“I can’t believe this! My best friend is Alex’s father! Ive been raising him for over four years, never suspecting he wasnt mine!”
Emily and Victor had been in love since their school days. After graduation, Victor enrolled in an aviation university in another city. Emily didnt get in. They called each other every day.
When Victor started his pilot training, Emily grew jealous of the beautiful flight attendants. She visited him to make up, and they spent a perfect night together, whispering sweet nothings. But in the morning, she saw a message from one of his co-workersasking when his next flight was and how much calmer she felt flying with him.
Jealousy took over. Emily stormed out, heartbroken, and left in tears.
Victor was offered a job abroadgreat prospects, excellent pay. He agonised over how to tell Emily hed be leaving for a year. But three weeks later, she announced she was pregnant.
Victor proposed. They married soon after in a lavish ceremony, with half the town celebrating. He turned down the overseas jobhis wife refused to go.
After the wedding, Victor moved Emily to London. When their son was born, they took out a hefty mortgage on a large flat with his mothers help. Victor worked tirelessly to pay it off and support his family.
“If only Id taken that job abroad! I wouldnt be stuck at work all the timeId be climbing the career ladder by now!”
“Oh, sure, Victor! Me at home with the baby while youre off flirting with air hostesses?” Emily snapped.
“Youre driving me mad with this jealousy! If Im with you, Im with youno one else!”
The fights were constant. After every flight, Emily would interrogate him, rifling through his phone for evidence. Three years later, Victor quit flying to become an instructor at the aviation academy. On weekends, he drove a taxi for extra cash.
For Emilys sake, he gave up his dream. He tried to be the best husband and father.
One day, Victor missed a mortgage payment. To sort it out, he needed the contract. Emily wasnt home, so he searched their files himself. He found the contractand something else. Beneath the papers lay a paternity test.
“What the hell is this?” he muttered.
The results were clear: Child – Alex Victor Thompson. Alleged Father – Andrew Michael Bond. Probability of Paternity – 99%.
“I cant believe it! My best friend is Alexs father! Ive raised him for over four years, never knowing he wasnt mine!”
Victor froze. How could he confront Emily? How could Andrew have kept this from him?
“Hi, love! Were home!” Emily kissed him, but he didnt respond. “Alex, lets have dinner, then well go to the park,” he said flatly.
“Victor, whats wrong? Did something happen at work? Another assignment?”
“Not now.” He stood and walked away.
Emily followed, demanding answers. “You cant ignore me like this! Im your wife! Talk to me!”
“Youve kept this from me for years! I gave up everything for you! Everything! And you lied!”
Emily paled. “He knows? But how?”
Two months passed. Victor barely spoke to her. How could Andrew have betrayed him?
Andrew had always fancied Emily. He never hid it. Months before their wedding, he married someone else, knowing Emily would never be his. Yet at every party, he danced with Emily, not his wife.
Victors mother once remarked, “Emily, you and Andrew wouldve made a lovely couple!”
Emily laughed nervously. “Dont be silly! Im married to your son! We have a childwe love each other!”
“You do, but why is Andrew always helping you? Why not ask Victor?”
“Victors always working! Andrews kindhe never says no.”
“Emily, I love my son. And I wont let him be deceived. Somethings wrong here.”
“Eileen, youre imagining things!”
But Eileen had noticed. At birth, Alex had a birthmarkjust like Andrews. As he grew, the resemblance only strengthened. She secretly arranged the paternity test. After a family gathering, she swiped Andrews glass and Alexs cup.
Late one night, she confronted Emily in tears. “I knew it! How could you betray my son? Does Andrew even know he has a child?”
Emily begged. “Please, dont ruin us! It was one stupid nightVictor and I were fighting. I never thought… Andrew was a mistake. Victor loves me, loves Alex! Hes stable, secureAndrew had nothing back then! I did it for my child!”
Eileen left, heartbroken for her son. She couldnt destroy his lifebut she couldnt stay silent.
Emily hid the test results, praying Victor would never find them.
One evening, she resolved to confess. But when she got home, Victor was gonehis things vanished. On Alexs bed lay a new remote-control car.
“Mum, wheres Dad?”
“Hes away, sweetheart.” Emily ran to the balcony and sobbed.
She called Victor, pleading. “Please, lets talk!”
“Theres nothing to say. Ill always love Alex. Ill support him. But I cant live with you. Not after this.”
Alex missed his dad, so Victor took him for weekends. Emily cornered him.
“Remember that fight over the flight attendant? I went out with friends, got drunk, and… ended up at Andrews. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. Then I got pregnant. I thought he was yours. Your mother showed me the test when Alex was six months old. I hid it, tried to forget. It was Andrews faulthe always envied you! Please, forgive me!”
“No.” Victor walked away.
He returned to flying, divorced Emily months later. He sent Alex gifts from abroad, supported him financially. Andrew never knewhe and his wife moved overseas.
One reckless night had ruined everything. Trust shattered. Love destroyed. Victor lost his best friend and his wife.
Emily lived comfortablythe flat, money, her car, a top school for Alex. But no love.
She tried endlessly to win Victor back. He dated half-heartedly, terrified of betrayal. Eventually, he soared to the heights hed always dreamed of.
Life takes unexpected turns. Do you think Emily was right to hide the truth? What would you have done in Victors place?
