Getting To The Bottom Of It
Chris’s palms were sweaty as he moused over the play button. For the last few weeks, something strange had been occurring behind his back, and he was desperate to get to the bottom of it.
He never thought that he would have to resort to this, but he was out of options. No one wanted to tell him the truth.
He hit the play button, unaware that his entire world would come crashing down around him.
Long Gone
Chris had been sitting with it for weeks at this point. Every day, he was reminded that something was up with his son, Damien.
He’d grown distant and quiet. Long gone were the days when laughter would erupt from his bedroom.
Chris had no idea what had caused the sudden change in his demeanor, despite asking multiple times. The young boy refused to be left alone with his stepmother, Courtney, and Chris was about to learn the sinister truth.
A Dark Secret
He had spoken to his wife about the entire ordeal, but Courtney claimed not to know what was wrong with the little boy.
But she was keeping a dark secret from her husband, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He had to think of something.
The concerned father spent days setting it all up. Something was happening to his son, and he was being left in the dark. But one day, the truth came out.
Determination
That day, Chris awoke with a sense of determination coursing through his veins. Damien had gone to school, and his wife had a lunch planned with friends. All he had to do was wait for Courtney to leave the house.
He played it cool, kissing her on the cheek and waving her goodbye as she stepped out of the front door.
It was finally time for the truth to come forward.
Hidden Cameras
Chris had spent that week installing hidden cameras all over their house.
He purposely neglected to mention this to Damien and Courtney. He had to know what was going on when they thought he wasn’t watching.
He watched from the kitchen window as his wife got into her SUV and began reversing out of the driveway. Now was his time to act.
A Thousand Thoughts
Chris marched to his office the second he watched Courtney’s car disappear around a bend.
He was finally alone, and now, he would see what had been occurring for all those weeks.
Chris’s mind was flooded with a thousand thoughts. He thought Courtney would be the perfect stepmother, but he was about to learn that marrying her was the biggest mistake of his life.
Careful
Chris carefully locked the office door behind himself, careful not to get caught. He glanced out the window once again, assuring that his wife’s car wasn’t in the driveway. Finally, he sat down in front of his laptop.
Something just wasn’t right, and he had to get to the bottom of it. He took a deep breath before he clicked on the footage.
His entire world was about to come crashing down around him.
A Tragic Day
Living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chris Bates could still remember the day his entire world came to a standstill.
When his first wife, Angela, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, he tried to stay positive.
But the day she passed away and left him with their three-year-old son, Damien, he made an important promise to her. He was going to protect Damien at all costs.
Family And Friends
The first two years as a single father were tough, but with the help of family and friends, Chris managed to pull through. During that time, he didn’t think about getting into another relationship, until he met Courtney.
She was beautiful, with her long legs and wavy blonde hair.
The pair met at a mutual friend’s dinner party, but before Chris could make anything official, he wanted Damien to meet her.
She Made It Better
Not a single day went by that Chris didn’t think of the mother of his child, but Courtney made the pain just a tad better.
As they went on their first few dates, Chris was overjoyed to learn that she was patient and gentle.
She was just what he and his son needed. But first, he had to see what his son thought of her. He instantly arranged for the three of them to meet.
They Hit It Off
That night was nothing short of perfection.
Damien and Courtney hit it off right off the bat, and they spent the entire evening laughing and chatting. By the end, Chris could tell that his son approved.
Just a few months later, Chris asked Courtney to marry him. He thought he was doing what was best for him and his son, but soon, he would learn to regret that decision.
They Got Married
They got married right after Damien’s sixth birthday, and it was a marvelous day. The reception was charming, and they spent that day celebrating their love.
Angela was on Chris’s mind the entire time. He knew she would be happy for him.
The first few months of their marriage were nothing short of perfection, but that ended all too soon.
A Sudden Change
The change in Damien’s behavior happened suddenly one day. That morning, the boy seemed fine.
He was laughing and messing around with his toys as Chris tightened a tie around his neck.
He would only be out for a few hours, but by the time he got home, everything would be different. It was supposed to be a normal day.
He Had A Meeting
That day, Chris had to leave the house for just a few hours. He had an important meeting to attend, and his new bride, Courtney, insisted on taking care of the young boy.
But that evening, when Chris returned from his meeting, a tension had consumed their home.
It was unlike anything the father had ever felt before. But what had happened while he was away?
A Claim
Damien had been put to bed, and he was surprised to find his wife in front of the television, sipping on a glass of red wine.
She claimed that everything had run smoothly while he was away.
Despite the uneasy feeling in his gut, Chris took her word for it. Unaware of what had happened behind his back. But he saw the impact the very next day.
He Dismissed Him
Damien spent the entire morning inside his bedroom with the door shut. It was 2 p.m. when Chris decided to knock on his door.
He was confused to find the little boy in bed, his back turned to his father.
When Chris asked what was wrong, the little boy simply refused to answer. With a shrug of his shoulders, he dismissed his father. How could Chris have known?
It Was Worse Than He Thought
But in the days and weeks that followed, the situation only got worse. Damien was quiet and withdrawn, especially around Courtney.
This concerned Chris greatly. He kept asking his son and wife what was going on, but Damien simply didn’t respond, and Courtney claimed not to know.
Chris had no idea that the truth was way worse than he ever could’ve imagined.
Sitting With It
Chris had been sitting with it for weeks at this point. Every day, he was reminded that something was up with his son.
He’d grown distant and quiet. Long gone were the days when laughter would erupt from his bedroom.
Chris still remembered the exact day that everything changed, but he had no idea what had happened after he left the house. It would be something that he could never have imagined.
Affecting His Grades
He noticed that not only was his son very withdrawn and unhappy about something, it was now affecting his school work as well.
Over the course of two weeks, Chris received a few notes from Damien’s teacher expressing her concern about her favorite student.
Damien’s grades were slipping, and now Chris had to go to school to have a talk with the teacher.
He Loved School
Chris was upset. Damien loved school, and now it seemed like his school work was taking a backseat all because he was carrying an unseen heavy load on his shoulders.
There was no way that Chris was going to let this happen. He and his late wife had saved too much money to get Damien into this specific school. He was not going to see everything go to waste.
Not on his watch.
Failing
When he sat down with Damien’s teacher, Ms. Woodward, she didn’t hold back.
“I haven’t seen Damien perform so poorly in class before. His grades really took a knock, Mr. Bates. He’s failing. Is something going on at home that he’s struggling with? Are you and Mrs. Bates having any problems?” she asked.
Chris didn’t even know what to say. He had no idea it was so bad.
The Mystery Of Damien’s Behavior
Chris was quiet for a moment. But his mind scoured his memories, trying to figure out what was happening.
He couldn’t pinpoint why his son’s behavior had turned foul.
To make matters worse, he’d been brushing it off for what seemed like weeks. Guilt flared within him, and he wiped a hand down his face. He needed to get to the root of this and fast. There was only one way he could do that.
The Influence Of Angela’s Love For Books
Chris started sifting through his memories. This was the only way he’d uncover this mystery.
After his first wife got sick, he tried his best to hide everything from Damien.
His son had been their everything. He’d been the apple of their eye. Although he picked a lot of who he was from Chris, he’d taken after his mom, too, to a point where they were almost identical in their likes and dislikes.
Angela’s Bond
Angela had an extensive collection of fantasy books ranging from high and epic to urban fantasy.
A college lecturer majoring in creative writing and linguistics, she’d dedicated her life to storytelling.
When Damien was born, she took to reading him stories. Before the child was even born, Angela would spend time reading to him, bonding with the infant in a way that meant so much to her. She had no idea that tragedy was right around the corner.
Protecting Damien
Damien grew up loving books. He adored the power of the eye and the mind, the power of taking simple words and letting them throw you into an endless world of possibilities.
He was a happy child, and Chris could tell. So when Angela fell sick, she and Chris tried to hide this reality from their son.
They’d do anything to protect him from such cruelties. But they’d soon learn just how smart Damien was.
An Insightful Understanding
You see, Angela was only sick for a month before Damien picked up on it. He started caring for her.
He did things like asking her to stop reading so he could read to her, bringing her beverages even when she wasn’t thirsty, and asking her if she was in pain.
Angela and Chris had yet to explain to him the concept of sickness and death, yet he seemed to understand by himself. But that wasn’t the most heartbreaking part.
A Heartbreaking Realization
The most heartbreaking part was that Damien seemed to have realized that he didn’t have any time left with his mom. The little boy could barely sleep.
He would wake up early and run into his parents’ bedroom, eager to spend time with Angela.
He’d bring books, board games, and his coloring pencils, barely being able to carry the whole load from his room.
Tender Efforts
Angela cried when she realized what he was doing. She noted that he couldn’t even enjoy things anymore. He seemed in a rush to show her things he’d learned or share new experiences with her.
When she got hospitalized, he always asked his dad to drive him to see her. But he never cried when he was next to her.
He never wore a sad face, only smiled and constantly assured Angela she’d be alright. Even Chris was beyond heartbroken.
Damien’s Maturity
Damien continued with his efforts to cheer up his mom until her last day.
That’s the only day tears raced down his face as Chris broke the news to him.
“She’s watching over us now,” he said while wiping his eyes. “She’s an angel, and she’s not hurting anymore.” He hugged Chris, who was shaken by how mature his son was. He had no clue that the worst was still to come.
Chris’s Struggle
After Angela’s passing, Chris fell into a deep depression. The woman he’d loved was no longer with him.
He would have fallen off the deep edge if it hadn’t been for Damien, who, despite his young age, kept a clear mind throughout the ordeal.
His words were what kept the single father going. “We’ll be alright, Dad,” he’d say at dinner or whenever he saw Chris sulking. Chris knew he was lucky to have a son such as him.
Positive Attitude
When Chris decided to go back into the dating pool, he’d discussed it with his son first.
He assured him that he was by no means trying to replace his mom.
But Damien was nothing if not supportive. “Yes, I want a mommy,” he said. “She can read me stories and help me with my drawings!” If only Chris knew what all this would lead to.
Courtney’s Impact
Chris went out on his first date with Courtney. He really liked her. When he finally introduced her to his son, he could see just how much Damien liked her, too.
Courtney would spend time listening to his stories and marveling at his drawings.
She’d play with him out in the yard and even take him out to get pizzas. Chris thought he’d found the one after seeing their interactions.
New Chapters Come
Chris was content; Courtney was a breath of fresh air. She effortlessly blended into their lives, bringing a newfound joy. Little did Chris know that Damien saw in Courtney not just a friend but a mother figure.
As their relationship blossomed, so did Damien’s attachment.
There had been a void left by Angela that seemed to slowly mend, replaced by the warmth of Courtney’s presence.
Unspoken Bonds
Courtney unknowingly became a beacon of solace for Damien. She sensed his unspoken pain and seemingly did everything to alleviate it.
As their family dynamics shifted, Chris marveled at the unspoken language that had developed between Damien and Courtney.
Their connection went beyond words, a silent understanding of shared loss and the healing that only time and love could provide. Chris had no idea that all this was a facade.
A Fading Shadow
The darkness that had clouded Damien’s demeanor began to lift. His once somber eyes regained a sparkle, and the weight of grief seemed to lighten.
Chris observed the subtle changes, grateful for Courtney’s positive influence.
Yet, he remained oblivious to what was truly happening. It was only a matter of time before things turned for the worse.
A Surprise Discovery
Seated opposite Damien’s teacher, a worried Chris couldn’t tell what was happening. But one thing was clear: everything that happened stemmed from home.
He knew it wasn’t because of Angela’s passing because he and his son had already healed.
Courtney was to thank for that, as she’d gone above and beyond to see both father and son through the turmoil. If only Chris knew that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Concerned
But now, his son’s grades were slipping, and Chris was sure it was all because Damien was upset about something.
He wasn’t talking, and it was making Chris very concerned.
It was time for Chris to take some serious action, or else his son would be repeating his grade. How was he going to get Damien to open up to him?
Not Himself
It would surely take a lot. His boy was not himself at all. He had become so withdrawn that he had hardly spoken to him. What had happened between him and Courtney?
There was nothing he could do about the fact that they would be spending time together even though Damien pleaded with him that he didn’t want to.
Something was very fishy.
Tension
But the situation would only get worse every time Chris had to leave his son alone with Courtney. He would come home and find that same, strained feeling in the air. It was tension mixed with sadness.
Eventually, it got to the point where Damien was begging him not to leave him alone with Courtney.
But when he asked why, the little boy would grow silent and leave the room. Chris knew that something had to be done.
Getting Answers
The day he installed hidden cameras all over their living room and kitchen, he decided not to tell his wife or son about them.
Something was happening behind his back, and neither of them wanted to tell him what was going on.
He was doing what he had to do to get some answers. But he never expected it to be as bad as it was.
Good News
Being a stay-at-home wife, Courtney was always around, which made it impossible for Chris to look at the footage. But a few days later, she shared news that brought a smile to his face.
“I’m having lunch with my girlfriends tomorrow,” She announced. Chris had to stop himself from showing the excitement on his face.
Finally, he would get the opportunity to check the footage. He would finally have the answer he’d been begging for.
Anxious
The following day, Chris played it casual. He dropped his son off at school and waited patiently for Courtney to leave the house.
His skin was crawling. He was anxious to look at the footage.
When she left the house, he casually kissed her on the cheek and waved her off as she left the front door. As soon as she reversed from the driveway, he bolted up to his office.
It Was Time
Chris quickly locked the office door behind himself. He couldn’t risk getting caught.
He glanced out of his office window, assuring that his wife’s car wasn’t in the driveway. Finally, he sat down in front of his laptop.
Something just wasn’t right, and he had to get to the bottom of it. His entire world was about to come crashing down around him.
Figure It Out
Chris’s palms were sweaty as he moused over the play button. For the last few weeks, something strange had been occurring behind his back, and he had to figure out what it was.
He never thought that he would have to resort to spying on his family.
No one wanted to tell him the truth. He hit the play button, unaware that his entire world would come crashing down around him.
Watching
Chris’s eyes narrowed in on the small screen as he checked over the footage from the last few days.
He had left Damien and Courtney alone the day before, and he wanted to see if anything had happened at that time.
As he skipped toward the exact hour that he had left, he sat back in his seat and watched. But just a few minutes later, he saw it.
The Stuffed Animal
He watched as his son walked into the living room with his favorite toy, a stuffed animal that his mother had gotten him.
It was just a few moments later that the boy got up from his seat and left the living room, his stuffed animal lying on the couch.
Chris then watched as Courtney entered the room and spotted the stuffed animal. “Damien, get over here!” She yelled in a tone he’d never heard before.
Yelling And Screaming
The boy walked into the lounge, and that’s when it all went down.
Courtney was yelling at him, and screaming at the top of her lungs. “How many more times do I have to tell you to take your toys to the room!” She screamed in his face.
“But Dad says it’s fine,” Damien tried to defend himself, but that only set her off even more.
I Make The Rules
“Well, your dad’s not here, and when he’s not here, I make the rules! Now take this stupid toy, that your stupid mom got you, and go to your bedroom! I don’t want to see you until your dad gets back. You got that?” She spat.
Chris couldn’t believe his eyes or ears as he watched tears pour down his little boy’s face.
Damien turned around and cried as he walked to his bedroom.
Shattered Illusions
Chris felt his heart shatter into a million pieces.
The illusions he had built around Courtney, the woman he thought would bring joy and love to his family, were now shattered.
He watched in disbelief as his son, with tears streaming down his face, retreated to his room, carrying the weight of an unjust punishment.
Raging Fury
A raging fury built up inside Chris. How could Courtney treat Damien like that?
The woman he had married, the woman he thought would fill the void left by his first wife’s passing, had become a source of torment for his son.
Chris had to confront her, but he needed a plan. She was not going to get away with it.
Confrontation
Chris decided to wait for Courtney to return from her lunch with friends. He sat in the living room, his mind racing with thoughts of how to confront her.
When she walked through the door, he saw a fake smile plastered on her face.
“Hey, how was your lunch?” she asked innocently. Chris couldn’t believe that she could put on such an innocent act.
What Did You Do?
Chris couldn’t contain his anger any longer. “What did you do to Damien?” he demanded, his voice low and menacing.
Courtney’s fake smile faltered, and she stammered, “What are you talking about?” But Chris wasn’t buying it.
He played the footage, revealing the truth of how she had verbally abused and humiliated his son.
The Truth Unveiled
As the footage played, Courtney’s face turned pale. The truth was unveiled, and there was no denying her actions. Chris felt a mixture of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak. He never thought he would see the day when he had to protect his son from his own wife.
The confrontation escalated into a heated argument, with Chris demanding an explanation for her behavior.
Courtney, unable to justify her actions, tried to apologize, but it was too late. She took her keys and left. The trust between them was shattered, and Chris knew he had to protect Damien from any further harm.
He Had No Idea
Chris had just uncovered something unthinkable. He had no idea that Courtney had it in her to be so cruel and mean to a little child. His heart ached for his little boy.
When he left to pick his son up from school, he told Damien what he had seen, and the boy finally opened up.
For the last few months, she had been screaming endlessly at Damien and speaking horribly of his mother. Chris couldn’t be with a woman like that.
Too Late
As he waited for Courtney to get home, he began packing her bags. As soon as she stepped through the front door, she could tell something was up. She found Chris in the bedroom, a suitcase in his hand. “Are you leaving?” She asked.
“No, you are. I’m calling my lawyer tomorrow. We’re done here. I saw what you did, and I want you nowhere near me or my son, He told her. She begged him not to leave her, but it was all too late.
He wanted nothing more from her. It only took a few months, but eventually, Courtney was out of their lives for good, and Damien started doing better again.
Rebuilding
In the aftermath of Courtney’s departure, Chris focused on rebuilding the shattered pieces of their lives. He filed for divorce, ensuring that Damien would be legally protected from any further harm.
The legal battle was tough, but Chris was determined to create a safe and nurturing environment for his son.
It was the only way for Damien to get back to his old self again.
Therapeutic Healing
Damien started attending therapy to heal from the emotional scars left by Courtney’s abuse. The therapist provided both father and son with tools to communicate better and rebuild their bond.
Slowly but surely, the laughter that had disappeared from Damien’s room began to return.
And his grades began to see signs of improvement as well.
Support System
Chris leaned on his family and friends for support during this challenging time. They rallied around him, offering a network of love and understanding.
Through their help, Chris and Damien began to heal and move forward, leaving the painful memories behind.
Damien was coming back to being himself again, and it made Chris so proud as a father.
A Fresh Start
With Courtney out of their lives, Chris and Damien embarked on a journey to create a fresh start.
They moved to a new neighborhood, which was even closer to the school, and focused on building a life filled with love and positivity.
Chris could finally see the positive change in his son. It was all he ever wanted after what had happened to him.
A Father’s Promise
As the wounds of the past slowly faded, Chris made a solemn promise to himself and his son: to always be vigilant, to cherish and protect Damien, and to never let anyone bring darkness into their lives again.
The journey had been arduous, but together, they emerged stronger, forging an unbreakable bond that would withstand whatever challenges lay ahead.