When my son told me he wanted to introduce his fiancée, I was overjoyed to finally meet the woman who had captured his heart. But as soon as I saw her face, all my excitement disappeared. I recognized her instantly and without hesitation, I made a shocking decision – I locked her in our basement.
As a mother in my 50s, living a quiet suburban life with my husband Nathan, I have always been fiercely protective of my son, Xavier. He is 22 years old now, almost done with college, and the light of our lives. Despite the distance since he moved away, we have remained a close-knit family. Or so I thought, until a surprising phone call from him a few weeks ago.
It was a regular Tuesday evening, Nathan and I were relaxing in the living room when the phone rang. “Mom, Dad, I have some news!” Xavier exclaimed. “I’m engaged! Her name is Danielle. She’s amazing, and we have been dating for three months.”
My mind was racing. Three months? Engaged already? Although I congratulated him and agreed to host dinner that weekend, I couldn’t shake the nagging questions – who was this woman? Where did she come from? And why had Xavier never mentioned her before?
On the day of their visit, Nathan and I prepared an elaborate dinner. We wanted to make the best impression, but as soon as I opened the door, my heart sank. Danielle was stunning, with dark hair and big blue eyes, but I knew her. Or at least, I thought I did.
Months earlier, my friend Margaret had shared a photo of a woman who had scammed her son – stealing his money and disappearing after promising marriage. That same face now stood in my living room, smiling nervously. Although her hair and eye color were different, the resemblance was undeniable.
I served dinner, trying to hide my unease. My heart was pounding as I discreetly searched for Margaret’s photo on my phone, but I had deleted it. I needed proof, so I came up with a plan.
“Danielle, would you mind helping me pick a bottle of wine from the basement?” I asked, trying to sound casual. She hesitated but eventually agreed, and I led her downstairs. The moment she stepped inside, I locked the door behind her and quickly returned upstairs.