My Teenage Daughter’s Stepdad Kept Taking Her on Late-Night ‘Ice Cream Runs’ – When I Pulled the Dashcam Footage, I Had to Sit Down

Until the weather turned chilly and they continued, I assumed the late-night ice cream outings were just a cute custom between my teenage daughter and her stepdad.

I then retrieved his car’s dashcam footage and learned the devastating truth about their true intentions.

It seemed like Vivian and I were the only ones against the world for a while. I made a self-promise that I would never subject her to such instability again when her biological father came and went from our life.

I was therefore cautious about not jumping into anything when Mike entered our lives.

I was mistaken to believe that would keep us secure.

It seemed like Vivian and I were the only ones against the world for a while.

When Mike proposed, Vivian was five years old.

At that point, we had been dating for two and a half years, and I believed he was ideal.

He was also liked by Vivian. Mike made it simple for me to like him, despite my concerns that she may dislike any male I brought into our lives.

to adore him.

He built Vivian a tree house in the backyard, sat in the front row at all school functions, and became adept at figuring out whether she preferred pancakes or eggs for breakfast.

I believed he was flawless.

I sat Vivian down at the kitchen table to break the news to her after Mike proposed.You are free to call him anything you choose. He’s not taking anyone’s place.”

She gave a sincere nod. “Okay.”

Everything was fantastic for the first couple years.

She and Mike got along so well that she began turning to him first when she had a nightmare or when the other students at school were cruel.

That was encouraging, in my opinion.

To break the news to Vivian, I sat her down at the kitchen table.

When our son was born, Vivian began referring to him as “Dad.”

It just happened, like excellent things sometimes do when you don’t try to force them.

She is now sixteen. No longer a cute little girl.

She is intelligent and motivated. The type of students that educators pull aside to discuss “potential.”

In our house, things has also begun to change. At first, I couldn’t pinpoint the cause, but after some time, I came to believe that Mike had contributed to my sense that something was off in our house.

Specifically, the way he had been handling Vivian.

I sensed that our house was unusual.

I became aware of it for the first time when I brought home some incredible news after a parent-teacher meeting.All of them are advocating APs,” I informed Mike. “English, chemistry, and perhaps calculus early on. Isn’t that fantastic?

Mike gave a nod. “Yeah… but it’s a lot of work.”She’s capable of handling it. This is the crucial moment.

Every night, Vivian would lay out her schoolwork on the dining table.

She kept her books organized and her notes color-coded with a tidy row of highlighters.

I had incredible news when I returned from a parent-teacher meeting.

I was really pleased with her.

However, Mike interrupted me while I assisted her with planning and studying.

Despite her repeated assurances that she was alright, he continued in asking whether she wanted a food or a break.With her nose buried in her books and Mike hovering close by, she would add, “I just want to finish.”

I remained silent. It didn’t appear to be required. We were working toward college, but it was still two years away. I was sure my lady was going places because Vivian was focused.

The ice cream runs then began.

I remained silent.

At first, it appeared innocent because it was summer.

Since she had been working so hard, Mike offered to reward her to ice cream.

It soon turned into a custom.

Returning with milkshakes, they would giggle in the kitchen as if they had just committed the tiniest theft in history.

After long days of studying, I appreciated that she had a little something to look forward to.

Then November arrived.

December follows.

At first, it appeared innocent.

Even when the sidewalks froze and the wind became so harsh that it hurt, Mike would still inquire, “Ice cream run?” while grabbing his keys.

He wasn’t joking, despite what I assumed.”Really?” I once inquired. “In this weather?”

Pulling on her coat, Vivian was already halfway out the door.”I guess so,” Mike responded with a smile.

I began to pay attention at that point.

“Ice cream run?” Mike would still ask, grabbing his keys.What location did you visit? I made one inquiry.”The one by the gas station,” Vivian blurted out.

Another evening, Mike said that Vivian wanted to drive “a little farther” in order to get her thoughts straight.

Little variations, nothing substantial, yet they began to add up.

They were absent for forty minutes one evening. Another evening, about an hour. When Vivian returned, she was quieter than normal and her cheeks were flushed in a way that did not correspond with the cold.

Additionally, the sensation in my stomach persisted.

It was quieter than usual when Vivian returned.

I was being silly, I told myself.

Vivian was behaving like any other teenager and keeping her excellent scores. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something wasn’t right, even if it didn’t make sense.

When Mike drives, the dashcam is always turned on. According to him, it serves as evidence in the event of an accident. for insurance purposes.

After everyone had gone to bed one evening, I sneaked out and stole the memory card.

I had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss.

The entire time, my hands trembled.

The home was quiet as I sat at the kitchen table with my laptop.

“I was being paranoid,” I assured myself.

The video then started to load.

It appeared unremarkable at first, with only a mostly deserted road, the faint wash of streetlights running across the windshield, and Mike’s arm moving slightly as he adjusted the wheel.

“I was being paranoid,” I assured myself.

Only parts of Vivian were visible: the faint contour of her shoulder as they went under a brighter lamp, the flutter of a sweatshirt in the windshield’s reflection when she moved.

They avoided the area around the gas station.

The automobile went down a side street that I knew but couldn’t immediately identify. It was lined with abandoned shops and dilapidated brick structures.

Mike parked.

They avoided the area around the gas station.

As he exited, circled the front of the vehicle, and opened the passenger door just out of frame, the camera continued to roll. Vivian appeared with her back to the camera when a shadow moved.

Together, they made their way to a door at the frame’s edge.

There was a notice outside. I stopped the video so I could look at it.

The indistinct words surrounding the placard was broken up by a slender figure. With her arms lifted and her back arched, it appeared to be a lady.

I stopped the video so I could look at it.

Mike leaned in to talk to Vivian after opening the door. She entered by herself.

Mike paced once, checked his phone, leaned against the building, and then went back to the car.

It was twenty minutes later.

Then thirty.

My hands were numb and my mind was racing as I sat motionless at the kitchen table. Although there was nothing incorrect in the video, it wasn’t sufficient to prove it.

She entered by herself.

What sort of establishment was open at that hour? Why would Mike tell a falsehood about it?

Mike opened the car door for Vivian once more when she emerged. When she chuckled at something he said on the way home, her reflection momentarily appeared in the windshield.

After shutting off the laptop, I sat there in the dark, gazing at my image on the black screen.

That night, I didn’t get any sleep.

By morning, I had seen the video so many times that I thought I might have dreamed some of it.

Why would Mike tell a falsehood?

I pretended to prepare breakfast and pack lunches, but on the inside, I was falling apart.

Instead of providing the answers I had hoped for, the dashcam footage only made my confusion worse.

And I was at my breaking point.

I needed to know my daughter’s situation!

I waited till the following evening after supper.

I needed to know my daughter’s situation!

When I moved, Vivian was arranging her books on the table and Mike was in the living room.Could you join us for a moment, Vivian?

With her hands tucked behind her legs, she perched on the edge of the couch after giving Mike a suspicious look. I got to the point right away.Mike, I stole the memory card from your dashcam. I saw the video of your most recent “ice cream run.”

She looked at Mike warily.

Mike blinked.Would you mind telling me where you’re taking my kid and why you’ve kept it a secret? I went on.

He winced and regarded me with pain. However, Vivian was the first to speak.He is not to blame. I knew you wouldn’t get it, so I made him keep it a secret.”Why wouldn’t I comprehend it?

Vivian’s lips were squeezed together.Would you mind telling me where you’re taking my kid and why you haven’t told me?”One of you must speak up.

I looked from Mike to Vivian. I can assure you that I felt my blood pressure rise.

There was silence between us.”Where have you been taking her, Mike?” I applied pressure.

Mike let out a sigh. He gave Vivian a look. “Sorry, Viv, but we can’t keep this to ourselves any longer.”

I looked from Mike to Vivian.

Vivian gave a headshake. “Please, don’t…”

Mike looked across at me. It’s a studio for dance. Since the summer, Vivian has been attending late lessons there.

The words lingered, unexpected and heavy.”Dance?” I said again.Why didn’t you inform me?

Vivian took a swallow. “Because you would’ve said no.”Don’t, please.What? “What makes you believe that?”since you don’t want me to be content.”

Suddenly, Vivian stood up. “Whenever I want something, you tell me I need to focus on school, study harder, do better… You treat me like I’m a machine!”

I felt as though I had been knocked out cold.”Why do you think that?””My grade average is all that matters to you,” Vivian went on. “I’m just a schedule to you.”That isn’t—”It is true!” Tears were welling up in her eyes.All you want is for me to continue until I break.”

When Mike approached her and drew her into an embrace, she broke down in tears. Despite my desire to disagree, all I could think about were the evenings I had spent sitting at the table with her while she studied, encouraging her to put in more effort and study more. What was it I did?You simply want me to keep going till I give up.”I wiped my eyes, thinking I was doing what was best for you. “I wanted to make sure you succeed…”She and I both understand, but she requires more,” Mike remarked. “She needs room to pursue her passions, too.”But why tell lies? “Why didn’t you speak with me?”You refused to listen, even though I tried. I should have told you about the dance courses, but it seemed more important to make Vivian feel comfortable because she was scared.”She also needs space to follow her passions.

I didn’t want to admit how much that hurt.

I turned to face Vivian again. Now that she had calmed down, she was observing me warily.

I had been mistaken about everything, but at last I realized what I had previously overlooked, and I realized there was only one way to put things right.Would you mind dancing for me? I inquired.

I now realized what I had been missing.

Vivian’s gaze expanded. “Really? Do you wish to see me?if you’d like me to.”

I hadn’t seen her smile like that in months. “All right. Yes, it would be nice.

Mike also grinned.

Vivian, Mike, and I got together that weekend to talk about her workload. We decided that she would continue dancing for as long as she wanted and drop some of her AP subjects.

Although she still had a promising future ahead of her, she now had more reasons to live in the now.

I also saw my baby dance later that week.