We have nothing to ask of you.
We dont want anything from you.
Son, think carefully before its too late! That boy doesnt resemble you at all! Your Alice must have had this child with her ex and now wants you to raise it! I know its true!
Mom, enough! Damien is my son Why are you always looking for drama? Fine, Im heading home.
MarieCatherine raised her son alone. Between her and Alexandre, they enjoyed an excellent relationship: he never disrespected her, never contradicted her, and always excelled at school. As he grew, he became an engineer, just as his mother had wished. It was now time to tend to his love life. MarieCatherine arranged a fiancée for him, a charming young woman named Louise, the daughter of her friend Antonine.
At his mothers urging, Alexandre and Louise began seeing each other, but the romance never truly blossomed. After several difficult months they broke up. Then Alexandre met Hélène. Their connection was instantaneous; he immediately recognized in her a spirit akin to his own. They married after three months, much to MarieCatherines dismay. Six months later, Hélène became pregnant. A boy was born, and they named him Damien. Everything could have been perfect if it werent for the motherinlaw who despised her daughterinlaw. At every meeting she criticized her son, even though four years had passed since the wedding:
Look at what shes done to you! You always seem neglected
Mom, Im not neglected! The shirt just got a little creased in the wash
Sit down, have something to eat! Your wife probably didnt cook, and youll go hungry.
Mom, Ill eat at home. Hélène cooks well.
I know her! Storebought steaks or, worse, ravioli. Meanwhile Louise signed up for pastry classes. What a genius, she
Alexandre deflected his mothers attacks as best he could. He ignored her gossip and never passed her complaints on to his wife, since they were unfounded. Yet MarieCatherine continued her cold war against her daughterinlaw. One day her tactics finally bore fruit
Good morning, son Why does your Hélène never visit me? You always come alone!
Mom, how could she come here when you criticize her constantly?
Id criticize if I had a reason, trust me! While youre sipping tea, shes probably spending time with her ex. I know who she saw before you. That goodfornothing Christophe! The little boy looks like that man. She had him first, and now youre feeding him.
That evening Alexandre had a fierce argument with his mother. Hed had enough of the relentless criticism and rumors. He returned home in a foul mood.
Dad, dad, hi! little Damien ran to him.
Hey, son. What happened today? What did you do?
Mom and I went to the park. There was Mr.Christophe. He bought me a chocolate and some juice!
The notion that his mother might be right crossed Alexandres mind. Later that night he asked his wife:
Why did you see your ex?
Alex, it was a chance encounter. We were walking, he happened to be there. We chatted a bit, then he walked us home.
But why would my wife and my son be escorted home by him? Maybe Damien isnt my son at all, but his?
Alex, why are you saying that? Are you serious?
That night the couple fought bitterly, the first serious clash since their wedding. From then on arguments became common in their house. Eventually Hélène had enough, gathered her things, took the boy, and moved back to her parents home in her hometown.
A divorce followed, and Alexandre was forced to pay alimony. He was convinced the child wasnt his, yet he never tried to prove it legally; he simply paid. MarieCatherine rejoiced, launching a massive campaign to revive the connection between her son and the famed Louise, whom she regarded as the perfect daughterinlaw.
She succeeded, and Alexandre married Louise. But the new marriage quickly turned turbulent. Louise constantly criticized Alexandre, demanding an extravagant lifestyle.
Look at Irènes husband, already buying her a second fur coat! The Surkovs have a new luxury car! And here I am, shivering in my old winter coat, driving a cheap car! Are you even a man?
Thus fifteen long years passed. Alexandre toiled on two construction sites while Louise lounged at seaside resorts, refusing to want children, saying she wanted to live for herself first and then see what happened. Seeing this, MarieCatherine tried to impose stricter rules, but Louise promptly put her in her place.
One day Alexandre received a call from the hospital: his mother, MarieCatherine, had suffered a stroke and was rushed in. She was gravely ill, needing home care after discharge. Louise immediately declared:
Im not going to spend days and nights at that old womans bedside. We should put her in a care facility.
Louise, maybe I should stop working
Have you lost your mind? How will we live? I still have four years left on my car loan
In the end, MarieCatherine was placed in a retirement home, Alexandre went back to work far away, and Louise stayed behind. A month later MarieCatherine passed away. Alexandre returned to say goodbye, so upset he forgot to tell his wife he was coming. When he opened the door with his keys, he found his partner in the arms of the neighbor Alexandre made no scene. He simply packed his things and moved into his mothers apartment.
After MarieCatherines funeral, Alexandre isolated himself in her house, bitterly replaying his mothers wise advice. Why had he listened? A life wasted: no family, no children, no friends not even a careverything went to Louise. Reflecting on his past, Alexandre remembered Hélène and Damien. He never knew if Damien was his son or his expartners child. It no longer mattered.
Damien must be nineteen now an adult how is he? Alexandre whispered to the emptiness, receiving no answer.
The next morning he bought a train ticket to Hélènes hometown. He found the house and the building without trouble. He rang the familiar doorbell, but no one answered. They must be at work, he thought, and waited outside. After twenty minutes he turned around, stunned A young man approachedhis own portrait, but twenty years younger.
Damien Damien my son
You? What are you doing here? Damien asked coldly.
My son, I owe you an apology Such a striking resemblance Where is your mother?
Mom isnt here anymore. She died in a car accident ten years ago
And you? Who do you live with? Maybe I can help. I have money. Just ask!
I live with my grandmother. We want nothing from you.
But son I wanted
Alexandre couldnt finish. Damien went back into the building and slammed the door in his face.
Son! Son, open up! How can this be, my son? I am your father! Your father!!!
Christophe stood long at the closed door, weeping, tears streaming down his face. Or was it just rain? After that, he returned many times, trying to reach his son. Alexandre prayed, begged, tried to explain, but Damien flatly refused any contact.
