“THE WOMAN I NEVER SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HOME”

At 49, I thought I had seen enough in life to handle any surprise. **I was wrong.**

After my **20-year marriage crumbled**, I found myself in a strange but exciting new world—dating. That’s how I met Jenna, a charming, energetic woman I clicked with almost instantly.

When my daughter’s **15th birthday** rolled around, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to introduce Jenna to my family. I wanted things to feel normal—wanted to show everyone that life moves on.

But from the **second we walked in,** something was **off.**

Whispers. **Stares.** Jenna fidgeted beside me as my ex’s family threw her nervous glances. My ex, Lisa, locked eyes with Jenna, and suddenly, **her face twisted into something unreadable.**

Then, she **burst into laughter.**

Between fits of hysterics, she gasped, *”You have no idea what you’ve done!”*

Before I could ask what she meant, **my mother-in-law stepped forward, her face pale as a sheet.**

*”Oh my God, Alan…”* she whispered. *”She’s—”*