On our wedding night, Scott wanted to get intimate, but I declined, saying I was tired. He agreed and kissed me goodnight. Later, at midnight, I felt the bed shake and turned to see Scott doing something unexpected.

“Scott, can we talk for a bit?” I asked, needing more conversation and rest.

Scott frowned, “Talk? Now?”

Despite his frustration, he masked his disappointment with a gentle kiss on my cheek. However, the tranquility of our suite was shattered when I awoke hours later.

Our bed was shaking, and I saw Scott kneeling by the bed, holding a baby.

“Scott?” I gasped. “What’s going on?”

“This is Ella,” he whispered. “My orphaned niece. My stepsister, Maya, is gone. I found out about her weeks ago.”

Dumbfounded, I struggled to understand. “A few weeks ago?”

“I was scared you’d leave if you knew,” Scott confessed.

“How could you do this, Scott? We can’t start our life with secrets and lies,” I said, appalled. “Are we going to adopt Ella?”

“I haven’t thought that far. I just need to take care of her,” he answered, suggesting we postpone the discussion. I agreed but went to sleep with a horrible feeling in my gut.