Pauline’s birthday took an unexpected turn when she applied a new cream gifted by her estranged mother-in-law, Annalise. But she never imagined that she would be staring at the mirror in horror the next morning. What had Annalise done?
The aroma of freshly baked cake wafted through Pauline’s modestly decorated living room.
Streamers hung from the ceiling, and a small pile of gifts adorned the coffee table.
Pauline, a woman in her early thirties, with warm brown eyes and a hesitant smile, sat on the couch, surrounded by her immediate family.
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Her husband, Carl, a tall man with kind features, handed her a gift. “This one’s from Mom,” he said, his voice tinged with surprise.
Pauline’s eyes widened as she accepted the package. She glanced at Annalise, her mother-in-law, who sat stiffly in an armchair across the room.
The older woman’s face was neutral, but her eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness.
“Thank you,” Pauline said softly, carefully unwrapping the gift.
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Inside was an expensive skincare set from a well-known brand.
Pauline’s surprise was evident as she examined the products. “Oh, wow. I love this brand,” she exclaimed, looking up at her mother-in-law. “Thank you, Annalise. This is very thoughtful.”
Annalise nodded curtly. “I read that women like these things nowadays. I ordered it online.”
Despite the kind and seemingly normal exchange, everyone in the room could sense the tension.
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For years, Pauline and Annalise had been at odds, to put it nicely. They had vastly different personalities, and the older woman wasn’t keen on boundaries.
It wasn’t until Carl threatened to cut contact that Annalise became more reserved and did not cause so many conflicts with Pauline.
Therefore, this gesture, however small, felt like a tentative step towards reconciliation.
As the party wound down and guests left, Pauline found herself in the bathroom, examining the skincare products.
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Carl joined her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“I’m shocked that your mother bought me something,” Pauline said, unscrewing the lid of one of the creams.
Carl nodded with a hopeful smile on his face. “I’m just as surprised. But this could be good for all of us, right?”
Pauline agreed, applying the cream to her face. “These things are expensive. I can’t wait to see how my skin looks in the morning.”
But as they settled into bed that night, neither could have expected what happened the following morning.
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***
Pauline stirred awake and felt the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. However, it wasn’t pleasant as always. Something felt off.
Her face burned, and her eyelids felt heavy and crusty. Blinking slowly, she tried to focus on her surroundings.
“Ouch,” she mumbled, reaching for her face. The moment her fingers touched her skin, a searing pain shot through her. “Oh God!”
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She bolted upright, ignoring the way her skin seemed to pull and crack with every movement. Stumbling to the bathroom mirror, Pauline let out a strangled gasp at her reflection.
Her face was a mess of angry red patches and peeling skin. Some areas looked raw as if the top layer had been completely stripped away.
“Carl!” she cried out, her voice trembling with fear and pain.
Her husband rushed to her side, his face paling at the sight. “Jesus, Pauline! What happened?”
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Before she could respond, Pauline’s vision blurred, and she felt herself falling. The last thing she heard was Carl’s panicked shout as darkness enveloped her.
When Pauline regained consciousness, she found herself in a white, sterile hospital room. The steady beep of monitors filled the air, and the smell of antiseptic stung her nostrils.
Carl sat beside her, his face etched with worry. “Pauline, baby. How are you feeling?” he asked, squeezing her hand gently.
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Before she could respond, a doctor entered the room. “Mrs. Patterson, I’m Dr. Rawlings,” she introduced herself with a professional but kind tone. “Can you tell me what happened?”
Pauline recounted using the skincare products she had received as a gift. As she spoke, realization dawned on her face. “The cream… it must have been the cream,” she whispered, gaping at her husband.
Dr. Rawlings nodded gravely. “The cream you used was a professional-grade chemical peel, not meant for home use. It’s typically only used in medical spas under strict supervision.”
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Pauline’s mind raced as she considered what the doctor said. After a few seconds, she connected the dots.
“Annalise,” she breathed, turning again to Carl with wide, horrified eyes. “Your mother did this on purpose!”
Carl’s face hardened as he started shaking his head. “I can’t believe she would go this far,” he muttered, frowning.
As if summoned by their words, Annalise burst into the room, and her face was full of concern. “Carl! Your sister called me with the news. Pauline, what happened?“
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Pauline’s reaction was immediate and visceral. “You did this!” she screamed as tears streamed down her damaged face. “YOU HORRIBLE WOMAN! YOU RUINED MY FACE ON PURPOSE!”
Annalise recoiled. “What? No! I didn’t! I swear!” she said, hurt, and placed a hand on her chest. “I… I saw the products online, and they had good reviews… I didn’t know they were so strong…”
Carl stood up, and anyone could see the rigidness of his body. He was trying to hold back his anger. “Mom, you need to leave. Now. We don’t want anything to do with you anymore.”
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Annalise tried to protest, but several nurses came in to usher her out of the room. When she was gone, Pauline collapsed into sobs, overwhelmed by the idea that her mother-in-law could cause her such harm.
***
Hours passed in a blur of doctors, nurses, and worried family members.
Pauline drifted in and out of sleep thanks to the pain medication which had dulled her senses. When she awoke again, she found Carl speaking quietly with Dr. Rawlings near the door.
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“Carl?” she called out weakly.
He was by her side in an instant, relieved. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Like my face is on fire,” Pauline replied, attempting a smile. “What’s going on?”
Carl took a deep breath, seeming to brace himself. “Mom… she’s been trying to explain something.”
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Pauline felt her heart rate increase, and the monitor beside her began to beat faster. “What could she possibly have to say?”
“She said she didn’t do this on purpose,” Carl began cautiously. “She says she’s been seeing a therapist, trying to work on herself and our family relationship.”
Pauline’s brow furrowed, wincing at the pull of her damaged skin. “A therapist? Your mother?“
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Carl nodded, looking as surprised as Pauline felt. “I know, it’s hard to believe. But she showed me some receipts, and her therapist even called to confirm.”
As Carl explained further, Pauline’s anger began to give way to confusion and a glimmer of something else… hope?
“She told me that she saw the products online, recommended by some influencer,” Carl continued, rolling his eyes at the idea. “She didn’t know it was professional-grade. She was just trying to get you something nice.”
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Pauline closed her eyes, processing this information. Could it be true? After years of hostility, could Annalise truly be trying to make amends?
“I think… I think I’d like to talk to her,” Pauline said finally, although she was still in disbelief.
When Annalise entered the room, her usual composed demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her hands twisted nervously in front of her.
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“Pauline, I… I’m so sorry,” Annalise began, her voice almost breaking. “I never meant for this to happen. I’ve been trying so hard to be better, to fix things between us. I know I haven’t been the best or easiest mom-in-law…”
As Annalise spoke, pouring out her heart about her therapy sessions and her genuine desire to be a part of their family without their previous animosity, Pauline felt something shift within her.
The anger and resentment that had built up over the years began to disappear. She always felt inclined to believe people who truly wanted to change.
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Pauline was big on second chances, but it was still difficult.
“I want to believe you,” she said softly. “I want us to move past this. For Carl, for the kids… for all of us.”
Annalise’s eyes filled with tears. “You have no idea how much that means to me. I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”
While they talked, Carl brought in the skincare products for the doctors to examine.
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It was confirmed that while the products were indeed professional-grade, they were readily available online without proper warnings.
“I’m afraid, Mrs. Patterson, that you should’ve been more careful with the instructions here,” Dr. Rawlings said carefully. “This chemical peel says it’s strong and can’t be used for over five minutes.”
“So, it’s my fault?” Pauline asked, shocked. Carl held her hand in comfort, and Annalise shook her head.
“No, it’s an easy mistake, unfortunately,” the doctor continued. “But it was dangerous.”
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After the doctor left, Pauline laughed awkwardly, and the sound broke the tension. She and Carl apologized to Annalise for immediately jumping to conclusions, but the older woman understood why.
“After how I behaved before, I understand,” Annalise said and smiled at Pauline through teary eyes. It was a genuine grin that only proved how sincere she was.
So, in that hospital room, a new chapter began for their family.
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Pauline reached out, taking Annalise’s hand in hers. “Let’s start over,” she said, smiling back. “Clean slate. Just… maybe hold off on any more gifts for a while, okay?”
Annalise let out a tearful laugh, nodding vigorously. “Deal.”
I Was About to Propose to My Girlfriend on Valentine’s Day When I Accidentally Discovered Her Shocking Secret in Her Google History
For seven years, Jill and I built a life filled with love, trust, and plans for the future. But just days before I proposed, a single glance at her Google search history revealed a secret so shocking it changed everything I thought I knew about the woman I was ready to marry.
Jill and I have been together for seven years. Seven good years. She’s my best friend, my partner, my everything.
A happy couple with their dog | Source: Pexels
She’s the kind of person who lights up a room without trying. She has this easy laugh, the kind that makes people feel at home. She remembers the little things like how I take my coffee, my favorite songs, the way I get grumpy when I’m hungry.
I love her for all of it. We fit perfectly.
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We love the same music. We travel together, never getting tired of each other’s company. My family loves her like their own, and her family has always welcomed me in. I’ve never doubted her. Not once. That’s why I was going to propose.
I had everything planned. Valentine’s Day. A quiet cabin getaway. Just the two of us. A warm fire, a bottle of wine, and the perfect moment.
A couple at home | Source: Pexels
The ring? A simple solitaire, classic and elegant, just like Jill.
I’d pictured it a hundred times. I’d get down on one knee, say something heartfelt, and she’d smile—maybe cry a little—before saying yes. At least, that’s how I thought it would go.
Then, suddenly, things started to change.
A concerned thoughtful man | Source: Freepik
At first, I told myself I was imagining it. Jill was still there, still saying “I love you,” still kissing me goodbye in the mornings. But something was… different.
The warmth in her voice? It wasn’t the same. The way she looked at me? It felt distant, like she was somewhere else. Little things started adding up.
A couple growing cold | Source: Pexels
She’d come home and go straight to the bedroom without our usual chat about the day. Her texts got shorter. When I tried to cuddle with her at night, she’d shift away, just slightly, but enough for me to notice.
One night, I found her sitting on the couch, staring at her phone. She didn’t even look up when I walked in.
A woman on her couch looking at her phone | Source: Pexels
“What’re you looking at?” I asked, sitting next to her.
She jumped, locking the screen. “Nothing.”
I frowned. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired.”
That was her answer for everything.
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A week later, I tried again. We were in bed, lights off, just the hum of the night around us.
“Jill,” I whispered.
“Hmm?”
I hesitated. “Are we okay?”
She turned her head toward me. Even in the dark, I could feel the weight of her stare. “What do you mean?”
A sleepless man in his bed | Source: Midjourney
“You’ve been… different.” I sighed. “Distant. You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?”
She was quiet for too long. Then, finally, she reached for my hand.
“I love you,” she said softly.
But it felt… empty.
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
Days passed, and the feeling didn’t go away. She got irritated easily. When I asked if she wanted to grab dinner, she said she wasn’t hungry. When I made a joke, she barely reacted.
One night, she came home late. She looked exhausted.
“Tough day?” I asked.
She rubbed her face. “Yeah.”
A tired woman rubbing her face | Source: Pexels
I waited for her to say more. She didn’t. Something was wrong, and I was going to find out what.
That night, I wasn’t looking for anything. I was just on my laptop, checking something quickly before heading to bed. Jill had used it earlier, but that wasn’t unusual.
I clicked on my browser history out of habit. That’s when I saw the questions, search after search.
A man working on his laptop | Source: Pexels
“How to tell someone I have a child who I hid for years?”
“How to say it without losing them?”
My stomach twisted. I read the words over and over, my mind struggling to catch up.
A child? A lie? I felt a chill crawl up my spine.
Jill didn’t have a child. We’d been together for seven years. She would have told me. Right? My pulse pounded in my ears.
A shocked man | Source: Pexels
I scrolled further. There were more searches. Some were variations of the same question. Some were even worse.
“Will he hate me if he finds out?”
“Can a relationship survive a huge lie?”
My hands started shaking. I sat back in my chair, trying to breathe. My chest felt tight, like the air had been sucked from the room.
A shocked man looking at his laptop | Source: Midjourney
I wanted to believe it was a mistake. Maybe she was looking this up for a friend. Maybe it wasn’t what it seemed. But deep down, I knew it was real, and it was about me.
I should’ve waited. I should’ve taken time to think, to process. But I couldn’t. I needed answers. Now.
A serious man looking at his laptop | Source: Midjourney
Jill was in the bedroom, sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through her phone. The glow from the screen reflected in her eyes, making her look almost peaceful. She didn’t notice me at first.
When she finally looked up, she gave me a soft smile. Forced.
“You okay?” she asked.
I didn’t answer. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like my ribs would crack.
A smiling woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney
Jill frowned and set her phone aside. “Babe?”
I sat down on the edge of the bed, my hands clenched into fists. My stomach was in knots, my mind racing. I had thought about waiting—about giving myself time to process before confronting her—but I couldn’t. Not with something like this.
I took a deep breath, but it didn’t help. My throat still felt tight, like I was being strangled from the inside.
A couple having a serious talk in their bedroom | Source: Midjourney
“I saw your search history.”
Jill’s face went pale. She didn’t move. Didn’t blink. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.
I swallowed hard. “Tell me the truth.” My voice was quieter than I expected. “What child? What lie?”
Her lips parted like she wanted to speak, but no words came out. I waited.
A shocked scared woman | Source: Pexels
The tension in the room grew heavier with every second that passed. Then, suddenly, Jill dropped her head into her hands. Her shoulders started shaking.
A choked sob escaped her.
“Jill,” I whispered. “Please.”
She wiped at her face, her breathing ragged. When she finally looked at me, her eyes were red and glassy.
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“I’ve wanted to tell you for so long,” she whispered. “But I was scared.”
My whole body felt stiff, like I was frozen in place. “Tell me now.”
Jill squeezed her hands together, her fingers trembling. Her chest rose and fell unevenly. She wasn’t just upset—she was terrified.
She took a deep, shaky breath and let the words fall from her lips.
“I have a child.” The world seemed to stop.
A man talking to his sad wife | Source: Midjourney
I stared at her, my brain refusing to process what I had just heard. “You… what?”
Her voice was barely audible. “I had her when I was fourteen.”
I couldn’t speak. Jill sniffled, rubbing her hands over her face. “My parents… they raised her as their own.” Her breath hitched. “They told everyone she was their daughter. Even she doesn’t know the truth.”
A man looking at his wife in disbelief | Source: Midjourney
The room tilted. I felt like I was sinking into the mattress, unable to move, unable to think.
I forced my mouth to work. “So… your little sister…”
Jill nodded, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “She’s not my sister,” she said. “She’s my daughter.”
The air left my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Everything I knew—everything I believed about Jill, about our life together—shifted beneath me.
A shocked man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
Jill’s sister. The girl I had spent holidays with. The one I had joked around with. The one I had watched grow up over the years.
She wasn’t her sister. She was her child.
I felt dizzy. My hands were clammy, my chest tight.
“You’ve lied to me…” My voice cracked. “For seven years?”
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Jill let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t know how to tell you.” She sniffled. “At first, I thought it didn’t matter. We were young. It wasn’t something I wanted to bring up. But then… time passed. And the longer I waited, the harder it got.”
I clenched my jaw. “You should have told me.”
A serious man in his bedroom | Source: Freepik
“I know.” She looked down at her lap, ashamed. “I thought… maybe I’d never have to.”
I let out a hollow laugh. It wasn’t funny, but I didn’t know what else to do. “And what? Just keep pretending she’s your sister forever?”
She wiped at her face, her hands shaking. “I don’t know. I was scared.”
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I ran a hand through my hair, my mind spinning. “Did your parents force you to lie?” My voice was rough, uneven.
Jill exhaled shakily. “Not force. But they made it clear it was the best thing for everyone. They thought it would ruin my life if people knew the truth. So they… took over. And I let them.”
I stared at her, my emotions warring inside me.
Judgemental parents in their living room | Source: Midjourney
“I wanted to tell you,” she whispered. “So many times. But every time I tried, I just—” She shook her head. “I was terrified you’d leave.”
I let out a slow breath. “You should have trusted me.”
Tears streamed down her face. “I know.”
I wanted to be angry, but mostly, I just felt… lost.
A shocked puzzled man | Source: Freepik
Jill sniffled. “Please. Say something.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what to say.”
She reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. “I love you. That hasn’t changed.”
I looked at Jill—broken, vulnerable, terrified. But she was still my Jill. The woman I loved. The woman I still wanted forever with.
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So I reached into my pocket, pulled out the ring, and whispered, “Marry me.”
Through her tears, she gasped. “Yes!”
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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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