Paulo had always been the light of my life, and seeing him married brought a happiness I thought would last forever. His wedding to Mira in Batangas was modest but heartfelt, filled with the kind of laughter and tears that mark life’s most cherished milestones. Mira seemed perfect from the start—gentle, polite, and always smiling. She greeted everyone with warmth, treated our family with care, and seemed to belong effortlessly.

Even the neighbors spoke highly of her, praising her grace and thoughtfulness. I often found myself telling my friends at the market how blessed we were to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law. She appeared to fit seamlessly into our lives, someone who would share both joy and sorrow alongside us. But just days after the wedding, small, strange behaviors began to appear, behaviors that hinted at secrets Mira was keeping, secrets I could not yet comprehend. It started with the sheets. Every morning, without fail, Mira would remove all the bedding from our small bedroom, wash it meticulously, and hang it out in the sun. Sometimes, she replaced the sheets twice a day, insisting that cleanliness brought her peace.