After betraying his wife and children for another woman, Edward had no idea what cruel lesson fate had in store for him.
When he learned his wife Emily had given birth to twins, a strange feeling of confusion washed over him. Before the pregnancy, hed genuinely wanted childrentheyd made plans together, dreamed of the future. But the moment she left for the hospital, granting him unexpected freedom, Edward suddenly wondered if it had all been a mistake.
The first day alone was spent in gloomy idleness. The next, he visited his favourite caféhe couldnt stand cooking for himself. And there, surrounded by the scent of fresh pastries and coffee, he met *her*.
Charlotte.
The woman of his dreams, or so it seemed the instant she walked in. She scanned the room, flashed a radiant smile, and gracefully settled at an empty table. Edwards pulse quickened. They struck up a conversation, and by evening, she was in his home. By morning, he was questioning everythinghad he ever truly loved Emily? Had they been wrong to become parents?
The phone shattered the peaceful morning. Charlotte frowned.
“Who calls this early? I barely slept!”
Edward glanced at the screenthe hospital. He answered reluctantly.
“Yes, Im listening. Twins? Two boys.”
“Ugh, nappies, sleepless nights, no life of your own! Why would you want that?” Charlotte scoffed.
Edward shrugged. “Honestly, Im not sure I do.”
That evening, Emily called. He forced enthusiasm into his voice, but it rang hollow.
“Darling, is something wrong? You dont sound happy.”
“Of course I am! Just works offering me a big promotion, and the kidstheyll complicate things. But dont worry, Ill figure it out,” he lied.
“Figure it out? What do you mean?”
He hurried off the call, realising hed slipped up. Time was running outEmily and the babies would return home in a week. He needed a plan.
“Listen,” he said suddenly, turning to Charlotte. “My grandfathers old cottageits out in the countryside. A bit run-down, but decent. Ill send Emily and the kids there. Tell her the fresh airs good for them, that Ill visit when I can. Shell buy it, right?”
“Obviously,” Charlotte smirked. “That naïve little wife of yours will believe anything. And well finally have some peace!”
“Maybe not *completely* together, but at least we wont have to hide,” he assured her.
Edward rehearsed his speech. Emily was sceptical.
“Darling, are you hiding something? How will I manage alone in the middle of nowhere with two babies?”
“Youll manage! Ill visit often. Unless you want me to lose this promotion?”
She didnt understand, but she didnt arguetoo afraid hed leave if she pushed. Straight from the hospital, they drove to their new “home.” Emily quietly cried, suspecting another woman, but she couldnt bring herself to ask.
The car stopped outside a crumbling cottage, half-swallowed by weeds. Emily gasped.
“Eddie, youre not leaving us *here*?”
“I am,” he said coldly. “Stop being dramatic. Be grateful its spacious. Ill leave money behindyoull manage.”
“So youre leaving us?” Her voice trembled.
“Emily, we rushed into this. The kids”
He unloaded their things, avoiding her eyes, then drove off without another word.
Emily was left alone with her grief and two helpless infants. What now?
Edward shoved aside his guilt. Plenty of men did this. He hadnt thrown them onto the streetshed given them a house. His house! Shed cope.
Gently placing the crying babies on an old sofa, Emily finally broke down. Theyd die here without help. Would he change his mind? This had to be some cruel joke. The babies wailed, but she was frozen in shock.
“Whatre you sitting there for?” A gruff voice startled her. “Its boiling, and those poor mites are bundled up like its winter!”
She spun around. An older man stood in the room, scowling as he unwrapped the infants.
“Who are you?”
“Neighbour. Heard your little chat with that husband of yours. Thought Id check on you.”
“How dare you!”
“Enough of that,” he cut her off. “Feed the little ones, clean them up. They cant live like this. Ill help for now.”
Emily wanted to argue, but the chaos around her overwhelmed her. “God, how will we survive?”
The manThomassmiled. “No time for despair. Feed the babies, air them out, then tidy up. Youll manage.”
Somehow, she followed his instructions. Thomas had lived here two years, he explained.
“Whyd you move out here?” she asked while scrubbing.
“Got tired of people,” he chuckled. “Used to be a paediatrician.”
“Really?” That explained his ease with the twins. “Ive got so much to learn.”
By evening, the cottage was clean. Thomas fetched food, and over tea, he laid out plans: goats milk from old Mrs. Higgins, a crib from the attic.
“Work?” he asked suddenly.
“Primary school teacher.”
“Perfect!”
Days turned to weeks. The twins thrived. Thomas helped register them for benefitswho knew it was possible in the countryside?
Six months flew by. One evening, Thomas fixed her with a look.
“Ever thought of tutoring?”
She laughed. “Out here?”
“Country kids need teaching too. I know families whod hire you.”
She agreed. Thomas often minded the twins while she worked. He even found a double pramcourtesy of Mrs. Higgins, whod become a second mother to Emily.
Shed long stopped seeing Thomas as just a neighbour. But whod want a woman with two children?
On her birthday, Mrs. Higgins smirked over tea.
“You twoalways sighing at each other. Why not marry already?”
“No!” they blurted in unison, blushing.
After she left, tension lingered. Finally, Thomas cleared his throat.
“Emily I care about you. But my ex always said I was a failure. Maybe she was rightwhy else would I be here? You deserve better.”
“Rubbish!” Emily snapped. “She was a fool. Youve done more for me than anyone. Youre *not* a failure.”
She hesitated, then whispered, “And Id never burden you with”
“Burden?” He stood abruptly. “Those boystheyre like my own! The thought of you leaving terrifies me!”
She realisedthere was nothing stopping them.
Meanwhile, Charlotte arrived in the village. Edward had given directions but stayed behindtoo guilty to face his family.
Shed expected a sellable property. Instead, she found a derelict shack.
“Eddie, you liar!” she spat into the phone. “This dumps worthless!”
“What? Emily keeps things tidy”
“Theres no one here!”
Then she spotted themEmily, the twins, and a man walking into a *different* cottage.
“Waittheyre next door!”
“Just come home,” Edward said wearily.
He hung up. So Emily was fine. The boys were fine. *She* had moved on.
And he? Stuck with Charlottea woman whod never let him go.
Edward lit a cigarette, exhaling bitterly. Some got happy endings.
His wasnt one of them.
