I Introduced My 5-Year-Old Daughter to the Man I’ve Been Dating – She Screamed When She First Saw Him

When Jessica introduced her daughter Emma to her boyfriend Alex, she expected a warm welcome. Instead, Emma screamed in terror, convinced by her father’s warnings that Alex was a threat who would take her away forever.

I never imagined it would turn out this way. The sound of my daughter, Emma, screaming for help still rings in my ears. It was supposed to be a happy day, the day I introduced her to Alex, the man I’d been dating for over a year. But instead, it was a disaster.

Woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Pexels

Woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Pexels

Alex and I met at a charity event. He was charming and kind, always ready with a smile or a joke. We clicked immediately, and our relationship grew strong. We were serious, and I knew it was time for him to meet the most important person in my life – my daughter.

But I was scared. My divorce from Tom, Emma’s father, had been rough, and I worried about how she’d react to a new man in our lives.

Sad Emma with her bear | Source: Midjourney

Sad Emma with her bear | Source: Midjourney

Tom and I had shared custody of Emma. He usually babysat when I was out with Alex. Tom had already met Alex a few times and didn’t seem to have any problems with him. Or so I thought.

I spent days planning the perfect introduction. I made Emma’s favorite brunch – pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. I even bought a new dress, wanting everything to be perfect. Alex arrived right on time, holding a gift and wearing his most welcoming smile.

“Hey, Alex, come on in,” I greeted him, my voice shaking slightly.

Man in a suit | Source: Pexels

Man in a suit | Source: Pexels

“Thanks, Jess. I’m excited to finally meet Emma,” Alex said, handing me the gift. “I hope she likes this.”

“She will,” I replied, hoping it was true. “Let me go get her.”

I walked to the bottom of the stairs and called out, “Emma, sweetheart, can you come down here for a moment? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

Happy woman with a broad smile | Source: Pexels

Happy woman with a broad smile | Source: Pexels

I heard the sound of little feet running down the stairs. But as soon as she saw Alex, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her face went pale, and she looked terrified.

“No! Mommy, please, no!” Emma screamed, tears streaming down her face. She ran to me, hiding behind my legs. “Don’t let him take me! Please, Mommy!”

I was stunned. Alex looked as confused as I felt. I knelt down to Emma’s level, trying to calm her down.

Scared Emma | Source: Midjourney

Scared Emma | Source: Midjourney

“Emma, honey, it’s okay. This is Alex. He’s a friend,” I said softly, stroking her hair.

“No! He’s bad! He will take me away! I don’t want to go!” she sobbed, clinging to me tightly.

“Why do you think he’ll take you away?” I asked, my heart breaking at her fear.

“Daddy said he will! Daddy showed me pictures and told me to run if I ever see him!” Emma cried.

Shocked woman | Source: Pexels

Shocked woman | Source: Pexels

I felt a surge of anger and confusion. Tom had done this? Why would he scare her like that?

Alex knelt down beside me, his face full of concern. “Emma, I’m not going to take you away. I promise. I just want to be your friend,” he said gently.

Emma didn’t respond. She just cried and held on to me tighter. I stood up, holding her in my arms, and turned to Alex.

Jess hugs Emma | Source: Midjourney

Jess hugs Emma | Source: Midjourney

“I think we need to figure out what’s going on here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Yeah, we do,” Alex agreed, looking worried.

I carried Emma to the living room and sat down with her on my lap. Alex sat across from us, keeping his distance so as not to scare her further.

“Emma, can you tell me exactly what Daddy said?” I asked softly.

Sad man in a chair | Source: Pexels

Sad man in a chair | Source: Pexels

She sniffled and nodded. “Daddy said if I see Alex, he will take you and me away, and we will never see Daddy again. He showed me pictures of Alex and said he’s a bad man.”

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. “Emma, Daddy was wrong to say those things. Alex is not a bad man. He’s kind and he cares about us.”

Emma looked at me with wide, scared eyes. “But Daddy said…”

Sad woman sits on the couch | Source: Pexels

Sad woman sits on the couch | Source: Pexels

“I know, sweetheart. But sometimes grown-ups make mistakes. Daddy made a mistake,” I said, trying to reassure her.

Alex leaned forward slightly. “Emma, I promise I would never do anything to hurt you or your mommy. I just want us all to be happy together.”

Alex leans to Emma | Source: Midjourney

Alex leans to Emma | Source: Midjourney

Emma didn’t say anything, but she seemed a little calmer. I knew this was just the beginning of a long process to help her feel safe and secure around Alex. I looked at Alex, who gave me a small, supportive smile. We had a lot of work ahead of us, but I was determined to make this right.

As soon as Emma was settled in her room, I grabbed my phone and dialed Tom’s number, my hands shaking with anger. He answered on the third ring.

Man taps on his phone | Source: Pexels

Man taps on his phone | Source: Pexels

“Jess, what’s up?” he said casually.

“Tom, what on earth did you tell Emma about Alex?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What do you mean?” he replied, feigning ignorance.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Tom. Emma just had a meltdown because she thought Alex was going to take her away. She said you told her that,” I said, my anger rising. I felt tears fill my eyes.

Angry woman talks on her phone | Source: Pexels

Angry woman talks on her phone | Source: Pexels

“Well, maybe I did,” he admitted after a pause. “I don’t trust that guy, Jess. He’s going to take you and Emma away from me.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Tom, that’s not true, and you know it. You had no right to scare her like that. You’ve lost your babysitting privileges until further notice.”

Tom’s voice turned defensive. “Oh, so now I’m the bad guy? I was just looking out for her. What do you know about this Alex guy anyway? What if he’s not who you think he is?”

Angry man on his phone | Source: Pexels

Angry man on his phone | Source: Pexels

“That’s not your decision to make, Tom. Alex and I have been together for over a year. He’s a good man, and he cares about us. You had no right to interfere like that,” I said, trying to keep my frustration in check.

“So, I was right after all. As soon as she met that man, I was cut out of her life,” he snapped.

“No, Tom. You did this to yourself. You manipulated our daughter and filled her with fear. That’s unacceptable,” I replied, my voice shaking with anger.

Woman shouts on the phone in front of her laptop | Source: Pexels

Woman shouts on the phone in front of her laptop | Source: Pexels

Tom sighed, and I could hear the frustration in his voice. “I’m her father, Jess. I have a right to protect her.”

“Protect her from what? A man who’s done nothing but be kind to us? You’re projecting your own insecurities onto Emma, and it’s not fair to her,” I said firmly.

“Fine, maybe I overreacted. But I don’t want to be pushed out of her life,” he said, his tone softening slightly.

Man talks on the phone in his office | Source: Pexels

Man talks on the phone in his office | Source: Pexels

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Tom, you’re not being pushed out. But you need to understand that what you did was wrong. From now on, every time you see Emma, Alex will be there too. We’re going to work on this together. Emma needs to see that Alex is not a threat.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally, Tom spoke, his voice resigned. “Alright, Jess. I’ll play along. But if he does anything to hurt her, you’ll be the one to answer for it.”

Woman talks on her phone in her office | Source: Pexels

Woman talks on her phone in her office | Source: Pexels

“Nothing like that is going to happen, Tom. We’re doing this for Emma’s sake. She needs stability and to know that the adults in her life can get along,” I said, hoping he would understand.

“Okay, fine. I get it. I’ll cooperate,” he muttered, clearly unhappy but accepting.

“Thank you, Tom. This is what’s best for Emma,” I said, feeling a small sense of relief.

“Yeah, whatever. Just… keep me in the loop, alright?” he said before hanging up.

Man in striped shirt talks on the phone | Source: Pexels

Man in striped shirt talks on the phone | Source: Pexels

I ended the call, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. I knew this was going to be tough, but I was determined to make things right for Emma. I returned to the living room, where Alex was waiting, looking concerned.

“How did it go?” he asked.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’ll get through it. We’re going to take it one step at a time, and we’ll do it together,” I said, feeling a bit more hopeful.

Man runs with his little daughter | Source: Pexels

Man runs with his little daughter | Source: Pexels

Alex nodded. “I’m with you, Jess. We’ll make this work.”

I smiled, grateful for his support. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with Alex by my side, I knew we could overcome this. We just had to be patient and strong for Emma. The road ahead was uncertain, but we were ready to face it together.

If you liked this story, consider reading this one. Secrets, sleep-talking, and mysterious items are all the things that had me following my daughter when she left the house. I was unaware that where she was going would open up five-year wounds I thought were dead and buried.

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 “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

My Manicurist Told Me About Her Lover, Only to Realize She Was Talking About My Husband

My husband surprised me with an appointment with my manicurist, but during our session, I discovered the woman was cheating with him! Angry, I tried to retaliate by getting revenge, but when the truth came out, I was left with egg on my face!

When I went in for my manicurist appointment that day, I had no idea that I was about to get more than what I bargained for. What I discovered had me seething as I imagined the worst about my loving husband. But before we get there, let me backtrack a bit to the day before…

A woman at a beauty parlor | Source: Midjourney

A woman at a beauty parlor | Source: Midjourney

It had been a long day of privately tutoring a mix of energetic six-year-olds learning their ABCs and a precocious eight-year-old trying to ace his fractions. By the time I got home, I was completely drained. Adam, my husband of seven years, greeted me with his signature boyish smile and a kiss on the forehead.

“How’s my favorite teacher?” he asked, handing me a cup of herbal tea.

“Tired,” I replied with a laugh, plopping onto the couch. “But your tea makes it better.”

A happy woman drinking tea | Source: Midjourney

A happy woman drinking tea | Source: Midjourney

Adam always had a way of making me feel like the most important person in the world. We were one of those couples people envied, with a solid partnership full of love and shared dreams.

We had just started planning for a family, and I’d been secretly pinning nursery ideas to my Pinterest board.

“I might have to work late tonight, and tomorrow I’ll be staying at work overnight, unfortunately,” Adam said, running a hand through his dark hair. “Big project at the office.”

A man running his hand through his hair | Source: Midjourney

A man running his hand through his hair | Source: Midjourney

I nodded, not thinking much of it. His job as a successful manager for a mid-sized marketing firm often demanded odd hours.

“Just don’t overwork yourself, okay?”

“I won’t,” he promised, kissing me again before adding, “To make it up to you, I booked an appointment for you tomorrow afternoon at Lily’s Luxe Nails.”

I got up and thanked him with a kiss before he gave me one on the cheek and disappeared into his home office.

A woman getting a kiss from her man | Source: Midjourney

A woman getting a kiss from her man | Source: Midjourney

The next day, I went and treated myself to the rare indulgence of a trip to Lily’s Luxe Nails. Lily, the owner, was one of my favorite people. She had a magnetic personality, full of dramatic flair and endless gossip!

Her stories always left me laughing or clutching my pearls.

As I settled into the chair, Lily approached with her usual wide grin.

“Honey, you’re glowing! Your hubby’s treating you well?”

A manicurist | Source: Midjourney

A manicurist | Source: Midjourney

“As always,” I said, holding out my hands for her to examine.

She laughed, taking out her tools.

“Well, at least he’s worth it. Some of us don’t get that lucky.”

Her comment caught my attention. Lily wasn’t one to complain about her personal life. In fact, she often bragged about her adventures in romance.

“Oh? Someone giving you trouble?” I asked.

A woman getting her nails done | Source: Midjourney

A woman getting her nails done | Source: Midjourney

She smirked, leaning in conspiratorially.

“No trouble at all. I’ve been seeing someone new, a real dreamboat! Smart, funny, successful! And let me tell you, he knows how to treat a lady!”

“Good for you! What’s it like?”

Lily’s eyes sparkled. “Our relationship is UNREAL! I’ve never felt ANYTHING like this before! Not even James compares to him!”

James is Lily’s husband. I’d met him before when he came to her workplace.

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

“I guess I am an old-fashioned girl, ’cause I could never cheat on my husband, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way,” I responded.

“Girl, that’s YOUR loss! You wouldn’t believe how romantic he is. Last week, he showed up with flowers just because he ‘felt like it.’ You also haven’t SEEN who I’m talking about, don’t even get me started on his dimples!”

“Uh huh…,” I replied, still not convinced that cheating on Adam would be a good idea.

An unsure woman | Source: Midjourney

An unsure woman | Source: Midjourney

“He’s also a manager at some company. Busy as hell, but he always makes time for me. He’s planning to meet me tonight at that cute boutique hotel across the street while telling his wife he’s working late so we can meet up. I’m counting down the minutes!”

I froze, a strange chill creeping up my spine.

“That’s sweet,” I managed to say, my voice faltering.

Lily didn’t notice…

An unhappy woman | Source: Midjourney

An unhappy woman | Source: Midjourney

Dimples? My chest tightened. Adam has dimples. Adam is a manager. Adam was supposed to be working late tonight. I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling clawing at my chest. It had to be a coincidence…

“Well, do you have a picture of this ‘dream guy’? I’m curious,” I asked, hoping to quash my paranoia.

Lily grinned, pulling out her phone.

“Of course, darling! Look at this stud muffin!” she said, pulling out her phone.

My stomach dropped.

An upset woman looking at a phone | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman looking at a phone | Source: Midjourney

There he was, MY Adam, smiling in the photo with his arm casually draped around Lily. I stared at the picture, willing it to be fake. Maybe I was seeing things. Maybe it was a doppelgänger. But deep down, I knew the truth.

“Wow,” I said, my voice trembling as I lost it inside but kept it together for appearances. “He’s…definitely a catch.”

“Right?” Lily gushed, completely unaware of my turmoil as she placed her phone, still unlocked, on the table.

A phone on a manicurist's table | Source: Midjourney

A phone on a manicurist’s table | Source: Midjourney

I forced a laugh, but my mind was racing.

“Excuse me,” I said, standing abruptly. I grabbed her phone quickly when she wasn’t looking. “I need to use the restroom.”

Once inside, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady my breathing. Adam. My Adam. Cheating with Lily? I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. But as the shock subsided, another emotion took its place: fury.

I wasn’t going to let this slide. I started plotting, and my revenge was going to be served cold tonight at the hotel across the street.

An upset woman in the bathroom | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman in the bathroom | Source: Midjourney

I quickly saved Lily’s husband’s number on my phone, as he was a big part of my revenge.

After I finished my appointment with Lily, I called her husband and told him everything I knew about her affair with Adam. He was as shocked as I was and quickly on board with getting revenge that very night!

Before heading to the hotel together later that night, I insisted we stop at the hardware store. James trailed behind me as I loaded our cart with cans of unwashable paint.

A woman with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

A woman with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

“What’s this for?” he asked, still trying to make sense of my erratic behavior.

“I figured we could mark the cheaters with it. You’ll see,” I said curtly.

When we arrived at the hotel, James and I stood outside the hotel with our “props,” ready to make the “couple’s” meeting unforgettable.

“Are we seriously doing this?” James asked.

“Watch me,” I said with determination as I marched straight through the hotel’s doors, paint cans in hand!

An upset woman outside a hotel with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman outside a hotel with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

When I flung open the doors, I expected to catch Adam and Lily red-handed. But instead, I found myself face-to-face with an entrance full of balloons, streamers, and a massive banner that read: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!”

My jaw dropped. Standing in the middle of the room were Lily and Adam, grinning like a pair of mischievous kids. Behind them were my parents, my sister, and a handful of close friends!

“Surprise!” everyone yelled.

People at a surprise party | Source: Midjourney

People at a surprise party | Source: Midjourney

I stood frozen, the paint cans slipping from my hands. “What…is this?” I stammered.

Adam stepped forward, his dimples on full display.

“It’s your birthday party, sweetheart! We wanted to do something special for you seeing as you ALWAYS forget your birthday.”

“Wait,” I said, my brain struggling to catch up. “So…you’re not cheating?”

Adam laughed, pulling me into a hug.

“Of course not. Lily, James, and I have been planning this for weeks!”

A man at a party | Source: Midjourney

A man at a party | Source: Midjourney

James smiled, and that’s when I finally noticed that he’d joined the others. He stood embracing his wife as Lily chimed in, “You should’ve seen your face! Priceless!”

I burst into tears, overwhelmed with relief and embarrassment. “I thought…”

Adam cupped my face, wiping away my tears.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone that far with the plan. I thought you’d pick up what was happening when I booked your manicurist appointment, but you have to admit, this was worth it.”

It was…

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

The party was a smashing success, filled with laughter, cake, and heartfelt toasts! By the time we left the hotel the next morning, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world, albeit a little foolish for my earlier assumptions.

As we approached Adam’s car in the parking lot, we saw “CHEATER!!!!” scrawled across the windshield in bright red lipstick.

I groaned, covering my face. “I am so, so sorry.”

An embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney

An embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney

Adam just laughed.

“It’s washable, right? Besides, it’s a good story to tell our kids one day!”

As we cleaned the car together, I couldn’t help but laugh too. If nothing else, this would be a birthday I’d never forget!

A couple outside by a car | Source: Midjourney

A couple outside by a car | Source: Midjourney

Sadly, Adam’s wife isn’t the only woman to suspect her husband of cheating. Click here to read about a wife who believed her husband was cheating with their son’s fiancee only to discover a much harder truth.

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 “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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