On our wedding night, I hesitated. “Scott, can we… talk for a bit?” I asked, needing rest after the day’s exhaustion. Despite his frustration, Scott agreed.

A few hours later, I woke up to find Scott holding a baby. “This is Ella,” he whispered. “She is my orphaned niece. My stepsister, Maya, is gone now. I found out about her just a few weeks ago.” Shocked and hurt by the secrets, I asked, “How can we start our life together with lies?”

The next day, we returned to Scott’s estate with Ella. I felt powerless but sought answers about Maya. “If you and your family cut ties with her, why insist on raising her baby?” I wondered. Scott replied, “Ella has no one but us.” Despite my questions, he refused to share more.

Curiosity led me to Scott’s study, where I found a photo contradicting his claims of estrangement from Maya. When confronted, he admitted, “I used to meet her secretly…and help her.” I accused him, “Ella isn’t your niece, is she? She’s your daughter.” Scott finally confessed, “Yes, Ella is my daughter.”

I left Scott but missed Ella dearly. Scott’s relentless attempts at reconciliation led to a turning point when he visited with Ella. “A family built on truth, not lies,” Scott promised. Reluctantly, I agreed to return. Months later, more secrets surfaced, revealing Scott’s hidden past and more children. Facing this new reality, I decided to stay and rebuild our family on honesty.