Hey, Mom, don’t sip from that cup! The new guy slipped something in it! Maria’s jaw dropped when she heard…

Clara’s breath caught. She wasn’t sure if it was love or the desire to not be alone anymore, but she said yes. They married quietly in a small garden ceremony.

Clara wore a champagne-colored dress, simple and elegant. Isla stood beside her in a pale blue outfit, her expression unreadable. After the wedding, Leonard moved into their apartment.

He suggested selling both their places and buying a larger home, but Clara declined. This was Isla’s home, her safe place, and Clara didn’t want to uproot her again. At first, everything seemed fine.

Leonard cooked, cleaned, fixed things, bought Isla a tablet for her birthday, and helped her install educational apps. He even suggested music competitions when he learned Isla played piano. But then, small things began to shift.

It started with the phone. Whenever Clara left the room, Leonard would glance at her screen. Once, she caught him quickly setting it back on the table, pretending he hadn’t been looking.

Another time, she noticed he had reset the screen timeout to lock faster, just so he’d have to ask for her password more often. Then it was her laptop. Locked.

Password protected. And the look he gave her when she asked about it? I just have confidential documents from work, he explained with a too-smooth smile. Company policy.

But his eyes. They didn’t smile with him. Isla noticed it all.

One night, as Clara tucked her into bed, Isla asked, Why does Leonard always know where we’re going before we tell him? Clara blinked. What do you mean? I mean, when I said I wanted to visit Aunt Annika, he already knew and asked how the visit went. But I hadn’t told either of you yet.

Clara frowned. It could have been coincidence, couldn’t it? And then, the music. Isla’s piano lessons were her passion.

Her teacher, Mrs. Lenz, had encouraged Clara to let her audition for a in Vienna. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But Leonard said no.

It’s too much, he said flatly at the dinner table. Too far, too expensive, and frankly, too much pressure for a child. Clara was stunned.

Leonard, she’s talented. She’s ready. I’m protecting her from stress.

Isla stared at him. I’m not stressed. Leonard’s smile vanished for a second.

Then he softened his voice. We’ll think about it. But they didn’t.

Two days later, Clara found out that Leonard had already emailed the teacher, declining the offer on behalf of the family. Clara confronted him. You went behind my back, she said in the kitchen, her voice trembling…