When Ella hears strange noises coming from her attic while her husband, Aaron, is away, she fears the worst. But nothing could prepare her for the shocking discovery of her mother-in-law, Diane, hiding upstairs… What is going on?
It all started about a month ago, right after my husband, Aaron, left for a weeklong work trip. I’d never minded being alone in our cozy suburban house before, until the noises started.
A man walking out of a house | Source: Midjourney
At first, it was just the occasional soft thud from above. I brushed it off, telling myself the house was just settling. And if I’m being honest, our attic wasn’t really an attic.
It was a room on the third floor that had large windows that Aaron and I had boarded up when we moved in, and there was a thin balcony with a staircase leading to the ground floor.
We assumed that it was a sunroom or an art studio before we moved in.
An empty room | Source: Midjourney
I always planned on turning the space into something for myself, but the opportunity just never presented itself.
I heard another sound, and my breath caught. Old houses creak, right? Maybe a squirrel or two had found their way into the attic. But then, the sounds became more frequent, and more… human.
Whispering, faint but unmistakable.
A squirrell in an attic | Source: Midjourney
One night, lying in bed scrolling through my phone, I heard it.
There it was, a low, guttural moan. My stomach twisted, my breath catching in my throat.
This wasn’t a squirrel. No way.
I grabbed my phone and texted Aaron immediately.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
I think something, or someone, is in the attic!
His reply was just as immediate:
Ella, it’s probably nothing. I’ll check when I get back.
His casual response annoyed me. How could he be so dismissive?
I resolved to ignore the noises, telling myself I was overreacting.
A concerned woman | Source: Midjourney
But a few days later, when I was getting ready for bed, I heard footsteps. Like real, heavy footsteps above me.
That was the breaking point. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for Aaron to come home anymore. What was the point? There could have been someone sleeping under the same roof as me the entire time! I no longer felt safe.
Grabbing the baseball bat we kept in the garage for emergencies, I texted him again, letting him know I was going up to investigate.
A baseball bat in a garage | Source: Midjourney
His response chilled me to the bone.
Ella, please, love. Wait for me to check the attic. It’s really important that I do it.
Why wouldn’t he want me to go up there? What did he know? My mind spun with questions. Was he hiding something? Was I in danger?
Was someone squatting in our home?
A woman looking concerned | Source: Midjourney
Despite the knot tightening in my stomach, I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to know for myself.
With every creaky step up the narrow staircase, my heart pounded harder. I gripped the bat like it was my lifeline and pushed open the door to the attic.
The sight in front of me made me freeze.
There she was. My mother-in-law, Diane!
A narrow staircase | Source: Midjourney
She was standing in the middle of the attic, dressed in a nightgown and robe, holding a paintbrush like a deer caught in headlights.
“What on earth are you doing here?” I shrieked, almost falling over my own feet. “Why did you moan? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
What was going on? Seriously.
An older woman holding paintbrushes | Source: Midjourney
Diane’s face flushed with embarrassment as she dropped the brush and held up her hands.
“Ella! Calm down! It’s not what you think!”
“Not what I think? I don’t even know what I think, Diane! You’re living in my attic?”
She sighed and rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
“I knew this was going to happen, but Aaron just doesn’t listen. Just… just sit down for a second. I’ll explain everything.”
I didn’t move, still gripping the bat, as if for moral support.
My mother-in-law was an assertive woman who rarely seemed fazed by anything. Seeing her look this sheepish was unsettling. After a beat, I slowly lowered myself onto a dusty box, keeping my eyes on her.
A dusty wooden box | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, look,” she began, her voice tinged with guilt. “Your husband is going to kill me for ruining the surprise. But you deserve to know, Ella. Aaron’s been working on something special for you!”
I raised my eyebrow.
“What kind of special involves you squatting in my attic? Are you the new resident ghost?”
She winced.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
“I’m not squatting! Aaron wanted to create a space for you. Like… a space where you could finally turn your baking hobby into something more. He decided to renovate the attic into a studio.”
That caught me off guard.
“What? A studio?”
A woman in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“For your dream, Ella,” she said, gesturing around the room. “Look, this is an attic where we would be able to cook or bake up here. There’s enough room. Aaron wanted to surprise you with a space where you could bake, experiment, and maybe even start selling your creations. But he’s been terrible with design! So he asked me to come over and help. Every day, after you leave for work, I come in and oversee the contractors.”
“Contractors?” I asked.
I felt stupid. Diane was saying things, but my brain just wasn’t processing any of it.
Contractors working in a room | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, contractors. We’ve sorted out the plumbing so that you’ll have a fully functional kitchen. The electricians are coming in next week to sort out the plugs. And I’ve been coming in to decorate and paint and all those cute things…”
Aaron and Diane had been hiding this? Also, how had I not noticed any of it? Was I seriously that aloof?
“But why stay here?” I asked, still suspicious. “In the attic?”
An electrician working | Source: Midjourney
“In the studio, you mean?” she said. “I wasn’t actually staying here full-time. I just kept coming and going through the balcony and the staircase on the side. I didn’t want to keep dropping by and risk you catching on.”
“And the moaning and groaning?” I asked.
Diane bit her lip, looking truly mortified.
An older woman with her hand on her head | Source: Midjourney
“I completely underestimated how tough this would be on my back. The moans were me… stretching, darling.”
I stared at her, trying to reconcile the bizarre reality in front of me. Slowly, I took in the space. The attic, though still a work in progress, was beautiful.
The huge windows were cleaned, all the dust and grime removed, and I could imagine the light streaming in during the day. It would be perfect.
A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney
I took in the half-painted walls which bore whimsical murals of cupcakes and rolling pins. Sketches were pinned everywhere, showing shelves for ingredients, a central island for prep work, and a cozy sitting area by the windows.
Pinned on one board was a blueprint with a title in Aaron’s handwriting:
Ella’s Baking Studio
Sketches on a wall | Source: Midjourney
My throat tightened.
“This is really for me?” I asked.
Diane nodded, her face softening.
“He wanted you to have a space where you could do what you love. He’s been feeling guilty about how busy he’s been with work. He thought this would show how much he appreciates everything you do.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
I sat there in stunned silence as tears pricked my eyes.
Days of paranoia, thinking there was some dark secret lurking in our attic… only to find this?
A gift born from love and thoughtfulness?
Later that evening, Aaron called. I could hear the tension in his voice when he spoke.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Ella, please tell me that you didn’t go up there. I’ll ask Kevin from next door to check.”
“I did,” I admitted. “Aaron… I don’t even know what to say.”
There was a beat of silence, followed by a soft laugh.
“Well, there goes the surprise.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t deserve this,” I admitted.
“According to whom?” he asked. “You’re the glue that holds our family together, Ella. This is just my way of showing you how much I love you. And that you don’t have to stay at your job if you don’t want to. This can be your new start.”
When Aaron came home a few days later, we all worked together to finish the studio. Diane proved invaluable; her eye for décor was something else.
A mural painted onto a wall | Source: Midjourney
The space turned out better than I could have imagined. Every time I step into that sun-kissed studio, surrounded by shelves lined with jars of baking delights, I’m reminded of the love that went into it.
Diane and I have grown closer since that day, though I still tease her about the “attic residency” moment in our lives.
Sometimes, life’s twists aren’t about shocking betrayals or sinister secrets; they’re about uncovering the quiet, unexpected ways the people around us show their love.
A beautiful baking studio | Source: Midjourney
Brenda thought her marriage to a widower would be her chance to build a loving, blended family. But when her young stepson insists his “real mom” is still living in their house, strange occurrences and hidden secrets force Brenda to question everything she thought she knew about her new family.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Nurse Secretly Told Me to Look Under My Husband’s Hospital Bed — What I Found There Made Me Call the Police
During what I thought was a normal hospital visit, my husband’s nurse pulled me aside and whispered: “Listen, I don’t want to alarm you, but… LOOK UNDER YOUR HUSBAND’S BED when you go back to the room.” I wasn’t prepared for what I found and it had me reaching for my phone to dial 911.
I’m still reeling as I write this. Part of me wants to laugh at how ridiculous it all turned out, but the other part? The other part can’t stop replaying every stressful second of last Friday night.
An anxious woman | Source: Midjourney
Ethan, my husband, has been in the hospital for over a week now. He had surgery to fix an old injury that had been bothering him for years — a complication with his hip that finally caught up with him. He’s doing better now, recovering, but it hasn’t been easy. Between working, taking care of the kids, and making sure he’s comfortable, my days have been… hectic, to say the least.
“Mom, when’s Dad coming home?” Tommy had asked that morning, pushing his cereal around his bowl.
“Soon, sweetie,” I’d replied, trying to hide the exhaustion in my voice. “He needs to get stronger first.”
“But I miss him,” Sarah had chimed in, her bottom lip trembling. “It’s not the same without him here.”
“I know, baby. I miss him too. More than you know.” I’d pulled them both into a tight hug, breathing in their familiar scents and drawing strength from their warmth.
A man in a hospital ward | Source: Midjourney
Normally, I visit Ethan in the mornings or afternoons while the kids are at school. But last Friday, my dad offered to take the kids for the night.
“You look like you could use a break,” he’d said, his eyes full of concern. “When was the last time you had a full night’s sleep?”
I couldn’t remember, honestly. But his offer felt like a lifeline. I thought it was a wonderful idea to surprise Ethan with an evening visit. And maybe brighten his day a little.
When I walked into his hospital room, he looked up from his phone and immediately froze.
“Hey,” I said, smiling as I set my bag down on the chair. “You weren’t expecting me, huh?”
A startled man | Source: Midjourney
He blinked a couple of times and gave me a nervous laugh. “No. I mean, uh, didn’t you come earlier today?”
“I did. But I had some extra time, so here I am.” I shrugged, sitting down next to him. “I miss you, you know.”
“Sam…” he whispered, reaching for my hand but stopping halfway. “You shouldn’t… I mean, you must be exhausted. The kids —”
“The kids are with Dad,” I interrupted, studying his face. Something in his expression made my stomach twist. “They miss you so much, Ethan. Sarah cried again this morning.”
His face crumpled for a moment. “God, I hate this. Being stuck here, leaving you to handle everything…”
A woman standing at a hospital ward doorway and waving her hand | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, that’s what marriage is about, right? In sickness and in health?” I tried to joke, but my voice caught slightly.
Ethan smiled, but there was this… I don’t know, distracted look in his eyes. Like his brain was working overtime on something else.
“You okay?” I asked, watching him closely. “You seem… different tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” He picked at the corner of his blanket. “How are the kids?”
We made small talk for a bit, and I peeled an apple for him — his favorite snack. But the whole time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Ethan’s answers were shorter than usual. And he kept glancing at the door.
A door | Source: Pexels
“Remember when we first started dating?” I said, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence. “You used to bring me apples every day because you heard somewhere that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.'”
He laughed, but it sounded strained.
“Ethan,” I reached for his hand again, and this time he let me take it. “Talk to me. What’s going on? Are you in pain? Should I call the nurse?”
A nervous man staring at someone | Source: Midjourney
“No!” he said too quickly, then softened his tone. “No, I’m fine. Really. Just… tired.”
I tried not to overthink it. I figured maybe he was just tired. Surgery takes a toll, right?
But then, on my way to toss the apple peelings in the trashcan outside the ward, I ran into Carla.
Carla is one of Ethan’s nurses. She’s warm, chatty, and the kind of person who instantly puts you at ease. We’d spoken a few times before, but this time, she seemed anxious.
A nurse holding a clipboard | Source: Pexels
She stepped into my path, glancing nervously down the hall before lowering her voice. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Of course. What’s up?”
Her hands were trembling slightly as she fidgeted with her ID badge. “I shouldn’t be doing this. We’re not supposed to get involved in patients’ personal lives, but…”
“Carla,” I grabbed her arm gently, my heart starting to race. “You’re scaring me. Is something wrong with Ethan? Did the tests show something?”
She shook her head quickly. “No, no, it’s not medical. It’s…” She bit her lip. Her eyes darted toward Ethan’s room, and her voice dropped even lower. “Listen, I don’t want to alarm you, but… look under your husband’s bed when you go back to the room.”
I frowned, confused. “Under his bed? Why?”
A confused woman frowning | Source: Midjourney
“Just trust me,” she said quickly, her expression almost pleading. “You’ll understand when you see it.”
“Carla, please,” my voice cracked slightly. “If something’s wrong, just tell me. I can handle it.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, looking over her shoulder. “But you need to know. Just… look.”
She turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, a pit of dread growing in my stomach.
What was she talking about? Was something wrong with Ethan? Was there some kind of secret I should’ve noticed?
“Wait!” I called after her, but she already left, her shoes squeaking against the linoleum floor.
A horrified woman calling out to someone | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath and headed back to the room, trying to act normal. My hands were shaking so badly that I had to shove them into my pockets.
Ethan was lying back in his bed, scrolling through his phone again.
“Everything okay?” he asked as I sat down.
“Yeah. Just threw out some trash.”
But my mind was racing. Carla’s words echoed in my head: “Look under his bed.”
I needed an excuse. Something casual. I quickly grabbed the apple I’d been peeling earlier and pretended to drop it.
A woman holding an apple | Source: Midjourney
“Oops,” I said, crouching down.
That’s when I saw it. My heart stopped.
There, under the bed, were eyes… staring back at me.
At first, I thought I was imagining things. But no. There was a woman crouched there, staring back at me like a deer caught in headlights.
“What the —” I shot to my feet. “Who the hell are you? What are you doing under my husband’s bed?”
Ethan’s heart monitor started beeping faster. “Wait, wait… Samantha, it’s not what you —”
“Don’t you dare ‘wait’ me! After everything we’ve been through? After ten years of being together?”
Grayscale shot of a woman hiding | Source: Midjourney
“Sam, please —”
I didn’t let him finish. “What is she doing here, Ethan?” My hands were shaking as I grabbed my phone. “I’m calling the police. What is this? Some kind of joke?”
The woman scrambled out from under the bed, her face as red as a firetruck. She looked mortified.
“Please!” Ethan started to panic. He reached for my phone, wincing as the movement pulled at his IV. “Samantha, stop. It’s not what you think.”
“Not what I think?” I stared at him, my chest heaving. Tears were burning in my eyes. “There’s a WOMAN under your bed, Ethan! What else am I supposed to think? That she dropped her contact lens under there?”
“Miss Samantha, I can explain —” the woman started.
An angry woman yelling | Source: Midjourney
“How dare you?” I yelled, backing away from both of them. “How long has this been going on? Is this why you’ve been acting so strange, Ethan?”
The heart monitor’s beeping grew more insistent. Ethan shifted in the bed, wincing as he carefully swung his legs over the side. His movements were slow and deliberate, his hands gripping the edge of the mattress for support. The IV pole rattled softly as he stood, unsteady on his feet, his hospital gown fluttering slightly with the effort.
I could see him struggling to keep his balance, his knuckles white as he braced himself. “Please, just listen to me,” he said, his voice trembling. “I can explain.”
An agitated man | Source: Midjourney
“Explain WHAT, Ethan? That you’re cheating on me in a hospital room? While I’m at home, taking care of our children, running myself ragged trying to keep everything together?”
“No! God, no. It’s not like that.” He glanced at the woman, who looked like she wanted to sink into the floor. “Tell her,” he said.
The woman hesitated, then mumbled, “I’m a wedding planner.”
I blinked. “A… what?”
She straightened, still avoiding my gaze. “Ethan hired me to help organize a surprise wedding. For you.”
I stared at her like she’d just spoken another language. “A… wedding? For me? What are you talking about?”
A wedding setup | Source: Pexels
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s true. I’ve been working with her to plan a wedding. For us. A real one.”
“But… but why all the secrecy? Why hide her under the bed like some… some teenager sneaking around?”
“Because you weren’t supposed to be here!” Ethan’s voice broke. “We’ve been planning this for months.”
A sad man | Source: Midjourney
The woman nodded awkwardly. “We were finalizing the details — your favorite colors, flowers, everything. He wanted it all to be perfect. We overheard you talking to someone on the phone outside the ward, and we didn’t want to give away the surprise… so he told me to hide under the bed. I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“I found our old wedding photo the other day,” Ethan continued, his eyes glistening. “Remember? City hall, you in that simple white dress, me in my dad’s old suit? You deserved so much more than that rushed ceremony.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The anger I’d felt moments ago melted into something softer, something that made my chest ache.
A woman overwhelmed with emotions | Source: Midjourney
“You… you were planning a wedding?” I whispered. “All this time?”
Ethan nodded, reaching for my hand. “I know it sounds crazy, but… I just wanted to surprise you. To make you happy. To give you the wedding day you always dreamed about before…”
“Before what?” I pressed, squeezing his hand.
“Before anything else can go wrong,” he whispered. “I love you, Sam. More than anything. I want to marry you again, properly this time, surrounded by our kids, family, and friends.”
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at him. Then, slowly, I started to laugh, tears streaming down my face.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
“You are insane!” I said, shaking my head. “Do you have any idea how close I was to calling 911? I thought… God, I thought the worst.”
Ethan gave me a sheepish smile. “Yeah… sorry about that. Not my brightest moment, having Jessica hide under the bed.”
The wedding planner — Jessica — muttered another apology before slipping out of the room, leaving the two of us alone.
As the door clicked shut, Ethan reached for my hand. “So… what do you think? Still mad at me?”
A woman walking away | Source: Pexels
I squeezed his hand, my heart full. “Mad? No. But you owe me a real explanation… and maybe a drink when we get out of here!” I laughed, then added softly, “And Ethan? I don’t care if we have to have our first dance in wheelchairs when we’re 90. As long as it’s with you.”
He pulled me close, and I could feel his tears dampening my shoulder. “I love you,” he whispered. “Even after ten years, I fall more in love with you every day.”
“I love you too,” I murmured back. “But next time you plan a surprise? Maybe don’t hide the planner under the bed!”
His laughter, warm and genuine this time, filled the hospital room, and everything felt right again.
A couple embracing each other | Source: Unsplash
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