She betrayed her husband only once, before the wedding. He called her fat and said she wouldnt fit into her bridal gown.
Even before marrying, Charlotte betrayed her fiancé just that one time. Hed mocked her weight, sneering that shed never squeeze into her dress. Humiliated, she went out with friends to a club in London, drank too much, and woke in a strangers flat beside a handsome man with piercing blue eyes. The shame was unbearable. She never told Michael, forgave his cruelty, even started a diet. She quit drinkingeasy enough once she discovered she was pregnant.
Their daughter arrived right on schedule, a beautiful blue-eyed girl, and Michael adored her. For five years, Charlotte convinced herself it was finethe girl had blue eyes because her grandfather did. So what if her hair was curly? She fought to forget the man with wild curls whose name escaped her. Yet deep down, a mothers heart whispered the truth: this child wasnt Michaels. Maybe thats why she tolerated his late nights, his business trips, his endless jabs about her cooking and looks. For the girls sake, she swallowed it. “Every man strays,” she told herself.
“Just endure itwhere else would you go?” her mother snapped. “Your brothers moved his fiancée in, Grans bedriddentheres no room! I warned you not to sign the house over to your mother-in-law!”
Charlotte endured. But it didnt matter. One day, Michael left. Hed met someone else. He wept, swore hed always be Amelias father, but couldnt fight his feelings. His mother, whod doted on the girl, hissed after the divorce:
“Get a paternity test. Why pay child support if shes not yours?”
Charlotte frozeshed thought she was the only one who suspected.
“Are you mad?” Michael snapped. “Amelias mine. Anyone can see that.”
But a year later, hospitalized with appendicitis, Charlottes doubts vanished when she recognized those same blue eyes above a surgical mask.
“Sorry, have we met?” the doctor asked.
She shook her head violently, praying hed forgotten. He hadnt.
Next day, during rounds, he grinned. “Hope you wont bolt like last time.”
Her face burned. She fled as soon as she couldexcept Thomas kept finding reasons to visit. She mentioned a daughter, nothing more. No hints. Yet he knew the moment he saw Amelia. Nervous, he bought a doll, grilled Charlotte on how to act.
“Listen,” he said, “when I was a boy, my mum fell for another man. My sister rejected him, drove him away. I wont let that happen. I want to be her second father.”
His words shattered her. Then he saw Ameliafroze, stared, and *knew*.
“Whats the difference?” Charlotte thought. “Hed have found out eventually.”
Bracing for anger, she flinched when Thomas instead pulled her close, whispering, *”What a glorious miracle.”*
Amelia seemed to like himuntil Charlotte gently suggested he move in. The girl burst into tears. “I thought Daddy was coming back! Let Thomas live somewhere else!”
Charlotte smoothed it over, but Thomas was gutted. “Shes *mine*. They deserve the truth!”
“Michael couldnt bear it. Neither could she. To her, *hes* her father. And his new wife cant conceivehis mother told me.”
Thomas stewed; Amelia sulked. Charlotte juggled their fragile peace with rules: no solo time between Thomas and Amelia (they fought), separate visits with Michael, even pre-written Mothers Day cards to prevent slips.
Then she got pregnant againand panicked. What if this baby mirrored Amelia? Would Michael piece it together? Would Amelia resent Thomas more? Worsewhat if he told her the truth while Charlotte was in labor?
Her mother was supposed to watch Amelia, but landed in hospital with gallstones the day before delivery. Her stepfather refused; her brother and his wife worked. Michael was abroad; his mother wasnt an option.
“I cant look after my own daughter?” Thomas snapped.
The birth was roughC-section, then jaundice kept Charlotte hospitalized. At home, tension simmered. Thomas claimed all was fine, but Amelia clammed up. *”He told her,”* Charlotte agonized.
Neighbors urged honesty: “The truth always surfaces. Youll pay for these lies.”
Trembling, she called Michael. “I need to confess something.”
“Confess what?”
A shaky breath. “About Amelia.”
“What about her?”
“Shes… your *mates* child. Ive known forever.”
“He told you?”
“I knew at her first birthday. Got tested. Military docs said I was sterilekept hoping for a miracle. Then… I doubted. Mum pushed me to check.”
“But… why…?”
“What choice did I have?” His voice cracked. “Shes blameless! And dont *you* tell her! I accepted this to keep her.”
On discharge day, Charlotte watched Thomas and Ameliaoddly quiet, exchanging glances.
“Howd you two manage without me?” she asked, nerves frayed as the baby slept and Amelia doodled.
“Perfectly! You coddled her. We sorted ourselves out.”
“You told her?”
“*No.* You forbade it.”
“Then whys she so quiet?”
Thomas smirked. “Ask her.”
Amelias tongue poked out as she scribbled red onto paper. Three adults, two children.
“Whos this?” Charlotte asked.
“Isnt it obvious? You, Daddy, Thomas, me, and little Oliver.”
“…Its lovely.”
“Mm. Mummy… can someone have two dads?”
*He told her.*
“Well… sometimes, yes,” Charlotte said carefully.
“Can I call Thomas Daddy too? Hes brilliant. We built a LEGO castle, saw fish. A funny granddad at the shop asked what my daddy did. I didnt know if he meant Thomas, so I said hes a doctor. Its *so cool* having a doctor daddy. I asked him already, but wanted to check with you.”
Charlottes throat tightened. Shed built this trap herself. Michael forgave her. Thomas would too. But if Amelia ever learned the full truth…
She hugged her daughter. “Of course you can. I think hed love that. But… dont tell Daddy yet, alright?”
