George, the head of sales, had never been married. When young and beautiful Emily joined his department, he fell for her instantly. On her first day, he approached her with a warm smile that lingered in her gaze.
“Good morning, colleague,” he said, his voice laced with warmth.
“Good morning,” she replied softly, returning his smile.
“Right then, settle in. Katherine will show you the ropes—she’s the senior here.” He nodded toward her. “Familiarize yourself with the procedures. Best of luck—I hope we’ll work well together.”
The team, mostly women, watched with interest. The moment he left, Katherine leaned over to whisper to Victoria beside her.
“Since when does George pay attention to new hires?” They both stifled laughter.
Emily observed quietly at first—new workplace, new dynamics—but she was far from shy. At twenty-two, she was sharp beyond her years, already leaving a trail of broken marriages since she was seventeen. Even in college, she’d entangled herself with a much older professor, until he cut it off when gossip reached his wife.
Time passed. One evening, George asked her to join him for coffee after work.
“Why not?” she smiled. “You’re my boss—good relations are key, after all.”
Her smile was so effortless, he almost thought she was joking. But she’d agreed, and his heart soared. At thirty, never married, with relationships that never deepened, he fell hard. Their romance moved fast. Soon, the entire office was stunned when he announced their engagement.
Married life was indulgent. George granted Emily’s every whim, even her condition:
“No children. Not yet. I want to live for myself. When I’m ready, I’ll tell you. Until then—no nappies, no baby clothes.”
He assumed she’d change her mind. But time passed, and she refused. Each mention of children was met with a sharp rebuke.
“George, I warned you upfront. Don’t push me. I’m not ready.”
Then, one day, he saw her step out of the bathroom, distraught, clutching a pregnancy test.
“Emily… are you?” She nodded.
Overjoyed, he swept her into his arms as she burst into tears.
“I don’t want this! I won’t be some fat cow! Fix this!”
But he held her tight, kissing her tear-streaked cheeks.
“Don’t be angry, darling. This is happiness. I love you. We’re having a baby!”
Emily was resolute. She secured a doctor’s appointment—but George stormed in just in time, dragging her out.
“Please,” he begged. “Don’t do this. Let our child live. I’ll help with everything.”
Reluctantly, she agreed—on one condition: no nappies, no night feeds. He doted on her through the pregnancy, fulfilling every demand. When the time came, he rushed her to the hospital. Only when their healthy daughter, Alice, was born did he exhale.
Exhausted but elated, he went home to rest. The next day, he returned—only to be told:
“Your wife’s gone. She left the baby.”
“That’s impossible!” he insisted. “Check again!”
But the nurse handed him a note.
Emily vanished—no trace at work, no answer to calls, her number changed. Only a month and a half later did she ring.
“Pack my things. My Anthony will collect them. File for divorce yourself—I won’t show up.”
Not a word about Alice. She wanted neither the child nor George. So he became both mother and father to little Alice, grateful his own mother lived nearby to help.
Meanwhile, Sophia’s phone rang. It was Mrs. Harris, Danny’s teacher.
“Come to the school immediately. Your son has caused quite a scene.”
Sophia grabbed her bag, excused herself from work, and hurried over.
“What could Danny have done?” He was usually calm, well-behaved—nothing like this.
Danny had defied all odds. Her husband, Edward, had warned her before marriage—he was infertile, even had the papers to prove it. This was his third marriage.
“Well, doctors can be wrong,” she’d thought, marrying him anyway. She loved him. If they couldn’t have children, adoption was an option—but she hadn’t mentioned it yet.
Edward’s first wife had left him within six months, accusing her of infidelity (true). The second left after his diagnosis—she’d wanted a child. So Edward had been honest with Sophia.
Yet against all odds, Sophia got pregnant. She raced home with the scan, ecstatic.
“Edward, look! We’re having a baby! I told you doctors make mistakes!”
His reaction stunned her—a slap across the face.
“Joy? What joy? You’ve cheated on me!” He raised his hand again. She shielded herself, sobbing.
Later, he calmed. “Fine. A child in the house—even if it’s not mine.”
She stopped arguing. Danny was born, the spitting image of Edward—though he refused to see it. At first, Edward was silent, watching, even helping. Then the rage returned.
“You slut! You’ve told the real father, haven’t you? Put my name down for child support? Let him pay!”
Sophia begged, placated him. But the outbursts continued. Danny grew up hearing it—even crying at his father’s shouts.
“Go to your real dad! Let him feed you!”
Sophia got a DNA test. Proof. Yet Edward screamed:
“You bribed them! I’ll expose you!”
She left, moving in with her mother. But he tracked her down. She rented a flat across town—he found her. Finally, she fled to another city. Now, life was steady. Danny, a well-behaved second-grader, had never caused trouble—until today.
At school, she found Danny and a man sitting outside the headmaster’s office, along with Alice, Danny’s classmate. A star pupil, always praised at parents’ evenings.
Danny had a scratch on his cheek. Alice glared.
“Hello,” Sophia said as Mrs. Harris approached.
“Finally. Danny pushed Alice. She fell.”
Danny squared his shoulders. “Mum, she started it! She called me a bastard and scratched me!”
Alice flinched. “Dad, I didn’t—”
“Alice, stop,” the man said firmly.
“Danny, apologize.”
“Alice, you too.”
The children stood stubbornly until Mrs. Harris sighed. “Perhaps you can resolve this?”
“We will,” Sophia and the man said in unison—then laughed.
“I’m George, Alice’s father.”
“Sophia, Danny’s mum.”
“Alice, sorry,” Danny muttered.
“You too,” Alice mumbled, nudging his hand.
“Well done,” the parents chorused, laughing again. The children cracked smiles.
“This calls for pizza,” George declared.
“Mum, can we?”
Alice nodded solemnly. “We’re really friends now. Right, Danny?”
“We believe you,” Sophia said, glancing at George. He smiled back.
Over pizza, the children chattered happily. Danny even vowed, “If anyone bothers you, tell me.” Alice grinned.
The parents exchanged glances, sensing something more. More outings followed—cinema trips, park walks, dinners. The children noticed, thrilled.
Months later, George and Sophia often joked about that first meeting—how lucky their children’s fight had been. Every cloud… Sophia was now expecting a boy. Danny and Alice had already picked a name: Stevie.
