Despite her frustration, I expressed my need for a longer conversation and for rest, given how tired I was after the day. For illustrative purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Scott reluctantly agreed, masking his disappointment with a soft kiss on the cheek before we went to sleep. However, the peace of our lavender-scented apartment was shattered when I woke up a few hours later.
Our bed shook, and it took me a moment to open my eyes wide enough to see Scott kneeling beside the bed, holding the baby.

“Scott?” I exclaimed, confused. “What’s going on?”

He looked at me and was silent for a moment, as if searching for an excuse. Finally, he whispered, “Everly, this is Ella.” I was speechless. “She’s my orphaned niece. My stepsister, Mai, passed away. I heard about her just a few weeks ago.”

I tossed and turned in bed, stunned. “Just a few weeks ago?” I repeated, frowning, trying to understand how a baby could have appeared in our bedroom on our wedding night.

“Everly, I was afraid you’d leave if you found out first,” Scott confessed, avoiding my gaze.

“How dare you, Scott? How can we start our life together with secrets and lies?” I asked, distraught. Then I took a deep breath. “Scott, what’s the plan? Are you going to… wait, are we going to adopt Ella?”

See continued on the next page.