My name is Emma Parker, and I live in the quiet town of Henley-on-Thames, nestled along the banks of the river in Oxfordshire. I hesitated for a long time before writing this letter, but I’m overwhelmed with pain and confusion. I can’t stay silent any longer—I need to get this off my chest because my life has collapsed into chaos, and I don’t know how to find my way out of this nightmare.
It all started with me being a mother to my five-year-old daughter, Lucy, and a wife to a husband who’s completely consumed by his work. My husband, Oliver, is a workaholic to the core, and he’s rarely at home. My daughter is picked up from nursery by my mum; she also watches her in the evenings because both Oliver and I come home late. I work at a large company—it’s a serious job and it pays well, but I give it my all, often staying late to finish my tasks. Two months ago, I was sent on a four-day business trip with a colleague, James. I asked my mum to stay at our place to look after Lucy. She agreed, and I left with peace of mind.
James and I traveled in the company car. The day was filled with meetings, and in the evening we checked into the hotel. In the lift, he suddenly suggested going down to the restaurant for dinner together. I nodded—why not? The evening turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant. We talked about everything, and I learned he was divorced, childless, and entirely focused on his career. His voice, his laughter—it made me feel free and alive, something I hadn’t felt in years. For the first time in ages, being with a man I barely knew felt effortless. After dinner, we parted to our rooms, but something inside me was already trembling.
The next day was filled with work, and again, dinner in the evening. We finished early, and James proposed celebrating our success with a bottle of red wine. I love red wine, so I didn’t refuse. We ate, drank, and laughed, and I could see where it was heading. My heart was racing, but I decided to head to my room. He offered to see me to my door, and in the lift, it happened—his lips found mine, and passion swept over us like a wave. We ended up in his room, and the night became a whirlwind that I feared even thinking about. The next night was even more intense, more wild—I was lost in it, forgetting about home, my husband, everything.
Returning to Henley-on-Thames, I tried to erase it from my memory. I immersed myself in work, avoided James, but a couple of weeks later, life hit me hard: I was pregnant. The world spun, my knees buckled. I was in shock, terrified, but I knew—it was his child. Oliver and I had grown distant, with no intimacy for months. I wanted to discuss divorce—our marriage was in shambles for a long time, but I hesitated, afraid of change. And now this child—a living proof of my downfall. I don’t really know James. He was kind during the business trip, but can I trust him? What if he turns away once he finds out?
I wander through the house like a ghost, looking at my daughter and husband, and inside, everything screams. This child is growing inside me, and I don’t know what to do. Tell Oliver? He will explode, throw me out, and I’ll be left alone with two children. Tell James? What if he laughs in my face or vanishes like smoke? I decided to reveal the truth to the child’s father in a few days, but each hour until then is torture. My mind is splitting from thoughts, my heart tearing apart from fear and guilt. I wanted a peaceful life, but instead, I’ve created chaos.
My mum looks at me with concern, but I remain silent—how can I tell her that her daughter, supposedly a good mother and wife, is entangled in such disgrace? Oliver returns late, mutters a tired “hello,” and doesn’t notice how I tremble. James passes by at work, and I catch his gaze—warm, yet distant. What should I do? Keep the child and leave my husband? Leave everything behind and run? Or stay silent until the truth bursts out like a storm? I dreamt of happiness, of a second child, but not like this—not with betrayal, not with lies. Now I stand on the edge, and every step is an abyss.
Please, I need advice! I am in despair, I am lost. My life is spiraling out of control, and I don’t know how to save myself, my children, my soul. This child is my mistake and my hope, but I fear it will destroy everything I have left. What should I do with this truth that burns me from the inside? I want things to get better, but I fear it might be too late.
