I Got Remarried After My Wife Passed Away.

— But When I Returned From a Trip, My Daughter Said: “Daddy, the New Mommy Is Different When You’re Not Here.”

It had been two years since my wife passed away when I decided to try starting over.
My five-year-old daughter, Sophie, and I moved into the spacious house of my new wife, Amelia — a property she had inherited from her late parents.
Amelia seemed like everything we needed: kind, patient, caring. A true ray of light after so much darkness.
At least, that’s how it seemed at first.

A few weeks later, I had to leave on a business trip and was away for seven days.
When I returned, Sophie hugged me tighter than usual and whispered in my ear:
“Daddy, the new mommy is different when you’re not here.”
Her voice trembled, and a chill ran down my spine.

— “What do you mean, sweetheart?” — I asked, kneeling down to look into her eyes.

— “She locks herself in the attic. I hear weird noises from up there… It’s scary. And she says I’m not allowed to go in. And… she’s mean.”

I was stunned.

— “Why do you say she’s mean?” — I asked again, my heart aching.

— “She makes me clean my room by myself and doesn’t give me ice cream, even when I’m good,” Sophie replied, her eyes full of sincerity.

The locked attic caught my attention. I had seen Amelia go up there a few times, but assumed it was just a personal space, something tied to her past.
Now, combining that with her strange behavior toward Sophie, I began to question my own decisions.
Had I made a mistake by bringing Amelia into our lives?

That same night, unable to sleep, I heard light footsteps going up the stairs.
It was Amelia, heading toward the attic.
She entered the room and, to my surprise, didn’t lock the door.

My heart raced. Driven by instinct — and the need to protect my daughter — I got out of bed and followed her upstairs.
I took a deep breath, grabbed the doorknob, and slowly opened the door.

Inside, I found a dimly lit room, draped with old sheets and filled with objects that once belonged to Amelia’s parents.
In the corner, an open wooden box revealed letters, diaries, and old photographs.
But what caught my eye was Amelia kneeling on the floor, silently crying while holding a child’s old dress.

She turned around, startled.

— “You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, eyes red from tears.

— “What’s going on, Amelia?”

She hesitated for a moment, then finally broke down.

— “I lost a daughter… many years ago. She would be Sophie’s age now. I never got over it. Sometimes, when you’re not here… I get lost.”

I remained silent. Suddenly, everything made sense: the coldness, the distance, the unstable behavior.
Amelia wasn’t mean — she was broken.

After that night, we decided to seek professional help. Amelia started therapy, and together we slowly rebuilt her relationship with Sophie — with patience, honesty, and care.

Today, looking back, I understand:
Not all monsters live in the attic.
Some live in our memories — and they need to be embraced, not feared.

📈 Investing: Let Your Money Work for You

Saving money in a regular savings account may feel safe, but it’s often not the most profitable option. Consider other forms of investment such as:

• Stocks and Real Estate Funds: For those seeking long-term growth.
• Cryptocurrencies: High risk and require solid knowledge — never invest without studying.
• Investment Funds: Various options, from low to high risk.
• Government Bonds and CDBs: Safer and offer better returns than traditional savings accounts.

Before investing, educate yourself, understand your profile (conservative, moderate, or aggressive), and never invest money without knowing exactly where it’s going.