You never expect your life to turn upside down on a regular evening, but that’s exactly what happened to me. My four-year-old daughter, Sally, came running to me with a “thermometer” she found in her dad’s briefcase. Imagine my shock when I realized it wasn’t a thermometer at all. And just like that, the illusion of my perfect marriage shattered into a million pieces.

My husband, Tom, and I have been married for 8 years. We have a sweet daughter named Sally who just turned five. Tom works long hours and often comes home late, while I manage a part-time job and look after our home and Sally. I always believed we had a strong and loving relationship. But one evening changed everything.

Tom had just returned from work, dropped his briefcase by the door, and went outside to work in the yard. I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Sally came running in, clutching something in her tiny hands, her face full of worry.

“Mommy, is Daddy okay? Does he have a fever?” she asked, her big eyes wide with concern.

“Why do you ask, honey?” I replied, puzzled.

“Look! I found this in his bag,” she said, handing me the object.

As soon as I took it from her, my heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t a thermometer. It was a pregnancy test, and it clearly read “Pregnant.” In that moment, my world turned upside down.

“Where did you find this, Sally?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

“In Daddy’s briefcase,” she said innocently, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Is Daddy going to be okay?”