While My Husband Was at Work, the Twin We Never Knew About Came Home Pretending to Be Him

When Marissa opens the door expecting her husband, she’s met by someone identical to him—but something feels off. What starts as a chilling imposter encounter unravels into a buried family secret neither she nor her husband saw coming.

I remember the time because I was scrubbing the kitchen backsplash, lost in lemon-scented foam, wondering if Hayden would remember the oat milk—and maybe bring croissants.

But he wasn’t due home for another three hours.

Wiping my hands, I opened the door. Hayden stood there in his gray hoodie, work lanyard still around his neck.

“Why are you home early?” I asked, stomach fluttering.

“I wasn’t feeling well. My boss let me go.”

He didn’t kiss me. Didn’t call me “sweetheart” or “moonpie.” Just walked inside like he barely recognized the space.

In our bedroom, he rummaged through drawers, ignoring me.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“Something for work.”

“That specific?”

“Yeah… just give me a sec, babe.”

Hayden never called me babe.

Waffles, our cat, appeared in the doorway. She adored Hayden—always curled up against his legs at night. But now, she stopped short, tail fluffed, and hissed.

My blood ran cold. Hayden would never speak about her like that. In fact, I’d bet my life he loved Waffles more than any child we’d ever have.

“Hayden,” I said carefully. “Are you sure you’re okay? Should we go to a doctor? I’ll drive.”