Emma wept as she embraced her son, Lucas. “I am so proud of you, my love. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I could never have imagined that you would achieve such great heights in life. And now, you have graduated from law school with honors.”
Lucas smiled. “Well, Mom, you talk as if I was a hopeless case,” he joked.
Emma gently patted his hand. “You know what I mean. I was only sixteen… I was just a child myself. It was hard to be a mother so young, and I know I made many mistakes, but you are my greatest pride, Lucas.”
Lucas kissed his mother on the cheek and tenderly stroked her hair. They shared a special bond, as Lucas had grown up with his grandparents while Emma finished school and university. At one point, they had even studied together—almost like siblings.
“I’m going to miss you,” Emma sighed. “I’m happy that you’ve already found a job, but it’s a shame you’re moving so far away.”
“I’ll visit often, Mom. It’s only an hour’s drive,” Lucas reassured her.
Emma smiled as they walked arm in arm across the courtyard of Oxford University. The sun was shining, the air was fresh and sweet. It was a perfect day for Lucas to embark on a new chapter in his life.
—
Love and Betrayal
Five years later, Emma stepped through the doors of a prestigious international company in London—she had just been hired for a new job. Although she was now forty, she had dedicated her youth to raising Lucas, and now she felt like her life was beginning anew.
That feeling of renewal intensified when she met her new boss, Alan. A shiver ran through her body as she shook his hand, unable to look away from his attractive face.
“It’s great to have you with us, Emma,” Alan said. “Your résumé impressed me, and I feel like you’re exactly what we were missing here.”
Their business meetings soon turned into something more. At first, it was just glances, jokes over coffee breaks, and accidental touches. But passion erupted the day Alan invited Emma into his office to share some good news.
“We got the contract!” he announced excitedly.
Their embrace was spontaneous, but neither of them wanted it to end. Alan looked into her eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry… we shouldn’t.”
“Yes,” Emma replied, feeling her heart race.
That day, their relationship turned into a whirlwind of passion. For months, they lived in secrecy, caught in an intense love affair. But everything changed when Emma found out she was pregnant.
“You can’t be pregnant,” Alan muttered, grabbing his head. “We didn’t plan this.”
“I know, but we can figure it out,” she replied.
Alan abruptly stood up and began pacing the room. “No, we can’t. I’m married.”
Emma’s world shook. “But you don’t wear a wedding ring, and there are no family pictures in your office.”
“I prefer to keep my personal life separate from work,” he replied. “I’m really sorry, Emma, but this has to end. Of course, I’ll pay for the procedure.”
“No!” Emma shouted. “I won’t do that, Alan.”
Alan frowned, his voice turning cold. “If you keep this up, you’ll regret it.”
—
Revenge and Justice
From that day on, Alan made Emma’s life a nightmare. He increased her workload, ignored her, and constantly made sarcastic comments about her pregnancy. Eventually, he fired her under the pretext of “restructuring.”
Desperate, Emma called Lucas and told him everything.
“Mom, don’t worry,” he said calmly. “I’ll handle it.”
A few days later, Lucas walked into the company as Emma’s lawyer. At the meeting, he presented undeniable evidence of harassment and discrimination that his mother had suffered. Alan tried to justify himself, but Lucas had everything thoroughly documented.
In the end, the company, wanting to avoid a scandal, offered Emma a million-dollar settlement.
As they walked out of the meeting, Lucas gently took his mother’s hand. “I have always been proud of you, Mom. Now it’s time to start over, without fear.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged her son tightly. She knew that no matter what happened, she would never be alone.
—
Moral: Justice always finds its way, and the love of family is the greatest strength in times of hardship.
