“Repeat what you just said?”
Emily stood in the middle of the living room, her fingers gripping the back of the armchair. She stared unblinkingly at James, the man she had spent nearly twenty years withthe man she thought she knew inside and out. They had never managed to have childrenfirst it was “not the right time,” then “lets wait a little longer,” until eventually, it just never happened. Together, they had weathered mortgages, renovations, tough times, and rare holidays. Their marriage had seemed steady and dependableno grand passions, but warm and familiar.
James exhaled heavily. His face twisted as if in pain, and he gave Emily a guilty look before repeating himself slowly, as though explaining something complicated.
“A few years ago, I had an affair,” James muttered, avoiding her gaze, his eyes fixed on the carpet pattern. “A stupid mistake, a moment of weakness. We were going through a rough patchremember? I messed up, I admit it. And now shes back.”
Emily stayed silent, her insides coiling into a tight knot as she braced for what came next.
“She found me and told me I have a daughter,” James continued, still not looking up. “Shes three.”
The world tilted beneath Emilys feet. In that instant, her life and marriage shattered.
“Em, I swear to you,” James stepped forward, hands outstretched. “I feel nothing for that woman. I love only you. Ill stay with you. But I have to help financiallychildren arent to blame for adult mistakes. But I dont *need* them. I need *you*.”
Emily sank into the armchair, wrapping her arms around herself. Hot tears streaked down her cheeks, but she barely noticed them. James knelt beside her, tentatively touching her shoulder.
“We can start over, Em,” he whispered, his voice pleading like a childs. “It was a mistake, a fling. Shes no threat to us. I promise. Please forgive me, love”
It took Emily months to forgive him. Her love was stronger than the hurt, the humiliation. She truly believed they could fix itthat twenty years of marriage wouldnt collapse over one foolish mistake. James was so grateful, so tender, that Emily almost convinced herself the worst was behind them.
But time proved otherwise. James disappeared more oftendelivering gifts to his daughter, attending nursery events, making excuses. Soon, he spoke of the little girl with a smile Emily hadnt seen in years. Then he mentioned the mother, warmth creeping into his voice.
“Charlottes doing wellshes a great mum,” James said over dinner, cutting into his steak. “And little Sophie looks just like me. My eyes, my dimples, even my stubborn streak.”
Emily tried to ignore how he changed, how his eyes lit up at the mention of his daughterand Charlotte. But the pain sharpened with each passing day. James stayed late after work, vanished on weekends, canceled their rare evenings together. She could feel herself fading from his life, replaced by the woman who had given him a child.
The breaking point came the night they were supposed to go to the theatrea rare occasion Emily had looked forward to for weeks. She had bought a new navy-blue dress, styled her hair, held onto hope that things might mend.
But an hour before they were due to leave, James called. She knew before he spokethe night was over.
“Sophies got a fever, nearly 40 degrees,” James said quickly, nervously. “Charlottes panickingthe doctor wont be here for hours. I cant *not* go. You understand, dont you?”
He didnt return until morning. He had slept under another roofwith Charlotte, with their daughter. Emily couldnt pretend anymore.
“You only think about *them* now!” she shouted, arms flailing. “Her, your daughteranything but me! When was the last time you asked how I was? When did we last spend a weekend together? When did you last kiss me?”
James defended himself, but guilt had vanished from his voice. Only exhaustion remained, irritation at having to explain the obvious.
“Em, you have to understand shes *my child*. I cant ignore her needs. I have to be part of her life.”
That was when Emily knewhis “mistake” was no longer just that. Charlotte and Sophie had become his life, his real family. She was just a shadow now, a reminder of the past.
“What happened to your promises?” Emily asked quietly, sitting across from him. “You swore they meant nothing. That you loved only me. Remember?”
James rubbed his forehead, avoiding her gaze. The silence stretched, louder than words.
“I meant it at the time,” he admitted finally. “But I fell in love with Sophie. Shes so clever, so funny And I love Cha” He stopped abruptly.
“And?” Emily pressed, already knowing. “Finish what you were saying.”
“And Charlotte too,” he murmured. “Ive realised what a real family is. A family is where theres a child, a future.”
His words hit Emily like ice water. He loved not just the childbut the mother too. This was no fling, no financial obligation. James had a second family. And that was the end.
“Youre sleeping with her,” she said flatly.
James nodded, eyes downcast. No point pretending now.
“And what am I, then?” Emily stood, steel in her voice. “Twenty yearswas that not a family?”
“Em, its different when theres a child,” he argued. “You wouldnt understand!”
“So *thats* how you talk to me now?” she shouted, all her pain erupting. “Every time I wanted children, you had excusescareer, money, the flat, bad timing. And now *our* family isnt enough?”
James looked at her helplessly.
“Yes, I was wrong then. But I have a daughter now. Youll have to accept that. Maybe we can work something out”
“Work *what* out?” Emily laughed bitterly. “Divorce? What will your precious Charlotte say? Though why do I bother? She slept with a married manshame clearly means nothing to her!”
“Dont talk about Charlotte like that,” James snapped. “Shes a good woman. A wonderful mother.”
“And Im a bad wife? Fine. Have it your way!”
She turned and marched to the bedroom to pack. James followed, watching helplessly as she threw clothes into a suitcase.
“Em, lets talk properly. Dont make rash decisions. Maybe we can compromise.”
“*Rash*?” Emily didnt look up. “Ive put up with your double life for three years. Watched you become a stranger. Ive endured too much already. I wont humiliate myself anymore while you”
“Where will you go?” James asked weakly. “The flats in both our names.”
“Ill take half of everythingthe flat, the savings. Twenty years counts for something. Then you can go live your new life with your new family. But I wont lie to myself anymore.”
James reached for her arm, but Emily jerked away as if burned.
“I never meant for this to happen. It just did.”
“Nothing *just happens*,” she said coldly, lifting her suitcase. “You chose them. Now live with it.”
A month later, once the divorce papers were signed, Emily moved into a small two-bedroom flat across town. The rooms were bright but empty. The first few days passed in eerie silence. She wandered the flat, unused to being alone.
She had to relearn how to live for herselfbuying groceries for one, cooking small portions, sleeping in an empty bed. At the park, she watched mothers with prams and children playing. She realised thenbecause of James, shed lost her chance to have a child of her own.
But she refused to give up. Her phone browser was filled with tabsadoption agencies, foster care websites. Somewhere, a child was waiting. And she still had love to give. She believed, one day, shed have a real familyhonest and true.
