She hadn’t wanted to ruin the image of the perfect bride or worry Lucas, so she’d kept it hidden, quietly changing the sheets every day to conceal the evidence.

A Mother’s Heart

As she spoke, my heart ached for her. Here was this young woman, trying so hard to fit into our family, to be the perfect wife and daughter-in-law, and she’d been suffering in silence. I reached out, taking her hand in mine, and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Thank you for telling me, Elena,” I said softly. “You don’t have to hide anything from us. You’re part of our family now, and we’re here to help you.”

Her relief was palpable, and as the tension melted away, she managed a small, grateful smile through her tears. In that moment, I realized that the secret she’d kept wasn’t capable of breaking a mother’s heart—it was the love and trust we shared that truly held us together.