Wife Wakes Up from Coma and Surprisingly Points Finger at Her Caring Husband: "It was him" – Story of the Day

"It was him! He tried to kill me!" Sandra awakens from a three-month coma and accuses her husband, Richard, of attempted murder. While Richard faces imprisonment, Sandra uncovers a chilling truth that pushes her to the edge to save herself and her little son, Milo.

Picket fences lined the streets as a warm, golden glow awakened the quaint neighborhood of Willow Grove. Childhood sweethearts turned life partners, Sandra and Richard lived a perfect fairy-tale-like life in their charming colonial-style house nestled in blossoming gardens and towering oak trees.

Their love and togetherness, coupled with the harmony in their house, left neighbors envious and friends in awe. Little did anyone know that beneath the facade of this seemingly picturesque life, a storm was brewing, waiting to shatter every bit of happiness and peace flourishing within the walls of the Carter household…

"Richie, our son's watching us…stop!" Sandra playfully pushed Richard away before he could cuddle with her when the doorbell suddenly buzzed.

Their 7-year-old son, Milo, stood at the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes. "Good morning, Mommy...Daddy!" he groggily said, yawning.

"Hey, champ! Can you get that for me?" Richard asked his son to answer the door.

Milo wobbled to the door and opened it. "There's no one!" he shouted, only to be drawn to a little brown box that lay on the doorstep. Milo curiously picked it up and glanced around, but nobody was in sight.

Sniffling, he ran to his parents with the box in his hand. "Daddy, I found this on the doorstep. It has your name on it."

"A mail for me? Boy, that's weird...it's only half past six! Didn't know mail services in our country were so fast!" Richard chuckled as he grabbed the box.

He settled into the living room while Sandra and Milo were in the kitchen. "Honey, look what arrived. Wonder what it is!" Richard shouted out to his wife.

"What is it, love? I bet it's a card and a gift from a friend of yours...one of those in your gang who always shower us with belated anniversary and birthday wishes every year!"

When Richard chuckled and gingerly opened the box and peeked inside, his eyes bulged in horror, and his face grew ashen in disbelief.

"Hey, Sandra, you might want to see this," he furiously said, forcing words out of his mouth.

"What is it, babe? I'm busy," Sandra approached her husband with a playful smile. "Is it a greeting card?"

Richard handed out a couple of photos, his hands trembling as Sandra's smile faded as soon as she looked at the pictures.

"Wha-What is this?" She stammered, staring coldly at the pictures of her in a bar, passionately kissing a stranger.

"Care to explain this, Sandra?" Richard fumed as he banged hard on the glass table, shattering the glass.

A sharp pain shot through his hand, and droplets of crimson painted the broken shards. But nothing hurt Richard more than his broken heart.

"Richie, I...I don't know what's happening. It's not what it looks like. There's got to be a mistake."

"Not what it looks like? What the hell's going on, Sandra? Photos don't lie. Who is he? How could you cheat on me?"

"Babe, babe, no, no...please, you got it all wrong. This is not what it looks like. That day, I..." Sandra cried and noticed their son was watching everything and crying.

"Milo, honey, please go to your room. Mommy will be with you in a minute. Please..."

As soon as their son disappeared upstairs, Sandra squeezed Richard's shoulder, begging him to believe her.

"I swear, Richard, I have no idea who that man is. I've never seen him before. Please, you have to trust me. I swear I don't have a freaking clue of what's happening."

"Oh, really? He's squeezing your waist and pressing himself on you...DISGUSTING! And you're telling me you don't know him? You expect me to believe this? Jesus, I trusted you. How could you betray me?"

Sandra gazed at the pictures again, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That's not me...I don't remember this."

"Not you? Then is that your body double that freak is kissing?? Answer me, Sandra!"

Shocked and heartbroken, Sandra stood still as the room echoed with her sobs.

"Wasn't I good enough for you? Were you craving for pleasure outside of our bedroom? God, I feel like throwing up. It disgusts me to think about sharing the bed with someone who hooked up with another man behind my back. I want answers, Sandra!"

Richard and Sandra's happiness crumbled in the blink of an eye as suspicion seeped deep into Richard's heart. Although a part of him pressed him to listen to her side of the story before jumping to conclusions, Richard was convinced that the woman in the picture was his wife. And it pushed him to the edge.

"Richard, please, you have to believe me. That's not me in those pictures..."

"Not you? Look at these pictures for yourself, Sandra. You're wearing the same dress I got for you for your birthday. The wedding ring...your dimple...the way you slant your head while kissing! God, it's YOU! Did you two stop at that, or did he take you to bed?"

Unable to take it anymore, Sandra burst into tears and stormed out of the house.

"Sandra, wait...where are you going?" Richard ran after his wife. But by then, she had vanished into the bustling street as Richard quickly got into his car and followed her.

"Where did you think you were going, Sandra?" he angrily approached Sandra. She was sobbing bitterly, leaning on a bench inside the neighborhood church.

"Get the hell up and come home, NOW! You have things to explain. You can't just run away from the truth."

"I don't know how it happened, Richie. I swear. For Christ's sake, please believe me. I haven't seen that man before. I was in the bar...I went a bit overboard with the drinks coz it was my friend's birthday. I don't remember anything else...or the man in the picture."

How can you not know or feel a stranger touching you? Were you so drunk that you couldn't differentiate between your husband and some random guy who was probably hitting on you at the bar? Richard thought as he furrowed his brows.

"Please, I wouldn't cheat on you, Richie. You know how much I love you. I went against my parents to marry you. I'd do anything to prove I'm innocent. Please, don't leave me...or start hating me. Maybe these photos are fake. Don't jump to conclusions without verifying the truth."

Maybe she's right. I need to check if these photos are genuine. Moreover, I can't afford Dad to find out about this, Richard pondered.

His anger slowly faded away, although his suspicions remained.

"Alright, let's go home. We'll talk about this later. Or maybe not talk about it at all coz I don't want my parents to find out about this. Whatever happened stays between us, alright?"

Sandra tearfully nodded.

"We can't let this ruin everything. I run Dad's business...and you know how delicate our reputation is. Keep this to yourself, at least for now, until we figure out who left those photos at our doorstep," Richard continued.

Sandra agreed, understanding the weight of his words and pain. Days turned into weeks as their shared secret became a fragile thread holding together the remnants of their shattered happiness.

Several more weeks passed. Upon returning from a business trip one day, Richard felt weary, haunted by the thoughts of who might have left those pictures on his doorstep.

After taking a moment to compose himself, he entered the living room, flaunting his best smile to greet his son with the new gaming console he wanted.

But upon entering, Richard was taken aback.

"Sandra, are you going somewhere…with our son?" Richard furrowed his brows at seeing Sandra assembling suitcases by the door.

"Stay away from my son!" she yelled at Richard. "You...you were trying to destroy my life. I found out everything about you. You can't trick me anymore. I'll report you to the cops."

"Sandra, cut it! What are you talking about? I don't understand...please, can you explain what's going on?"

As Richard pressed forward, Sandra started to panic. She quickly grabbed her son and hurried out of the house, leaving Richard with more questions than answers.

"Sandra, wait...where are you going? What is wrong with you?" He ran after Sandra.

"I won't let you ruin me anymore. All your plans are foiled. Stay away from us...you scoundrel. YOU ARE NOT MY HUSBAND, RICHARD! Leave us alone!"

Before Richard could understand what was happening, Sandra hurriedly put Milo in the car and drove away. Confused, Richard followed her in his car.

"Sandra, stop! What do you mean I'm not your husband? Is this some kind of sick joke? Stop the car, Sandra. STOP!"

Ignoring his pleas, Sandra floored the gas pedal, driving in full throttle.

Time seemed to freeze as Richard witnessed Sandra's car rolling on the road after ramming into the curb. The sounds of screeching metal and shattering glass were deafening, and his heart pounded wildly.

"SANDRA? MILO? Oh my God..." he cried.

Everything went black for a few agonizing seconds as the gravity of the situation started sinking in. The horrific sounds of the crash echoed in his ears as Richard rushed to Sandra's car.

"911, there's been a terrible accident," he cried into his phone as knots tightened in his stomach. "My wife...and my son. They met with an accident. Please, you have to send help."

Seconds ticked away, feeling like an eternity as Richard awaited assistance for his family. Volunteers and passers-by flocked around the accident scene.

In ten minutes, piercing ambulance sirens blared across the streets as Sandra and her little son were rushed to the City Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

"Mr. Carter?" the doctor's voice snapped Richard to the moment. Startled, he looked up to meet the concerned gaze of the physician.

"Mr. Carter, if you could please come to my office. We need to talk about your wife, Sandra."

The corridor seemed like a never-ending labyrinth as Richard hastily followed the doctor to his office, panic tightening its grip on his heart.

"Mr. Carter, please have a seat. I want to discuss your wife's condition. By the way, how is your son Milo doing? Is he taking the meds on time?"

"He is fine, doctor. He's still using the wheelchair for moving around," Richard replied, his voice filled with fragile hope. "How is she, doctor? Is there any progress?"

The doctor sighed, exchanging a sympathetic glance with Richard.

"What is it, doctor? Is she alright?"

"I'm afraid it's been three months, and Sandra hasn't shown any signs of improvement," the doctor replied. "She's still in a coma. At this point, it's challenging to predict when or...if she might wake up, considering the impact of that crash. We're doing our best...but the rest is...."

A heavy, agonizing silence hung in the room as Richard absorbed the weight of the doctor's words. Reality dawned on him with a crushing force. These three months had been haunting him without answers to all his questions.

Sandra's accusations against him, her sudden outburst when he returned from that trip, and her saying he was not her husband had left Richard yearning for answers.

He disappointedly left the doctor's office, only to run into Detective Hayes, who was handling the case.

"Mr. Carter! Nice to meet you!" He extended a handshake. "I appreciate your time. I understand this is an incredibly challenging period for you and your family."

"Detective, any leads on who could have tampered with the brakes?" Richard asked, his worry evident.

Choosing his words carefully, Detective Hayes stared intently into Richard's eyes.

"We're actively investigating Mr. Carter. It might take some time. But I want to assure you that we'll find out who's responsible for the accident and arrest the culprit."

"In my 25 years of experience, this is the most challenging case I've ever handled...and I'll stop at nothing to bring the truth to light."

"Thank you, Detective. I'm really worried about my wife. It's been three months since she slipped into a coma after the crash."

"Your wife will get the justice she deserves. Don't hesitate to reach out if you remember or notice anything unusual," Detective Hayes said.

Richard nodded and approached his wife's ward. In the dimly lit hospital room, he sat by Sandra's bedside, just watching her lying still. The soft beeping of medical equipment shattered the room's stillness as he gently held her hand.

On the other side, Milo sat quietly in his wheelchair, staring at his mother's face as his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, pressed his shoulder and softly called him over to cut his birthday cake.

The four of them quietly assembled around Sandra, a small blueberry cake adorned with flickering candles illuminating the room. Milo's eyes sparkled with tears as he leaned from his wheelchair to cut the cake together with his Dad.

The boy's innocent birthday wish hung in the air like a fragile whisper. "I wish Mommy comes back to us soon…I miss her!" he whispered, his eyes fixed on his mother as Richard held his little hand and sliced the cake.

"Ah, a birthday celebration!" Detective Hayes suddenly burst into the ward, shattering the poignant silence. "Happy birthday, Milo!"

"I hope I'm not intruding. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, after all!" Detective Hayes grinned.

With a forced smile, Richard turned to him. "Detective, what brings you here?"

"I need to talk to your son Milo, Mr. Carter. We've got a few more questions."

"Look, Detective, Milo's been through enough. We can't be shuttling him to the department for investigation all the time. Can't you give him a break on his birthday? Besides, he already gave you his statement, right?"

"I understand, Mr. Carter. But we're dealing with a serious matter here. I believe Milo might have more crucial information. You were home with your wife on the day of the accident, right?"

Richard was frustrated. "I've told you, Detective. I have nothing to do with Sandra's accident. The brakes failed. Maybe someone did it...or it just failed. I know where this is heading. Do I need to speak to my lawyer? You can't keep disturbing us like this all the time. Go find the culprit. I'm not the one you're looking for. I didn't do it."

"Well, Mr. Carter, I didn't say you did it! You had that clash with your wife Sandra over some pictures, right? Your son Milo mentioned seeing his parents fighting during our investigation."

"That was a misunderstanding, Detective. It's not like all marriages are always smooth sailing out there! Misunderstandings happen in every damn house...it had nothing to do with my wife's accident."

"I'm just doing my duty, Mr. Carter," Detective Hayes said, unwilling to back off. "We need to be thorough and investigate from all perspectives, you see!"

"It's been three months, and it seems like you're only investigating my son and my family instead of exploring other leads. Not on his birthday, please. And why would I try to kill my wife? I agree we had this misunderstanding, but it would never push me to the edge of taking her life. Please investigate with a clear head, not with hallucinations from all your unsolved cases in the past!"

"I don't know the answer to all your questions, Mr. Carter. But mark my words, I will find the culprit very soon. And the day I get him, I'll make sure he never gets out of jail!"

"We'll see!" Richard frustratingly replied as he wheeled his son Milo out of the ward.

Two weeks passed. Richard anxiously marched around the living room when his phone rang. The hospital's caller ID flashed on the screen, and his heart raced as he swiped to answer.

"Mr. Carter, we have good news! Your wife Sandra has regained consciousness!" a hospital staff informed Richard.

"What? Sa-Sandra? She...Oh my God!" Relief washed over Richard and his family. He quickly gathered his emotions and rushed to the hospital with his parents.

Detective Hayes was already there as Richard shakily entered Sandra's ward. Her eyes twitched open as Mr. and Mrs. Carter gathered around her, sighing with relief and smiling, eager to welcome her home.

But the joyful atmosphere shifted abruptly when Sandra's gaze landed on Richard. Her eyes widened in fear, and she recoiled in panic.

"No! Get away from me. IT WAS HIM!" she cried, pointing at her husband.

Richard was bewildered, and his brows arched in surprise. "SANDRA! It's me. What's wrong with you? I've been by your side every moment. I'm so glad that you're okay. Honey..."

"No! You're lying. You tried to kill me. Go away. Take him away. Please, he's going to kill me. Whe-where's my son? Milo?"

"Sandra, snap out of it. I'm your husband, RICHARD! What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this?"

The room swirled with tension, leaving everyone on edge. "Richard, what's your wife saying? Did you...did you really...?" Richard's mother suspiciously turned to him.

"Mom...Dad...What even are you implying? I don't know why she's accusing me. Please, you have to trust me. Why would I...why would I try to kill my wife?"

"We'll figure that out at the station, Sir. We need to talk," Detective Hayes said as another cop signaled Richard to walk toward the police cruiser.

Soon, Sandra was taken for investigation.

Detective Hayes, seated across from Sandra in the interrogation room, leaned forward. "Mrs. Carter, I know this is difficult for you after three months of hospitalization. But we need to understand what happened. Can you walk me through the events from three months ago...before the accident?"

Sandra took a deep breath before starting to speak. "It was a normal day—or at least, I thought it was. Some weeks ago, Richard found some photos...intimate pictures of me with another man. He was furious."

"What happened after that? Did he physically abuse you...I mean, beat you up? Threaten you or something?"

"No! He was angry, that's all. Anybody who'd find such intimate photos of their spouse would be furious. Richard and I have known each other since high school. He loves me to the core. But after we married, I noticed that his love turned into an obsession. He started deciding things for me..."

"Deciding, as in?"

"I was not allowed to meet my friends without his permission. He'd call me at least five or six times a day, saying he misses me, though we'd be away for barely a few hours."

"Then, after we had our son, Richard started acting normal. He inherited his father's business and was occupied with work. Things were fine after that. He wasn't that restrictive. I was allowed to hang out with my friends. Party. Shop. He wasn't controlling anymore. We lived a peaceful life."

"Mrs. Carter, so if everything was indeed okay, why do you think your husband tried to kill you?"

"Because the man who claims to be my husband isn't my husband at all!" Sandra revealed, shocking Detective Hayes and another officer.

"He's Raymond—my husband Richard's estranged twin brother!"

"Your husband has a twin brother?"

"Yes! I bet my in-laws wouldn't have told you about Raymond because he was a piece of work, Detective. He was involved in some shady dealings...and had friends in illegal trades. Before Richard and I married, my in-laws had kicked Raymond out. Heard he lived abroad in their old farmhouse."

"Okay, so how do you know that the man who tried to kill you was your husband's twin brother, Raymond?" Detective Hayes pressed Sandra for more details.

"Three months ago, my husband Richard left for Paris on a business trip. That afternoon after he left, I got this anonymous call from a man," Sandra began.

Three months ago...

The shrill ring of Sandra's phone shattered the stillness of the room. With Richard on his flight to Paris, she hesitated before answering the call from the unknown number.

The storm had just slowly calmed down in her life. Richard had warned her not to answer calls from unknown numbers or let strangers inside the house as they were yet to find out who had sent them those intimate photos of Sandra.

Sandra ignored the calls but mustered the courage to answer when her phone rang the umpteenth time.

"Hello?" she nervously spoke.

"Hi Sandra, you don't know me. But I know you well. You need to listen carefully," a man spoke, his grim voice shuddering Sandra.

"Wh-Who is this?" she nervously whispered.

"Consider me your savior!" The man chuckled.

"Sorry, I think you've got the wrong number..." Sandra hurriedly said, eager to hang up, only to press the phone against her ear, her heart racing, when the man continued to talk.

"7744 Willow Grove...Main Street. That's your address!" the man added.

"H-How do you know my address? What do you want? Who are you? Leave me alone!" Sandra cried.

"This is not a joke, Sandra. Meet me at Riverside Café at five today. There's something you must know about your husband."

"He-Hello??" Sandra gasped.

The accuracy of the address sent shivers down her spine. The line went blank, and although Sandra tried calling back again, the automated voice on the other end declared, "The number you have dialed is not in service."

Sandra ignored the call, thinking it was a prank. Suddenly, a text flashed on her phone screen.

"5 p.m sharp. Riverside Café. I'll be waiting for you."

Confused and unnerved, Sandra grabbed her handbag and drove to the spot that evening. The café buzzed with laughter and chatter when she arrived, tension knotting in her stomach.

She sat anxiously at a table by the window and scanned the street outside. Sandra gazed at random people entering the eatery and clutched her phone tight, anticipating a text or call from the stranger.

A waiter approached her table a few minutes later and handed her a discreet parcel.

"Ma'am, this is for you. I was told to deliver it to you."

"Who gave this to you?" Sandra anxiously asked the waiter.

"A man wearing a mask. I didn't see him clearly…He just handed me the envelope and left."

Sandra craned her neck to see, but the mysterious man had already disappeared. Her hands trembled as she took the envelope.

She shakily opened it and froze in her chair at seeing the same intimate photos of her kissing a stranger at a pub. Sandra was electrified with shock and immediately stashed the photos in her handbag.

Beads of sweat broke out on her temples when her phone let out a loud ring, an unknown number flashing on her screen.

"What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?" Sandra cried into the phone.

"I told you I was your savior, Sandra!" The stranger chuckled. "This is nothing compared to the shock you'll experience now. That woman in the photos who looks like you...is not really you! Your husband's twin brother, Raymond, set you up by morphing your photos...and left them on your doorstep."

"Mmm-My husband's twin brother, Raymond?" Sandra gasped in horror. "Why...why would he do this? Who are you...and how do you know all this?"

"You're not in the spot to question me, Sandra. I just want to help you out. How about I call you later this evening with more revelations? Let me drop a little bombshell—Raymond is watching your every move, so you might want to lock all your doors and windows tonight!"

"Hello? Hell-Hello?" Sandra gasped, but the line went blank.

She hurriedly drove home and shut all the doors and windows. She refused to let Milo out of the house to play with his friends. Sandra paced back and forth in the living room, anticipating the call from the stranger, when her phone buzzed.

"That was quick, Sandra!" the guy laughed. "I'm glad you trusted me and are willing to talk."

"Look, I don't know why you're doing this. If this is some kind of stupid prank, I'll make sure the cops find you," Sandra barked.

"Patience, Sandra! God, for once, won't you listen to me fully? I told you your estranged brother-in-law is watching you...and you wouldn't want to mess with the wrong person at the wrong time! I'm just trying to protect you."

"Listen, I don't have time for this nonsense. Why are you not showing yourself if you're telling the truth? How am I supposed to trust you? My brother-in-law is in Austin. You're lying."

"I've left a small surprise at your doorstep, Sandra. Take a look. I bet you wouldn't want to miss the thrill! I'll call you in five minutes."

As the call ended, Sandra nervously opened the front door and found an envelope on the porch. She hurried back inside and hastily pulled out the contents, only to freeze in disbelief.

Five minutes later, the stranger called her again. "Liked the surprise!"

"What do you want from me? I'm gonna call the cops. Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Sandra fixed her gaze at a handful of photos of her and Richard.

"You saw him, right? Your brother-in-law, Raymond...in those photos? He was watching you and your husband all the time, Sandra," the stranger spoke, shuddering Sandra's bone and flesh.

"Raymond wasn't in Austin at all like how you and your husband thought. He was in the same town, keeping vigil over you like a hawk waiting to catch its prey."

"Why...why would he stalk us?" Sandra cried.

"Coz he wants you!"

"What??"

"Remember how you and Richard almost broke up in your senior year due to some misunderstanding...after you saw photos of Richard kissing another girl? It was Raymond's doing! While you were madly in love with Richard, his twin brother Raymond was madly in love with you, Sandra!"

"What? Oh my God! This can't be happening...H-how do you know all this?"

"That's not important at the moment! Raymond tried his best to create some misunderstandings between you and Richard. But nothing worked. Things went in a downward spiral for Raymond when he was kicked out of the house due to his involvement in illicit activities and associations with people doing illegal business.

"And tell you what? Raymond was a mess at your wedding! He couldn't stand watching you and Richard wed."

Beads of sweat trickled down Sandra's cheeks as she stared at her wedding photo on the table. "What does he want from us?"

"He wants you...and his son!"

"HIS SON??" Sandra's gaped in horror.

"Yeah! The boy you and Richard have been raising is Raymond's son. Raymond long knew that your husband was infertile and that you both were opting for an IVF. Raymond was the sperm donor for your IVF, Sandra."

"Oh my God! Why? Why did he do this?"

"Coz he always longed for love and attention throughout his life. But he was constantly sidelined by his family...his parents, friends, even his brother. That's when he met you. He secretly loved you, but when he realized you would never be his, he decided to make you his and waited all these years!"

"I've been watching Raymond closely. Consider me as his close friend. But after learning the horrific things he did to break your marriage with Richard, I decided to reach out to you and help you out."

"God, this can't be happening. I'm calling the cops. My husband's returning tomorrow from his business trip. I'll make sure he finds his brother and gets him arrested for stalking us..."

As Sandra pressed the caller for more details, the line went blank. She decided to wait for Richard to return, only to get another horrifying call from the stranger the following afternoon.

"Sandra, the man getting down from the car outside your house...he is not Richard. He's RAYMOND! He kidnapped your husband on his way to the airport. Hurry up! Take your son from there and run, Sandra! Run! He has a gun with him. Run for your life! He might kill you and your son."

Before Sandra could process the thrill and assemble her suitcases to leave the house immediately with her son, the front door burst open, and in walked Richard.

"Hey, honey!" he approached Sandra as she recoiled in shock.

"Daddy! You're home!" Milo ran downstairs.

"Milo, step back," Sandra nervously pulled her son to her side.

"Stop! Stay right where you are. Don't come near us," Sandra cried out. Her heart raced wildly when Richard pulled out the gun.

"Are you scared of this? It's licensed...for defense purposes. After the string of strange things that's been going on, I decided to have this thing around for safety, just in case..."

"Stop! Don't come close. I found out everything about you. You can't trick me anymore. You're not Richard!"

Sandra grabbed Milo and bolted to the car before speeding down the streets in full throttle.

Present day...

"He was chasing me. I had to save my son from him. I was scared he'd kill both of us. I drove really fast. I lost my balance and rammed onto the curb..." Sandra recounted, staring at the scar on her hand.

Just then, Detective Hayes received a call. "Mrs. Carter, we need to get you home. Hurry up!"

When Sandra entered her house, her eyes grew wide with disbelief and happiness at seeing her husband, Richard, waiting for her with his parents in the living room.

"RICHARD! Is it really you?" she cried and hugged him.

"Yes! It's me, honey. I'm so glad to see you. I managed to escape from my brother's confines. He had set his men up to watch over me. I was locked up in a cabin in the woods. It took me so long to trick and tackle those bad guys...I'm so sorry I put you through this. I should've believed you. Mom and Dad told me everything."

"Oh my goodness! I thought I'd lost you, Richie," Sandra showered her husband with hugs and kisses.

"Milo? Where's our son?"

"Daddy!" Milo wheeled to his father and hugged him as soon as he returned home from school.

The family hugged each other for a few minutes, relief and peace washing over them.

"It was a nightmare...but I knew I had to find a way back to you...and our son," Richard cupped Sandra's face after returning from the station.

"I can't believe you're here, Richie. I missed you so much. If you weren't here with me today, I'd regret waking up alive from that coma," Sandra's eyes brimmed with tears.

"I missed you too, sweetheart!" Richard hugged Sandra.

"I still can't believe your brother would stoop so low. He was with us these three months, pretending to be you. Can you believe this?"

"It's gonna be alright, honey. Don't worry. I'll never leave your side. I'm glad my evil twin brother Raymond is behind bars now. With strong evidence against him, it'll take him years to come out on parole...Finally, he got what he deserved for trying to ruin our family."

"We've been through a lot, and I think it's time for a fresh start," Sandra looked up at Richard. "Let's leave the past behind and move on."

"A new beginning sounds perfect! How about we leave this town and go abroad...maybe we can live in Austin...in Dad's old farmhouse?"

"The farmhouse in Austin where your brother lived? No, let's go somewhere else...not there," Sandra frowned.

"Ah, c'mon, honey! Raymond's in jail. Besides, that farmhouse actually belongs to us. Dad just sent him away to live there to keep him out of family affairs. It's going to be okay... you'll love that place."

The couple packed their bags a few days later and left for Austin with their son. They arrived at the farmhouse, and at first sight, Sandra loved the quietness around.

"I told you! This place is wonderful for a quiet family life," Richard smiled as he hugged and kissed Sandra. "We launched a new franchise here in town...and I'd be taking care of it!"

"Wow! That's great news, Richie!" Sandra hugged him.

Days turned into weeks as the family started living peacefully in the countryside. That's when Richard decided it was time to go down to the basement to deal with some unfinished business.

Finally! Nobody can even guess I am not who I claimed I was! He wickedly laughed, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

Raymond! Raymond! Raymond! Bravo on the perfect disguise! Now you're gonna have everything they said you CANNOT have while your sweet, innocent twin brother Richard rots in jail for the things he NEVER did!!

Amidst the eerie silence of the cellar, Raymond's laughter echoed like a sinister symphony as he assembled the papers he'd been practicing his brother's fake signature, photographs of Sandra, and every incriminating piece of evidence that could expose him into a trashcan.

Congratulations, Raymond! You're all set to live your life the way you always wanted...in your brother's shoes!

Raymond poured gasoline over the trashcan and struck a match, setting the contents ablaze, a wicked grin beaming on his face.

Time to erase any trace of the truth! He laughed.

As the flames flickered with a sinister glow, Raymond ascended the stairs, slamming the door behind him, a triumphant spark on his face.

"Where were you? Dinner is ready! I didn't see you around for a long time?" Sandra curiously asked as Raymond settled for dinner.

Little did Sandra and Milo know that the man they believed to be Richard was, in reality, his estranged twin brother — Raymond.

"I...I had an important work call. Clients and scheduling meetings, you know!" he lied and Sandra believed him.

The family quietly ate and retired to their room.

Several days passed. Sandra adjusted to her new surroundings and expressed her desire to welcome another child into the family.

"That's a great idea, honey!" Raymond chirped as he grabbed his phone.

"I've always wanted Milo to have a baby brother or sister! Your period tracker indicates peak fertility this week. Guess it's time for baby-making! How about we turn tonight into a memorable one?"

But Sandra wasn't as excited, and something didn't feel right.

"I was talking about adoption, Richie," she arched her brows suspiciously.

Only then did it strike Raymond — his brother Richard was infertile with very slim chances of having his own child.

Raymond's smile faded, and he knew he had to come up with a quick lie.

"Oh, I was just kidding, babe! Yeah, why not? But let's not rush with adoption. Give it some time...Milo's just started to walk slowly without the crutches and wheelchair."

Sandra nodded silently and went to bed, haunted by her husband's reaction when she expressed her desire to have another child.

Although Sandra brushed aside the night's incident, the dinner the next day was going to be an eye-opener for her.

"Hey, careful with the knife, champ!" Raymond grabbed a sharp knife from Milo. "You have to be extra careful while using sharp knives...see...this is how you cut apples!"

"Thanks, Daddy!" Milo chirped.

"Ah, anytime, buddy. Always your SAVIOR!"

Sandra dropped the bowl she held into the sink and froze for a minute.

"Savior?" she gasped.

The tone seemed hauntingly familiar as Sandra recalled the stranger who had ominously used the same word when tipping her off about Raymond.

She turned around and stared into Raymond's eyes, trying to shake her head off her thoughts. Something felt oddly familiar, yet out of place.

With suspicions consuming her, she sent Raymond to work the following morning and waited until his car disappeared down the street. Once he was gone, she hurried to their bedroom and checked every nook and cranny.

As she cautiously looked, Sandra stumbled upon a hidden compartment in the wall. A trove of documents and personal items that didn't match Richard's identity emerged. Among them was a pair of glasses that left her puzzled and suspicious.

Richard never uses glasses. Whose are these glasses then? she wondered, putting the glasses back in place. Only then did she recall seeing Raymond wearing similar glasses in high school.

"Hey, honey, I'm home!" Raymond returned home that evening with a bouquet of roses.

"What's wrong? Babe, are you alright? Are you running a fever or something?" He asked Sandra as she withdrew, faking a smile.

She looked him in the eye and noticed he was wearing contact lenses, which was something Richard had never worn before.

"You're wearing contact lenses...and you didn't tell me?"

"Oh, that! I told you my brother held me captive in some dark cabin. I developed some eyesight issues because of that...and started wearing contact lenses to improve my vision. Why? Is something wrong?"

"No! I just asked. You look different...I mean, with the lenses on."

"So, where did you say your brother had held you captive, Richie?"

"The cabin in the woods!"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot! I think there's a police checkpost near the woods, right? I mean, nobody saw him taking you there? I think the department needs to open its eyes wide and see what's going on around them!"

"Don't remind me about that!" Raymond sighed. "Those days in the cabin...they were nightmares. I'm glad my brother's behind bars for his crimes."

"Alright! Let's not talk about him," Sandra feigned a smile.

"So, I'm so excited about next week!" she said, her voice laced with suspicion as she looked Raymond in the eye.

"Oh, why?"

"Richie? Did you forget what's next week?" Sandra rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you forgot our anniversary?!"

"Oh, yeah...yeah! It's our wedding anniversary. I completely forgot about it, babe. I'm so sorry. I'm all worked up after moving in here...you know."

Sandra's face was drained of color. She and Richard celebrated the first day they met in high school as their special anniversary every year. And this was the anniversary she had meant, not their wedding anniversary.

Seeing the reaction on Raymond's face raised alarms in Sandra's mind.

"Babe, you like these flowers? I got them for you!" Raymond pulled Sandra into a tight hug.

"Yeah, I like them. Richie, I have some work in the kitchen. I wanted to run to the grocery. If you don't mind, can I take Milo along?"

"Of course, honey! Why are you asking me all this? Feels so weird!'

"Alright, we'll be back in a heartbeat. Bye!"

Sandra drove Milo to the grocery two streets away and immediately called Detective Hayes.

"I know, Detective...I know this might sound weird. But I think we have put the wrong person behind bars. I don't know how to put this...I suspect the man with me, claiming to be my husband, Richard, is his twin brother, Raymond."

"My son and I can never get out of here coz he's hidden our passports. Please, you have to help us before he does something to us...Alright...I'll do as you say. Please, help us before he does something to us..."

Sandra bought some vegetables and returned home with her son, faking a smile at seeing Raymond waving at them from the porch.

"What took you so long? I was so worried!"

"Traffic, honey!" Sandra lied, pulling herself together like Detective Hayes had advised to evade suspicion.

Suddenly, Raymond's phone let out a loud ring.

"Are you sure? How did this...how did this happen?" he barked into the phone.

"No, it's not fine. He might be on the lookout for us...seeking revenge. I don't care what you do...you have to find that rogue and put him behind bars."

"Honey, what is it?" Sandra asked Raymond, pretending she did not know it was Detective Hayes on the other end of the line.

"My brother Raymond...he escaped prison."

"What? Oh my God...how did this happen? I'm so scared. What if he comes here to get back at us?" Sandra gasped and played along.

"Don't worry. The cops will find him. I won't let him lay a finger on you!"

Sandra watched as Raymond sat up in bed all night, looking agitated. The anxiety in his eyes confirmed her worst fears.

The following morning, Raymond opened the door to collect his newspaper and found an anonymous envelope instead.

"What is it?" Sandra approached him.

Raymond tore open the envelope and found a chilling note:

"I know your dirty secret, RAYMOND! I will make you pay for everything you did to me."

"Richie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's something work-related," Raymond lied while tucking the note into the envelope.

Sandra watched as Raymond hurried to the balcony and called Detective Hayes.

"Is your department sleeping? My brother is stalking us. I think he's here in Austin. Are you going to find him, or shall I take things into my own hands and deal with that scoundrel?"

"Mr. Carter, what are you talking about? I was just about to call you to inform you that we've captured Raymond. He's back in jail!"

"What? How is it possible?" Raymond exclaimed. "Look, I don't trust you. I need to see him behind bars with my own eyes."

Raymond angrily hung up and booked flight tickets to his hometown that very evening.

"Honey, I believe Detective Hayes. What's the hurry? Please, let's not go there," Sandra said, pretending to dislike the sudden trip back to their hometown.

"I can't be at peace until I see that rogue behind bars, Sandra."

As soon as they arrived back in town, Raymond sent Sandra and Milo home to his parents before rushing to the prison.

He anxiously approached the cell where Richard was confined.

"Good gracious, you're in jail!" he sighed.

"You're going to rot in jail for doing this to me, Raymond," Richard seethed from behind his confines, staring daggers at his twin brother.

"Oh, really?! Do you think you can easily come out of prison when I'm around, BROTHER?!" Raymond laughed. "Come here, let me tell you a little secret."

"I staged everything! I was the one who called your sweet wife anonymously, giving her tips about myself. I made her believe that you were me...and that you were going to kill her and the boy!"

"Want to hear more? Then listen! I was the one who tampered with the car brakes to kill you. But my bad...Sandra got in the car and drove away with her son. I was scared she'd die. Thank goodness she survived."

"But you were still alive like a freaking thorn in my way. I decided to get rid of you and waited for the right time. But Sandra made my job much easier by waking up from her coma and testifying against you, thinking you were Raymond!"

"Aren't you ashamed of lusting after your brother's wife, Raymond? How disgusting! Mom, Dad, and we all loved you. We only wished for your happiness, despite you going down the wrong track all the time," Richard fumed.

"You liar! Nobody loved me. I was ignored...our parents always put you over me. Do you know how it hurt me every time there was a freaking celebration in our house and I wasn't called to be a part of it?" Raymond seethed.

"The loneliness around me was killing me. That's when I saw Sandra. When I first saw her all those years ago, I knew she was the one. I wanted to make her mine...but YOU came in my way again…like you always did. What did she see in you that I lacked? You're infertile...you can't even have your own kid! But she still loved you."

"ENOUGH!" Richard barked.

"I wanted to take your place at your wedding. But our parents kicked me out before that. I waited for years to get back at all of you for depriving me of the love I wanted. And Sandra? She ignored me like I didn't exist. I wanted her to taste the bitter consequences of choosing you over me...by spending the rest of her life with me, thinking I was YOU!"

"Your jealousy has blinded you, Raymond. The truth will always come to light no matter how hard you try to hide it."

"Oh, really?! How I pity you, my stupid brother! Yes, I was jealous. Jealous of the life you enjoyed...the family...love. And Sandra! You lived a perfect life while our parents sent me to rehab…I wanted everything I was once deprived of! I'll make sure you never come out of these confines, Richard!"

"Thanks for confessing to everything, Raymond!" Richard suddenly laughed, cutting through Raymond's speech. "The cops would've recorded a copy of your confession!"

Fear gripped Raymond like icy fingers when Richard pulled a hidden camera from his jumpsuit and a voice recorder from his pocket.

"Raymond, you're under arrest for conspiracy and fraud!" The clinking sound of handcuffs echoed through the prison corridor as Detective Hayes arrived with the cops.

The officers surrounded Raymond. As he was led away in handcuffs, the officer turned to Richard. "You're free to go, Mr. Carter."

Just as Richard left the prison, Sandra, Milo, and his parents rushed to him. The deafening silence around shattered as the family hugged Richard tightly and cried.

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

Parents Kate and Justin are pushed to the edge of their fears when their 8-year-old son Tommy mysteriously disappears from school. Things take a sour turn when their family dog brings the boy's backpack with a bone-chilling note. Here's the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.