On The Edge
With her phone in hand, she sat in the bathroom, her heart beating in her chest as she pressed play. Since the start of the month, her daughter had been avoiding physical contact with her father.
It had seemed like a typical kid's sass at first, and the mom hadn’t taken it too seriously. But now she had been forced to the edge, with no other options available. The devastating revelation in the footage would soon have her flying out of the bathroom in a rage.
All Her Fault
She couldn’t understand how this could have happened right in front of her. Everyone would put her at fault for allowing it to progress this far. They had all cautioned her against giving him a second chance.
Her own mother had warned her that marrying him was a bad idea, reminding her of all his past mistakes. But she was blinded by love. The mom had developed an appetite for that which was forbidden, and now she would be punished for it.
Jessica’s Mistake
Things weren't supposed to turn out this way for Jessica Noelle. She was supposed to have some peace now. She had already gone through so much, not only at her own hands but also at the cruel hands of fate, which no one can influence.
She’d taken a massive risk when she married him, but it had truly felt like the right decision to her. Now, as she rushed to her daughter’s bedroom, she realized just how wrong she had been.
Watching From A Distance
As she quietly made her way through the dark hallway, she felt the racing pulse she had become accustomed to. She had tucked in her daughter, Kinzie, only moments ago.
Her husband, Clint, had gone into the room to kiss Kinzie goodnight. As Jessica hurried to the bathroom, phone in hand, something started bothering her. It was the tension of her plan falling into place.
A Covert Operation
Hidden away in the bathroom, she turned on the baby monitor that she had strategically hidden in Kinzie’s bedroom. As the footage started playing, Jessica was chilled to the bone by what she saw.
Bolting through the door, all Jessica could think of was rescuing her little girl. She wouldn’t be able to reach her in time. It felt like she was trying to run in quicksand. She whispered to herself. “Mommy will save you, Kinzie.”
History Repeating Itself
Jessica couldn’t believe that this was happening to her. She thought she had suffered enough by now. Her relationship with Clint had been as abusive as it was enduring, and her heart had been broken over and over again, only made worse by traumatic separations.
Clint had been disappearing and reappearing into her life since they were teenagers. One day, he would promise her unconditional love and the next, he would vanish into thin air. Jessica’s heart shattered a little more every time, but she couldn’t stop herself from giving him another chance every time.
A Pretty Picture
Jessica’s loved ones had told her to be careful with Clint. They had figured out his toxic pattern of breaking hearts. It had been their job to put Jessica’s back together every time Clint stomped all over it.
Nevertheless, Jessica was unwilling to cut off Clint. How could she forget her first love? She was fooled by his charisma and his perseverance. It painted a pretty picture of the life they could have. Jessica believed they could be happy together.
A New Life
But now, the time had finally come for Jessica to break the pattern. Feeling empowered, she broke up with Clint in an effort to rescue herself from permanent emotional instability.
She was fearful that Clint would choose to take revenge on her, but chose to save herself instead of perpetuating her traumatic past. She built a new life free of Clint and began to gain some optimism. Being on her own made her feel at peace. But she should have listened to her gut about Clint’s vengefulness.
A Changed Man
Just like always, Clint showed up, begging for Jessica to take him back. But this time, he seemed to have changed somehow. Even with alarm bells ringing, Jessica hesitated. She was once again blinded by memories of her high school sweetheart, paired with his promises of being a changed man.
She had also recently become a mother, and managing a baby alone was difficult. The idea that she could have a happy family enticed her into reconsidering love. Of course, she couldn’t resist.
Mother And Wife
Giving in, Jessica and Clint ended up getting married. She was incredibly happy to be Kinzie’s mother and overjoyed that Clint loved her as he would his own child.
For a time, they had a peaceful life. Their troubled history started to become a hazy memory. Kinzie was the joy of Jessica’s life, and that joy kept any doubts about Clint at bay. In spite of their previous warnings, Jessica’s loved ones slowly began to accept her new life. They all prayed that Clint had really changed.
A Happy Family
Life continued, and the Noelle family was happy. Not once did Clint refer to Kinzie as his stepdaughter, and he did not treat her like a child fathered by another man.
For four years, he treated both mother and daughter as the best things in his life. Jessica had known him for more than a decade, and this was the first time she truly felt like he loved her. But she should have known the scheme he was cooking behind the scenes.
The Fractured Façade
Jessica was convinced that everything was alright until they weren't. It started with the subtle cracks that veined the portrait that was their picture-perfect family.
Jessica noticed Kinzie's reluctance to embrace her father's touch one day at dinner. Her daughter was just as sassy as she was, and she thought this was just that, Kenzie being like her mom. But it was something else.
It Happens
Jessica didn't think much of the occurrence when she first saw it. The second and third times didn't ring a bell in her mind either. Neither did the fourth and fifth.
Only when it started happening frequently did she conclude that something was terribly wrong. A worried mom, she decided to investigate. If only she knew what she was about to uncover.
The Vengeful Type
For the longest while, Clint had been the vengeful type. He'd never been one to let things go so easily. From arson to vandalism, there were a few things he hadn't dipped his toes into to get even with those he believed wronged him. When he last came back to Jessica's life and found her pregnant, there had been hurt in his eyes.
Jessica could hear it in his words and see it in how he talked and carried himself. She could tell he felt betrayed, as if he had some claim to her mind, body, and soul. But with how good things had been going lately, Jessica had all but forgotten how vengeful her husband was.
Watching Closely
Watching her daughter's behavior, Jessica knew something was off. Her mind walked her and Clint's past, and suddenly, she recalled how bad of a person he could be when wronged.
But she couldn't simply conclude that her husband was doing something terrible that would warrant this behavior from Kinzie. She even went so far as to consider that the issue might be with her daughter and not her husband.
Questions
Jessica's mind ran with questions. Knowing she needed more information on the matter, she started observing her daughter and Clint closely.
She realized that whenever she was not in the room, the two would give each other weird side-eye looks as if they were hiding something. But it would get worse whenever Clint would come close to Kinzie. It would only be a matter of time before Clint's dark secret came to light.
A Week
For a week, Jessica studied the phenomenon unveiled before her. But with each passing minute came an ever-consuming worry that made her feel helpless and alone.
Slowly and gradually, the bad feelings she'd once harbored toward Clint slithered back into her mind. She found herself watching him like a hawk, wondering why her daughter was so afraid of him. These feelings are what pushed her to install that nanny cam in Kenzie's bedroom.
The Nanny Cam
Installing the camera was easy enough. Jessica stuffed it behind a few of her daughter's dolls and teddies, ensuring it was well hidden from anyone not smart enough to check.
Afterward, she connected the feed to her phone. All she needed to do now was take Kenzie to sleep and wait for things to play out. The plan was simple on paper. Would it be just as simple in execution?
Nothing
Well, for the first night, nothing happened. Jessica took her daughter to bed and waited for Clint to go in. Anxious and equally curious, she rushed to the bathroom and turned on the camera.
But Clint only walked to the door and wished little Kenzie goodnight. He didn't step in, nor did he spend more than a minute on the door. Was he onto Jessica?
Wait
Jessica wasn't sure. But she knew she'd have to be patient, which was difficult, given that this was her daughter – her only reason for living.
She even considered outright asking Kenzie what was wrong. But she feared this would lead to more issues, signaling Clint that his ruse was broken. All Kenzie could do now was wait. And for days, she did.
Four Days
It took a good four days before anything substantial happened. But within this time, things in the Noelle house had deteriorated beyond measure.
Kenzie and Clint's relationship seemed to be struggling. The girl would squirm whenever Clint came close to her. She'd even screamed once. Of course, when Jessica came running, asking what was wrong, she held her tongue.
Unveiling The Mystery
Back in the present, Jessica huddled in the bathroom with the nanny cam footage as she sought answers. The screen displayed a delicate dance of avoidance between father and daughter. Kinzie's eyes shone with a deep-rooted discomfort. Determined to finally put this to rest, Jessica watched the disturbing scene unfold.
Jessica froze. Furrows slashed across her forehead. Her fingers, drenched in sweat, started trembling. She didn't know where she'd thrown her phone away or clutched it in her grasp as she sped off. All she knew was that she couldn't get to her daughter fast enough.
A Clean Slate
Clint had long been a dangerous person. Dark days had seen him frequent many a jail cell and even go to prison for a spell. But we all have our moments of weakness, and we fight to be better versions of ourselves.
Clint had promised everyone he'd changed. He'd not collided with the law for years now, having one of the cleanest records in recent times.
Revelation In Kinzie's Room
Jessica sprinted down the hall, her breath catching in her throat. Bursting into Kinzie's room, she found Clint and Kinzie in an unexpected tableau. What she’d seen on her phone had continued while she was in transit here.
Kinzie was attempting handstands with determination, guided by her father's patient encouragement. Confusion enveloped Jessica as she watched the scene unfold. It was a far cry from the expected confrontation.
The Wager
As Jessica listened, Kinzie explained the unusual dynamics between her and her dad. The motherly instinct to protect her daughter clashed with the reality before her. It turns out Clint and Kenzie had a wager - a unique, although bizarre, arrangement.
If either touched the other without mastering a handstand first, they had to endure watching the other's favorite TV show. Kinzie, desperate to hug her father, was determined not to endure reruns of Monster Truck stunt shows every evening.
Heartfelt Confession
Jessica's initial panic transformed into relief, then a pang of guilt for not understanding sooner. Kinzie poured her heart out, expressing the conflict she felt, torn between the desire to embrace her dad and the dread of enduring TV torture.
The innocence of the revelation struck Jessica, softening her concern as she realized this was a quirky, albeit harmless, family game.
Motherly Concerns
As the realization settled in, Jessica hugged Kinzie tightly, the warmth of relief mingling with a lingering unease. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for the misconceptions that clouded her perception. She took a moment to reflect on her past with Clint.
The mistrust from their history had blurred her ability to see the truth of their current relationship. She questioned whether her past experiences had conditioned her to expect the worst, even when the reality was quite the opposite.
A Changed Man
Seeming to sense Jessica's internal struggle, Clint reassured her that he had indeed changed. That night, he had a long conversation with Kenzie, assuring her he'd never hurt her or their daughter.
Yes, his past was filled with poor choices. But it had led him here, to a world where he was a dad and husband to the best daughter and wife any man could ask for. But would Jessica believe his words?
Rebuilding Trust
Clint had always been good with words. To Jessica, actions spoke louder. But hadn't Clint's actions been genuine and pure for their last four years together? Jessica grappled with conflicting emotions - wariness and the desire to believe in Clint's transformation.
She recognized that rebuilding trust required a leap of faith, a conscious decision to let go of the darker parts of their history. It seemed she, too, needed a transformation.
The Healing Power of Love
In the following weeks, Jessica took it upon herself to see a professional. She also spoke to Clint a lot, where she learned he'd had years of self-reflection, which ended with changing his ways. The Noelle family went through a journey of healing and understanding.
The handstand wager had led to something more, a symbol of their unique bond, fostering laughter and connection. Although the scars from their past were still present, they were just that: scars, with no poisonous pain festering underneath.