{"id":2833,"date":"2026-09-20T13:18:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T13:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/?p=2833"},"modified":"2026-09-20T13:18:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T13:18:31","slug":"every-time-i-returned-from-a-work-trip-my-dog-looked-different-until-her-collar-revealed-what-my-husband-was-hiding-story-of-the-day-2822-10-l2urz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/?p=2833","title":{"rendered":"Every Time I Returned from a Work Trip My Dog Looked Different, Until Her Collar Revealed What My Husband Was Hiding \u2014 Story of the Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every time I came back from a work trip, my dog looked\u2026 different. New collar, new perfume, new attitude. My husband said he was bonding. I felt something smelled off.It was another Sunday morning. I pulled into our driveway after a long night shift at the caf\u00e9, eyes burning, brain buzzing with one thought.The second I opened the door, Bella launched at me like a furry rocket. She was my sweet little white-and-caramel cocker spaniel.<\/p>\n

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But that time, she looked\u2026 airbrushed. And I definitely hadn\u2019t scheduled any grooming appointments.I dropped to my knees and touched her ears. Perfectly trimmed. A tiny pink bow on her tail. And her fur\u2026Is that perfume?<\/i>My husband, Jason, appeared in the kitchen doorway, wearing lounge shorts and holding a toaster.\u201cOh hey, you\u2019re back already?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNot really. Just dropped her off since I was nearby. What? I\u2019m bonding. She loves me now.\u201dHe winked. I blinked. That, from the same man who last week said, \u2018She stinks and keeps licking my slippers.\u2019 I scooped Bella up and took another whiff. Nope, not my imagination. Chanel No.5.\u201cIs that\u2026 your perfume?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason grinned, as if it was totally normal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI sprayed a little on her. Why? She smells amazing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The following Sunday?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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A fur-lined pink jumpsuit. Bella\u2019s coat sparkled like she\u2019d just come from a doggy photo shoot. And again \u2014 that expensive scent.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOkay. So now you\u2019re what, a dog fashion influencer?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I laughed, even though a knot was tightening in my stomach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI just want her to feel loved while you\u2019re away. It\u2019s our little tradition now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou had a football match today.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCancelled. Actually\u2026 I bailed. I\u2019d rather hang out with Bella than yell at a screen with grown men.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This is from the man who once shouted \u201csacrilege!\u201d when I turned off a game during overtime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Something was off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then came my business trip. Three days. I came home to Bella\u2019s latest upgrade \u2014 a shiny beige collar with a tiny heart-shaped pendant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason ran a hand over her head.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cPretty, huh? The old one broke. Thought I\u2019d surprise you with something fancy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWow\u2026 it\u2019s\u2026 sparkly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I smiled. Forced it. Waited until he went into the shower.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then I unclipped the collar. And there, on the inside, written in neat black marker, were the words:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYOUR HUSBAND IS A CHEATER.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I froze. Bella gave a soft yip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou knew. You little traitor. You knew all along.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stared at the collar. Still holding it in my hand. Bella blinked up at me, innocent as ever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWell then.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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If my husband\u2019s playing games, he just picked the wrong woman to mess with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I had a choice: either keep going crazy imagining things, or finally get some answers. So I did what any reasonable, mildly paranoid woman would do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I bought a dog collar camera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bella sat on the bed as I adjusted the tiny lens into her new collar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cSorry, baby. I know you didn\u2019t sign up for this. But mommy needs the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stood in front of the mirror and rehearsed my lines before leaving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, I\u2019m just visiting my mom for the weekend. Don\u2019t wait up!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A quick peck on the cheek. Jason barely looked up from his phone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Perfect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I drove two blocks away, parked near a bakery, and waited with my laptop open. The camera feed was glitchy, but it was still functional.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I saw blurry carpet, Jason\u2019s sneakers, Bella\u2019s nose\u2026 and then \u2014 movement. He took her for a walk. Good. Nothing suspicious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Until they took a taxi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Until the car stopped in front of a house I didn\u2019t recognize.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Until a woman opened the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She was pretty. Too pretty. Long hair, perfect skin, yoga pants \u2014 of course. And she smiled when she saw Jason. Not just friendly-smiled. Warmly. Like they had a routine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason stepped inside. Bella\u2019s camera caught him walking the long corridor, and the woman was following him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I blinked. Zoomed in. Then Bella began to jump. Excited, full tail-wagging mode.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWho are you even jumping for like that, huh?\u201d I muttered at the screen. \u201cI\u2019m your only best friend, you fluffy traitor.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The camera tumbled sideways. The screen went fuzzy, then black.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I slammed the laptop shut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWell, that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I sat frozen for a moment, staring at the wall. That woman\u2026 She looked normal. Relaxed. Not like someone sneaking around.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Why did she write that note on the collar? If she knew about me\u2026 why warn me? Why help me instead of confronting him herself?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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None of it added up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Something was off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I went back home and waited. Unpacked my bag, made myself a coffee, and flipped through bills. Stared at the front door like it might explain things on its own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Evening came. Jason didn\u2019t. I sat at the kitchen table, tapping my nails against the cup. Maybe they\u2019re spending the night together. Maybe it\u2019s their anniversary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Or maybe I\u2019ve officially gone insane.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I couldn\u2019t wait any longer. It was either confront him or lose my mind right there, in my own house. I grabbed my keys and my anger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cLet\u2019s see if she smiles when I open the door instead.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I followed the taxi\u2019s route. I knew that neighborhood. A friend of mine used to live just a few blocks away. In 15 minutes, I was standing across from a house with glowing windows, knees trembling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Let her open it. Let her look me in the eye.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Footsteps. The door creaked open. And there, standing barefoot with a half-eaten cookie in hand, was a girl.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ten, maybe eleven. Brown eyes. A gap in her teeth when she smiled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHi! You must be Bella\u2019s mom!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I blinked. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026 sorry?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She turned and shouted into the house:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cSHE\u2019S HERE!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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What? He\u2019s introducing me?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then Bella charged past me and straight into the girl\u2019s arms, licking her face, wagging like she hadn\u2019t seen her in years. The girl hugged her tightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI made her new bows! Do you like the lilac one or the rose gold more?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stood frozen. The world tilted a little. Then footsteps again. Jason appeared in the hallway, barefoot too, with a dish towel slung over his shoulder. He saw me and froze mid-step.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh! You\u2019re\u2026 here.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNo kidding. Surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He looked between me and the girl. \u201cEllie, honey, why don\u2019t you go show Bella the puzzle you were working on?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cPlease,\u201d he said gently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She pouted, but nodded. Bella trotted after her. I stepped inside, arms folded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThis is where you\u2019ve been spending your weekends?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason sighed. \u201cLet me explain.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI hope so. Because I\u2019ve imagined at least five different versions of this \u2014 and none of them ended with you getting sympathy on the porch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He rubbed the back of his neck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cEllie\u2026 is my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, Jason! So now you live with two families?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHer mom and I \u2014 it was one night. Years ago. Before us. She never told me. Not until recently. She sent a letter. Said my daughter had been asking about me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He looked down. \u201cI didn\u2019t believe it. I even took a DNA test. It came back positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I stared at him, trying to process it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cShe wanted to meet me. And I\u2026 I couldn\u2019t say no. She\u2019s smart. Funny. She loves dogs. And when I told her I had you\u2026 And Bella is yours\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cEllie\u2026 wanted to be part of it. She started bringing little bows. Sprayed Bella with her mom\u2019s perfume. Took her to the groomer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I crossed my arms. \u201cAnd her mom? Are you spending time with her, too?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cNo. We don\u2019t even talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I scoffed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me, Jason.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIs she here right now? Tell me the truth. Is she inside? Because I swear, I need to see the woman my husband chose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cPlease\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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But I was already moving. I stormed past him, toward the hallway, heart pounding, vision blurring. And then \u2014 footsteps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The woman from the doorway appeared, holding Ellie\u2019s jacket in one hand and a juice box in the other. Bella trotted happily behind her. Jason exhaled hard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThis is Sasha. She\u2019s Ellie\u2019s nanny.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The woman sm\u0456led awkwardly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cJust the chaos coordinator.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ellie peeked out from behind her. I pressed my palm to my forehead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh God, Jason\u2026 You should\u2019ve told me the truth. All of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He took a step closer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI was going to. I just didn\u2019t know how. Every time I tried, we were either busy, tired, happy, or\u2026 I got scared.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I looked at him, searching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cSo then, who wrote the collar note?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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He blinked. \u201cWrote what?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe collar. The message on Bella\u2019s collar. \u2018Your boyfriend is a traitor.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason frowned, clearly confused. \u201cWhat? I never saw that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I turned toward Sasha, whose eyebrows had already risen. She looked sharply at Ellie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cEllie?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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The girl froze for half a second, then rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Jason\u2019s waist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cDaddy, you\u2019re not gonna leave me, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason instinctively crouched to her level, hugging her tightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOf course not, baby. That would never happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ellie sniffled. \u201cI just\u2026 I thought maybe if she got mad at you, she\u2019d go away. And you\u2019d stay. With me. And maybe mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Silence. Sasha stepped back, gently letting them have the moment. I stood still, my lungs refusing to fill properly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou wrote that?\u201d I asked, voice barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every time I came back from a work trip, my dog looked\u2026 different. New collar, new perfume, new attitude. My husband said…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsamazingday.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}