For three years, my neighbor Nelly lived in isolation with a child no one had ever seen.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, especially when I spotted her peering through the curtains or heard strange things about her. One evening, I mentioned my suspicions to my husband, Evan, but he brushed it off.

One day, I saw Nelly gardening and decided to make small talk. That evening, I witnessed her reject a pie from Mrs. Freddie, another neighbor, with a sharp “Go away!” something that only deepened my curiosity. Soon after, I saw Nelly’s son peek through the door when I pounded on it, demanding answers.

The truth came crashing down. The little boy had the same birthmark as Evan. I was shaken, but Nelly revealed the shocking truth: Tommy was Evan’s son. Evan had had an affair with her years ago, and they had kept it a secret. Nelly had agreed to stay hidden in plain sight, never bringing Tommy outside, while Evan visited in secret.

When Evan returned from a business trip, I confronted him with the divorce papers, and Nelly appeared with Tommy in her arms. Evan was stunned, but I didn’t want his explanations. He had betrayed me. Afterward, Evan’s parents, horrified by their son’s actions, gave me half of their company as part of the settlement.

As I watched my sons, Jake and Ethan, play outside, I knew my future was uncertain, but I would raise them right. I pulled them close and told them to always be honest and kind. The road ahead would be difficult, but I would make sure they grew up to be better men than their father.