She betrayed her husband just once, before the wedding. He called her fat and said she wouldnt fit into her wedding dress.
Even before they married, Emily betrayed her fiancé that single time. Hed sneered that she was too heavy for her gown. Wounded, she went out with friends to a nightclub in London, drank too much, and woke in an unfamiliar flat beside a handsome man with piercing blue eyes. The shame was unbearable. She never told James, forgave his cruel words, even started a diet. She quit drinkingeasy enough once she discovered she was pregnant.
Their daughter arrived right on time, a blue-eyed beauty, and James adored her. For five years, Emily told herself it was finemaybe the girl had her grandfather’s eyes. And the curls? Harmless. She forced herself to forget the man with tousled hair whose name she barely recalled. Yet, deep in her mothers heart, she knew. Thats why she endured Jamess late nights, his work trips, his endless jabs about her weight and cooking. For the child, family mattered. She worshipped her fatherand what man didnt stray?
“Just bear it,” her mother snapped. “Where else would you go? Your grans bedridden, your brothers moved his fiancée intheres no room! I warned younever shouldve put the house in your mother-in-laws name!”
So Emily bore it. But it didnt matter. One day, James left. Said hed met someone else. He even wept, swearing hed always be Lilys dadbut he couldnt fight his feelings. His mother, who doted on the girl, hissed after the divorce:
“Get a paternity test. Might be paying child support for nothing!”
Emily froze. Shed thought she was the only one who doubted.
“Are you mad?” James exploded. “Lilys mineany fool can see that!”
Maybe his mother was right. A year later, when Emily landed in hospital with appendicitis, her doubts vanished the moment she glimpsed familiar blue eyes above a surgical mask.
“Forgive me, have we met?” the surgeon asked.
Emily shook her head wildly. Prayed he wouldnt remember.
But he did. Next day, during rounds, he teased, “Hope you wont run off as quick as last time.”
She flushed scarlet, desperate to leave. Yet, by the weeks end, Thomas had her wanting to stay. She never mentioned Lilyonly that she had a daughter.
Thomas understood the first time he saw her. Nervous, he bought a doll, bombarded Emily with questionshow to act, what to say.
“Listen,” he admitted, “my mum fell for another man when we were kids. My sister never accepted himdrove him off. I wont let that happen. I want to be her second father.”
His words shattered her. And when he stared at Lily, frozen, then back at Emilyit was clear. He knew.
“Whats the difference?” she reasoned. “Hed find out eventually.”
Bracing for rage, she was stunned when Thomas pulled her close and murmured, “What a bloody miracle.”
At first, Lily seemed fine with him. But when Emily tentatively asked if he could move in, the girl burst into tears.
“I thought Daddy was coming back! Let Thomas live somewhere else!”
Emily soothed her, but Thomas was gutted.
“Shes mine! They deserve the truth!”
“James couldnt bear it. Neither could Lily. To her, hes her fatherand to him, shes his only child. His new wife cant conceive. His mother told me.”
Resentment festered. Lily threw tantrums. Emily juggled their fragile peace with rules: James got visits without Thomas, Lily was never left alone with him (theyd argue), even on Mothers Day, cards were pre-written to avoid slip-ups.
Then Emily got pregnant again. Terror seized her. Would this baby look like Lily? Would James piece it together? Would Lily resent Thomas more? Worsewould he confess while she was in labour?
They planned for her mum to take Lily. But fate intervenedgallstones landed her mum in hospital the day before Emilys C-section. Her stepfather refused, her brother worked full-time. Desperate, she tried Jamesaway on business. His mother wasnt an option.
“I cant look after my own daughter?” Thomas snapped.
The birth was rougha C-section, then jaundice kept her hospitalised. At home, tension simmered. Thomas claimed all was fine, but Lily clammed up. “He told her,” Emily panicked.
Neighbours urged honesty”The truth always comes out.” Spurred on, she called James.
“I need to confess something.”
“Confess what?”
Long silence.
“About Lily.”
“What about her?”
“Shes… your mates daughter. Ive known for years.”
“He told you?”
“Knew before she turned one. Had a test. Found out before basic trainingIm sterile. Kept hoping for a miracle. Then I doubted. Mum pushed… so I checked.”
“But… why…?”
“What could I do?” he snapped. “Not her fault! And dont you tell her! I stayed to keep my daughter.”
Homecoming was eerie. Lily and Thomas exchanged odd glances, speaking little.
“Howd you manage without me?” Emily asked tightly once the baby slept and Lily doodled.
“Fine! You coddle her. We sorted it.”
“You told her?”
“Course not! You forbade it.”
“Then whys she so quiet?”
Thomas smirked. “Ask her.”
In Lilys room, the girl scribbled intently, tongue poking out. Emily peeked. The drawing showed three adults, two kids.
“Whos this?”
“Cant you tell? You, Daddy, Thomas, me, and baby Oliver.”
“Its lovely.”
“Yeah. Mummy… can someone have two dads?”
Emilys throat clenched. *He told her.*
“Sometimes,” she said carefully.
“So can I call Thomas Daddy too? Hes nice. We built a LEGO castle, saw fish. A funny grandad in a cap asked what my dad does. Didnt know if he meant Thomas, so I said hes a doctor. Its cool having a doctor dad. I asked him, but wanted to check with you.”
The trap shed built yawned wide. James forgave her. Thomas would too. But if Lily ever learned the full truth… She hugged her tight.
“Of course you can. I think hed love that. But dont tell… Daddy.”
