My best friend hated my husband. She always said…

As an 11-year-old, I was stunned to find my late grandmother’s notebook in her closet, filled with paranoid notes about my mom and stepdad, gathered from me and my sister. Convinced they were unfit, she’d planned to use it for a custody battle to give my dad full control after my parents’ divorce and mom’s quick remarriage. Though untrue, her suspicions eased as she saw our love for our stepdad. Years later, my world shattered again when my best friend, who’d despised my husband and left town post-wedding, returned with a three-year-old—my

husband’s son from a fling during my wedding prep. Devastated, I divorced him instantly. Now, trust eludes me, scarred by my grandmother’s misjudgment and my friend’s betrayal. Yet, I’ve learned love can mend family bonds, and caution can guide future choices, seeking peace beyond past deceit.