Tony worked as a financial analyst, always dreaming of starting his own business, while I balanced my career and took care of our home.\n\n
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\n\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
One evening, Tony came home with exciting news.\n\n
“Amelie, I found partners, and I can finally start my own business, just like I’ve always dreamed!” he announced, grinning from ear to ear.\n\n
“That’s amazing, Tony!” I hugged him, feeling proud. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”\n\n
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\n\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said, looking a bit hesitant.\n\n
“With our new jobs, we’ll be even busier. Mom has been complaining about her health and suggested moving in with us. She wants to help with taking care of Lisa.”\n\n
I frowned.\n\n
\n“Tony, you know how Cynthia feels about our marriage. She never really accepted me.”\n\n\n
\n“I know, but she insisted,” Tony replied. “And we really could use the help right now.”\n\n
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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI sighed, unsure.\n\n
\n“Alright, but only because we need the help. And of course, she wants to move in now that things are looking up for us.”\n\n
\n***\n\n
\nA few days later, Cynthia moved in. She entered the house with a big smile, her hands held in front of her, carrying a gift for Lisa.\n\n
\n\n“Hello, Lisa! Look what Grandma brought you,” she said, handing Lisa a fluffy teddy bear.\n\n\n
\n“Thank you, Grandma!” Lisa hugged the bear tightly, her eyes sparkling with joy.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\nTony looked at me, hoping I would make an effort. “Thanks, Cynthia. I’m sure Lisa will love it,” I said, forcing a smile.\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Amelie, I know we’ve had our differences,” Cynthia began. “But I want to make this work for Tony and Lisa.”\n\n
\n“I hope so,” I replied cautiously.\n\n
\n***\n\n
\nDays turned into weeks, and I noticed changes in Lisa. She became cranky and sleepy during the day. She wasn’t her usual cheerful self, and it worried me.\n\n
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\n“Lisa, honey, why are you so tired?” I asked one afternoon as she rubbed her eyes.\n\n
\n“I don’t know, Mommy. I just feel sleepy,” she replied, yawning.\n\n
\nThat night, as I checked on her, I saw her walking around. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be in a daze.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\n“Lisa, sweetie, what are you doing?” I whispered, gently taking her by the hand.\n\n
\nShe didn’t respond, just continued clutching the teddy bear. I carefully guided her back to bed and tucked her in, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach.\n\n
\nThe next morning, over breakfast, I decided to bring it up with Tony.\n\n
\n\n“Tony, I saw Lisa sleepwalking last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “She was wandering around with that teddy bear your mom gave her.”\n\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTony looked surprised. “Really? That\u2019s strange.”\n\n
\nBefore he could say more, Cynthia, walking nearby, chimed in.\n\n
\n\n“Oh, that’s perfectly normal. Tony used to sleepwalk as a child too. There’s nothing to worry about,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.\n\n\n
\n“Are you sure?” I asked, looking at her thoughtfully.\n\n
\n“Absolutely. It’s just a phase,” Cynthia insisted, her tone final.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\nI nodded, but the worry didn\u2019t leave me. Later that morning, as Tony was getting ready for work, he suddenly frowned and checked his wallet.\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Amelie, have you seen some money I left in my wallet? It’s missing,” he said, looking puzzled.\n\n\n
\n“No, I haven’t touched your wallet,” I replied honestly.\n\n
\nTony sighed. “Maybe I misplaced it. It\u2019s probably just somewhere around.”\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\nI decided to get my purse to give my husband some money. But I was surprised to find a much larger sum than I had yesterday.\n\n
\n“Tony, look at this. Is this the amount you were missing?” I said, showing him the money.\n\n
\nTony peered into the purse and nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly how I tied and stored the amount in my wallet yesterday. That’s strange. Maybe you took it by mistake?”\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI shook my head. “No, I\u2019m sure I didn\u2019t. It\u2019s really odd.”\n\n
\nHow did it get there?\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\nTony shrugged, trying to brush it off. “Let’s not worry about it.”\n\n
\nBut I couldn\u2019t shake off the uneasy feeling. Something was definitely wrong, and I needed to figure out what was happening. That night, I couldn’t sleep, thinking about Lisa and the strange occurrences.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n***\n\n
\nThe next few days, I kept a closer eye on Lisa. She was still cranky and tired during the day, and I noticed she clung to the teddy bear more than usual.\n\n
\nI decided to follow her if she sleepwalked again, to see if I could find any answers.\n\n
\nThat night, it happened again. I saw Lisa get up from her bed, holding the teddy bear tightly in her arms. This time, her eyes were wide open, but she didn’t seem to notice me.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\nShe walked out of her room and down the hallway. I quietly followed her, making sure not to wake her. My heart pounded as I watched her small figure move through the dimly lit house.\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis time, she went straight to Cynthia\u2019s room. I paused outside the door, straining to hear. I heard Cynthia\u2019s voice, low and insistent.\n\n
\n\n“Take the money from the safe, Lisa. Remember, it\u2019s our little secret.”\n\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\nMy blood ran cold. I couldn\u2019t believe what I was hearing. I stood frozen for a moment, then hurried back to my room to wake Tony.\n\n
\n“Tony, wake up! You have to see this,” I whispered urgently, shaking him awake.\n\n
\nTony groggily opened his eyes. “What\u2019s going on, Amelie?”\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“It\u2019s Lisa. She\u2019s in your mom\u2019s room. I heard Cynthia giving her instructions to take money from the safe,” I said, my voice trembling.\n\n\n
\nTony sat up, looking frustrated. “Amelie, you\u2019re overreacting. Mom wouldn\u2019t do that.”\n\n
\n“Please, Tony, just come and see,” I begged.\n\n
\nReluctantly, he got out of bed and followed me to Cynthia\u2019s room. We quietly opened the door and saw both Cynthia and Lisa seemingly asleep. Tony sighed in exasperation.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
\n“See, they\u2019re both asleep. You\u2019re making a big deal out of nothing,” he said, rubbing his temples.\n\n
\n“No, Tony, I know what I heard,” I insisted.\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrustrated, Tony stomped over to the safe.\n\n
\n\n“I\u2019ll prove to you that this is all a misunderstanding. The money should be right here. I was going to invest it in my project tomorrow.”\n\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\nThen Tony’s face went pale.\n\n
\n“What? No, this has to be a joke. The money was here this morning!” he shouted, his voice filled with anger.\n\n
\n“Tony, it\u2019s not a joke. Your mother is responsible for this,” I said firmly.\n\n
\nThe commotion woke everyone up. Cynthia came into the room, looking defensive.\n\n
\n\n“What\u2019s all this noise about?”\n\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n
\nTony turned to her, fury in his eyes. “Mom, did you ask Lisa to steal money from the safe?”\n\n
\nCynthia\u2019s eyes widened, and she started to deny it. “Of course not! How could you even think that?”\n\n
\nJust then, Lisa started to cry, scared and confused by the shouting. I knelt down and gently took her hand.\n\n
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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n
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