam made the request to meet me in a secluded coffee shop. He did not attempt to gloss over the situation.

In response, he said, “It’s someone from his office.” “It is Claire Donnelly who is her name. It is a senior project manager that she is. Over a year has passed since they first started seeing one other. She has been pregnant for six months.

I felt the oxygen being sucked out of my lungs by the words.

To Claire. I was familiar with her. Our home had been visited by her. At our most recent BBQ, she brought that terrible spinach dip with her. A farewell embrace had been given to me by her.

My memory of leaving the café is completely hazy. It’s hard for me to remember driving home.

However, I am able to recall the icy rage that blanketed me like a blanket of ice.

I was not going to let out a scream. Because I wasn’t going to beg. I absolutely did not intend to approach him in the manner that is shown in movies. Something more was what I want. Something that would instill in him even a fraction of the emotions that I had experienced.

Aaron was about to celebrate his birthday. We had planned a large celebration, but it started off as a little get-together in the garden with our family and friends. But I came to the conclusion that it would be an ideal stage.

Over the following several days, I focused on getting ready. I commissioned the ultrasound picture to be digitized and put into a cake that was just for me. There were no inquiries made by the baker. When I showed her the design, she just nodded her head.

Have a wonderful birthday, Daddy! I’ll be here very shortly.”

On the evening of the celebration, Aaron was beaming with happiness. As if he were a politician, he worked the crowd by offering bear hugs and taking drinks. On a regular basis, he would come up and give me a peck on the cheek.

“You never cease to amaze me,” he murmured. “Are you serious, Em? What a feat you accomplished!

I grinned in response. Simply wait for the cake to arrive.

The whole night, I kept a close check on Claire. She was quite smooth. Neither a look nor a flinch was made. She seemed to be someone who had nothing to conceal, as she joked with his relatives, assisted in the distribution of beverages, and looked like she had nothing to hide.

However, I was aware of it. And in a short time, everyone else will as well.

Upon the arrival of cake, I summoned everyone to the terrace for a celebration.

“All right, everybody!” In response, I clapped. “The time has come for Aaron’s shocking revelation!”

When the cake was brought out, the audience applauded and shouted. In order to read the inscription, people leaned in closer. Some people let out a gasp. A number of people applauded, thinking that it was our personal announcement of the baby.

The grin on Aaron’s face became frozen.

First, he looked at the cake, and then he looked at me. Afterward, his gaze quickly shifted toward Claire. She had a light complexion.

It was someone who murmured, “Wait.” Is Emily expecting a child?

Please raise your hand.

I expressed my regret by saying, “I am sorry to disappoint you.” I’m not expecting a child. Now, however, my spouse is going to become a parent. Please, don’t be with me.”

The hush was utterly startled.

My words were, “I discovered this ultrasound that was concealed in our bathroom.” Do you think that this belongs to you, Claire?

Everyone’s attention moved to her. A stride backward was taken by Claire, and her lips moved in a manner similar to that of a fish. Aaron seemed to be on the verge of passing out.

His words were stuttering, “I don’t know what to say.”

I responded by saying, “I believe you have said enough when you lied to me for more than a year.”

Sadly, the celebration was finished. A number of individuals stood still, some of whom were enraged. Within the building, Claire vanished. Aaron attempted to follow, but as he did so, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

It turned out to be Mr. Granger, his supervisor.

“You were someone I trusted,” Mr. Granger remarked. “You two together. On Monday morning, I anticipate seeing you at my office. Avoid arriving late.

Once upon a time, I would have felt terrible for Aaron because of the embarrassment that was on his face. However, this is no longer the case.

The guests started to leave one by one. A bear hug was given to me by my closest friend Natalie.

She said in a hushed voice, “Okay?”

It was true, I conceded. “However, I will be.”

Afterwards, as we were cleaning the dishes in the kitchen, Aaron made an attempt to talk.

Emily, if you please. Permit me to elaborate.

In the process of scrubbing the counter, I said, “There is nothing to explain.” “You did what you wanted to do.”

“I brought it to a close with her,” says he. Not too long ago. We made the decision to… I’m not sure, but you should attempt to bring up the infant on your own. I was at a loss for words before I told you.

“You ought to have informed me the moment it occurred,” I remarked with a chilly tone in my voice. “On the contrary, you hid it—quite literally.”

“I was afraid of losing you,” she said.

It was the moment when you deceived me that you lost me.

What I did the next morning was pack a suitcase. In response to Natalie’s offer of her guest room, I decided to take advantage of it.

Aaron sat out on the side of the bed and observed me from there.

“Emily, I beg you for not leaving.”

After closing the suitcase’s zipper, I turned around to face him. “The paperwork has already been filed. The accounts have been restricted. There will soon be divorce papers delivered.

Both of his eyes were crimson. “I cannot stop loving you.”

I gave a little nod. On the other hand, I have no idea who you are anymore.

It was not an easy departure. My tears lasted for many days on Natalie’s sofa. Nevertheless, the fog started to dissipate gradually. I began going to therapy. I resumed my practice of yoga. I made time for the interests that I had neglected, such as painting, hiking, and even keeping a diary.

My journey to the seashore was a single excursion that I did one afternoon. A breath that I felt like I had been holding in for years was finally released as I stood on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind was twirling my hair, and I let out a breath.

However, I continued to stand.

Please know that you are not the only one who has experienced the pain of being deceived. Truth, loyalty, and love that does not include keeping secrets are all things that you are deserving of.

This chapter was painful. This, however, is not the end.

This is the beginning of something that will be better.