“I can’t believe this! My best friend is Alexs father! Ive raised him for over four years, never imagining he wasnt mine!”
Emily and James had been in love since their school days. After graduation, James enrolled in an aviation university in another city, while Emily couldnt get in. They called each other every day.
But when James began his flight training, Emily grew fiercely jealous of the beautiful flight attendants. She traveled to his city to reconcile, and they spent a passionate night, whispering declarations of love. Yet the next morning, she saw a message from one of his colleaguesasking when his next flight was, saying she felt safer flying with him.
Jealousy flared. Emily stormed out in tears, heartbroken.
Soon after, James was offered a job abroadlucrative, full of promise. He agonized over how to tell Emily hed have to leave in a year. But three weeks later, she revealed she was pregnant.
James proposed. They married in a lavish ceremony, half the town celebrating with them. The overseas opportunity vanishedEmily refused to go.
After the wedding, James moved them to London. When their son was born, they took out a mortgage on a spacious flat with his mothers help. James worked relentlessly to provide, drowning in responsibility.
“If Id gone abroad for that year, I wouldnt be stuck like this! Id have climbed the career ladder by now!”
“Oh, of course, Jamie!” Emily snapped. “Youd be off with new women on flights while Im here with the baby?”
“God, your jealousy suffocates me! If Im with you, Im with youno one else!”
Fights erupted daily. After every flight, Emily would interrogate him, rifling through his phone, searching for betrayal. Three years in, James left the airline, becoming an instructor at the aviation university, driving a cab on weekends.
He gave up his dream for her peace. He tried to be the perfect father, the perfect husband.
One day, James missed a mortgage payment. Desperate to renegotiate, he searched for the contract. Emily was out, so he tore through their filesand found more than he bargained for. Beneath the paperwork lay a paternity test.
“Whatwhat is this?”
The results: Child Alex James Thompson. Alleged Father Andrew Michael Dawson. Probability of Paternity 97%.
“I cant believe it. My best friendAlexs father? Four years raising him and hes not mine?”
Numb, James didnt know how to face Emily.
“Hi, love!” She kissed him, but he stood frozen.
“Alex, dinner. Then the park,” he said stiffly.
“Jamie, whats wrong?” Emily laughed nervously. “Did I do something?”
“Dinner. Then Im taking Alex out.”
Confused, she pressed him. “Is it work? Another trip? Talk to me!”
“Not now.” He walked away.
She followed, desperate. “You cant just shut me out! Im your wife! Explain!”
“My wife? You lied to me for years! I gave up everything for you! When was the last time I saw my friends? My mother?”
Emily paled. “Does he know? How could he?”
Two months passed. James couldnt bear to speak to her. But how could Andrewhis best friendkeep this secret?
Andrew had always fancied Emily. Hed married months before their wedding, accepting shed never be his. Yet at every party, he danced with Emily, not his wife.
Jamess mother once remarked, “You and Andrew wouldve made such a lovely pair.”
Emily had laughed nervously. “Dont be silly! Im married to your son! We have a child!”
“But you always turn to Andrew, never James. Why?”
“James is always working. Andrew helps. Thats all.”
His mothers suspicion grew. Shed noticed Alex had Andrews birthmarkand his features. Shed secretly arranged the test, collecting Andrews glass and Alexs DNA.
One evening, she confronted Emily.
“I warned you! How could you betray my son? Does Andrew even know he has a child?”
Emily begged. “Please, dont ruin us! It was one drunken mistake after a fight! James loves meloves Alex! Andrew had nothing back thenno career, no money! I did it for my child!”
His mother left in tears.
Emily, panicked, hid the test resultsnever expecting James to find them.
Returning from work one day, she resolved to confess. But James was gonehis things vanished. A remote-control car sat on Alexs bed.
“Mum, wheres Dad?”
“On a trip,” she lied, collapsing onto the balcony in tears.
She called him, voice trembling. “Jamie, pleaselets talk!”
“I think were done. Ill always love Alex. Ill support him. But I cant live with you. You destroyed my trust.”
“Please, dont hang up!” But the line went dead.
Alex missed his father. James returned to take him for the weekend. Emily cornered him.
“Remember that fight over the flight attendant? I went clubbing with friendsAndrew was there. I dont even remember how I ended up at his place. I wanted to tell you, but I was terrified of losing you. Andrew made me swear to forget it. When I got pregnant, I thought Alex was yours. Your mother showed me the test when he was six months old. I buried it. Its Andrews fault! He always envied you! Forgive me!”
“Theres no forgiveness,” James said coldly.
He returned to flying. Months later, he filed for divorce, sending gifts from abroad, supporting Alex financially. Andrew never learned the truthhe moved overseas with his wife.
One reckless night had shattered trust, love, friendship. James lost his best friend, his wife.
Emily lived comfortablythe flat, money, a luxury car. Alex attended the best school. She had everything except love.
She begged James to return, but he refused. He struggled to trust again, yet eventually soared to the heights hed always dreamed of.
Life takes cruel turns. Was Emily right to keep the secret? What would you have done?
