Every Time I Returned from a Work Trip My Dog Looked Different,

Returning from work trips, I noticed my cocker spaniel, Bella, looking different—new collar, perfume, even a pink jumpsuit. My husband, Jason, claimed he was bonding with her, but his excuses seemed off. One day, I found a note on Bella’s collar: “YOUR HUSBAND IS A CHEATER.” Suspicious, I attached a camera to Bella’s collar and faked a weekend trip. The footage showed Jason visiting a house where a woman greeted him warmly. Furious, I confronted him at the house, only to meet Ellie, a young girl who called me “Bella’s mom.” Jason revealed Ellie

was his daughter from a past fling, recently discovered via a DNA test. Ellie had been pampering Bella, hoping to bond. The note? Ellie wrote it, fearing I’d take Jason away. The woman was Sasha, Ellie’s nanny. Jason hadn’t cheated but hid Ellie’s existence, unsure how to tell me. My anger softened into understanding. Ellie’s fear of losing her dad was real. Though trust needed rebuilding, I saw a chance for our unconventional family to grow with love and honesty.