I Discovered 13 Mysterious Candles and My Photo in My MIL’s Basement—The Shocking Truth
It was just supposed to be a regular family celebration—my mother-in-law’s birthday. But when I went into the basement, I found something shocking: a ritual that made me question everything, especially the woman who raised my husband.
Honestly, this was wild! My mother-in-law has really lost it!
So, here’s what happened.
It was Jane’s birthday party. The whole family was there, and everything seemed fine. People were laughing, drinks were flowing, and she was acting sweet and welcoming.

You know, typical family stuff. I had only been married to Willis for a month, so I was still figuring out the whole in-law situation and trying to get along. But if someone had told me earlier what I was about to find, I would have thought they were joking.
Willis and I were in the living room with the guests when Jane, my mother-in-law, casually mentioned we were out of wine.
“Chelsea, dear, could you and Willis go down to the basement and get some bottles for the guests?” she asked, smiling in that warm but slightly forced way she always did. I didn’t think much of it, so I nodded and followed Willis downstairs.

The moment we stepped into the basement, something felt off. Maybe it was the musty smell, the dim lighting, or just a feeling deep in my gut telling me to leave. There was an eerie silence that hung in the air like a bad sign. I glanced at Willis, but he seemed completely unaware of anything unusual.
He walked straight to the wine rack, chatting about how his mom loved a good Chardonnay, while I lingered by the stairs, looking around. That’s when I saw it.

In the far corner of the basement, past the shelves of old family albums and dusty boxes, was a small table. On it sat a framed photo of… me.
“Uh, Willis?” I called out, my voice a bit shaky.
“What’s up?” he replied, still focused on grabbing a bottle.
“There’s a picture of me over here…”
He stood up, holding two bottles of wine, and walked over, looking confused. I pointed to the table, and that’s when he noticed it too.
“Why is your picture here?” he muttered. That’s when I spotted the candles.

Thirteen candles. Eight were lined up in front of my photo, one in each corner of the room, and one right in the center, right on the floor.
“What the hell?” I whispered, feeling my stomach drop. “Why are there candles? And why are they all around my photo?”
Willis blinked, just as shocked. “I…I don’t know. This is weird.”
“Weird?” I snapped, my voice rising. “This is more than weird, Willis! This is freakin’ creepy!”

I rushed to the table, my heart racing with questions. Why would Jane have a picture of me like this? Was it some sort of ritual? A strange family tradition? Or something darker?
I turned to Willis, my heart pounding, feeling like I had stepped into a horror movie. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with disbelief, as if he had seen something much worse than just a weird setup of candles and my photo.

“Willis,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “What… What is this? What’s happening?”
He didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, staring at the candles, his breathing shallow. I could see the panic building in his eyes, the kind of fear that freezes you.
“Willis?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “Please, talk to me.”
Finally, he turned to me, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out. After what felt like forever, he spoke, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I… I think my mother’s been using a spell,” he stammered.

“A curse?” My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
He took a deep breath, clearly struggling with whatever awful truth he was about to share. “My grandmother… she was into all this—this dark stuff. Witchcraft, curses, spells. I—I never believed it, but…”
He ran a hand through his hair, his voice almost breaking. “She taught my mom everything. And I think—Chelsea, I think my mom’s been trying to curse you.”
I stared at him, my mind racing. “Curse me? For what?”

I blinked, and there it was: positive.
“Willis!” I shouted, barely able to contain my excitement. “Willis, come here!”
He rushed in, panic flashing across his face. “What? What’s wrong?”
I held up the test, my hands shaking. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks.
For a moment, he just stared at me, his mouth hanging open in shock. Then his face broke into the biggest smile I had ever seen.
“You’re—wait, we’re—” He stammered, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. “We’re having a baby?!”
CEO Asks One Question That’s an ‘Instant Red Flag’ If Interviewees Try to Answer It

Interviews are dreaded by many job seekers, particularly the infamous “curveball” questions used by recruiting managers and CEOs. The CEO and creator of JKR Windows, an American window installation company, Jefferson K. Rogers, has drawn notice for his unusual interview technique: a trick question intended to weed out unsuitable applicants.
“Impossible” Question: An Assessment of Sincerity and Coachability
Rogers posted his unique approach to interviews on his TikTok channel. He asks a question that he is certain the interviewee will be unable to respond to right away. Although the exact question is still unknown, Rogers stresses that there is no “right” response. The twist is this: The CEO is more interested in the candidate’s approach to the unknown than in knowledge.

What He Looks For:
Sincerity: Is the applicant willing to acknowledge when they don’t know the solution?
Openness: Are they amenable to picking up new skills?
Coachability: Are they open to direction and instruction?
A candidate who tries to make up an answer, in Rogers’ opinion, is showing signs of a potentially troublesome personality—someone who is resistive to learning or hesitant to acknowledge their shortcomings.
Divergent Responses on Social Media
Although Rogers describes this technique as a useful means of determining fit, TikTok users had a variety of reactions.
Supporters: Some argue that the strategy is advantageous because it shows a candidate’s coachability and willingness to learning.
Critics: According to others, it’s a bad strategy that could stop competent applicants from attempting to solve a problem or show their resolve by trying to provide a response. Furthermore, others consider the approach to be manipulative, arguing that it puts a particular response ahead of a true comprehension of the role.
Different Methods for Evaluating Fit
Although the “impossible question” generates discussion, there are alternative methods to assess a candidate’s fit for a role:
Behavioral Interviewing: Highlighting the candidate’s prior experiences and how they responded to particular circumstances can provide important context for understanding how they solve problems and approach new tasks.
Skills-Based Evaluations: An applicant’s suitability for a position can be determined immediately by testing pertinent abilities such technical proficiency, communication, and critical thought.
Fit Between the Work Style and Values of the Company: An interview’s questions and exchanges can reveal whether a candidate’s work style and values complement the company’s culture.
The success of any interview technique ultimately depends on the particular position and business. Although Rogers’ deceptive question might be useful to his organization, it’s crucial to think about other approaches to guarantee a thorough interview process that draws in and selects the top candidates.
Leave a Reply