The Only Betrayal Before the Wedding: How a Comment About Weight Changed Everything.
Emily had only been unfaithful to her fiancé once, just before their wedding. Hed called her fat, saying she wouldnt fit into her wedding dress. Hurt, she went out with her friends, drank too much, and woke up in a strangers flat with a handsome bloke who had striking blue eyes. She was mortified! Emily never told her fiancé, James. She forgave his cruel words, started dieting, and gave up alcoholespecially when she soon discovered she was pregnant.
Their daughter, Sophie, was born right on time, a beautiful blue-eyed girl, and James adored her. For five years, Emily convinced herself everything was fineSophie had blue eyes like Jamess father, after all. And her curls? Just a coincidence. She tried hard to forget the curly-haired man whose name she couldnt even recall. But something in her heart whispered Sophie wasnt Jamess. Maybe thats why she let so much slide: his late-night texts, constant business trips, endless complaints about her cooking and looks. Sophie needed a family, and she worshipped her father. What man didnt cheat?
“Just put up with itwhere else would you go?” her mum said. “Weve no roomGrans in the bed, your brothers brought his new wife home. I told you not to put the flat in your mother-in-laws name!”
So Emily endured. But it didnt help. One day, James left anyway. Said hed met someone else. He cried, swore hed always be Sophies dad, but couldnt stay against his heart. Even her mum, who supposedly loved her grandchild, muttered after the divorce:
“Get a paternity test. Why pay child support if shes not even yours?”
Emily was shockedshed thought she was the only one with doubts. Turns out, she wasnt.
“Have you lost your mind?” James snapped. “Sophies mineits obvious, even a blind man could see.”
His mother hadnt expected that. But a year later, when Emily ended up in hospital with appendicitis, old suspicions resurfaced at the sight of a familiar face.
“Sorry, have we met?” the surgeon asked.
Emily shook her head quickly, hoping he wouldnt remember. But he did. The next day, he joked, “Not running off like last time, I hope?”
She turned beetroot red and decided to leave ASAP. But she hadnt factored in one thing: in those few days, Danielthe surgeonmade her forget all about running.
She didnt mention Sophie at first, only hinting she had a daughter while carefully avoiding the topic of her father.
Daniel understood immediately when he met Sophie. He fretted, bought her a doll, asked Emily endless questions.
“See,” he said, “when my sister and I were kids, Mum met a bloke she really loved. But my sister rejected him, and Mum ended up pushing him away. I dont want thatI want to be a second father to your girl.”
Emily was floored. And when he paused, staring at Sophie, it was clear: he knew.
*Whats the difference, anyway?* she thought. *One day, the truth will have to come out.*
Used to marital problems, she expected shouting and blame. But Daniel just held her tight and whispered, “What a miracle.”
At first, Sophie seemed to accept Daniel. But when Emily carefully asked if shed mind him moving in, she burst into tears:
“I thought Dad would come back! Let Daniel live somewhere else.”
Emily eventually convinced her, but Daniel was crushed.
“Shes *my* daughter! You have to tell them!”
“James wont handle it. Neither will Sophie. To her, hes Dadand to him, shes his only child. His new wife cant have kids, his mum told me.”
Daniel was hurt. Sophie threw tantrums. Emily strained to keep the peace. They agreed on rules: shed drop Sophie off at Jamess to avoid clashes, leave Sophie and Daniel alone to bond. Even on Mothers Day, she prepped Sophie, terrified shed say something thatd push Daniel too far.
Later, Emily found out she was pregnant againand panicked. She feared this baby would look like Sophie, exposing everything. That Sophie would resent Daniel even more. That hed use her hospital stay to spill the truth.
She arranged for her mum to take Sophie while she gave birth. But the day before, her mum landed in hospital with gallstones. Her stepdad refused a third child; her brother and his wife were always at work. Emily decided Sophie would stay with Jamesexcept he was away on business, and she couldnt face his mum.
“Dont you trust me with my own daughter?” Daniel snapped.
The birth was hardera C-section, then jaundice kept Emily in hospital. Meanwhile, chaos at home. Daniel insisted all was fine, but Sophie wouldnt speak to her. *He told her,* Emily thought.
Neighbours urged her to confesssecrets always come out. Hormones raging, she called James.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
She hesitated, choosing words.
“About Sophie, right?”
“What about Sophie?” Emily panickedthough that was *her* plan.
“Daniels her father. Ive known for years.”
“*He* told you?”
“Ive known since she was one. Got a test done. Before the army, doctors said I couldnt have kids. I hoped for a miracle. Then I doubted. Even Mum So I checked.”
“But how?”
Emilys mind reeledhed *known* all these years.
“What else could I do?” he said. “Shes innocent. Dont you dare tell her! I didnt stay silent just for you to take her.”
*Welcome to a life of regrets.*
Leaving hospital, Emily was a wreckwatching Sophie, then Daniel. Both acted oddly, exchanging glances.
“How were things without me?” she asked nervously as their son slept and Sophie drew.
“Fine! Didnt need guarding. We got on perfectly.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No! You told me not to.”
“Then whys she so upset?”
Daniel smiled slyly. “Ask her yourself.”
Emily went to Sophies room. She was focused, tongue poking out, colouring furiously in red.
“Whats this?”
“Cant you tell? You, Dad, Daniel, me, and William.”
“Lovely.”
“Yeah. Mum can someone have two dads?”
*He did tell her!*
“Well sometimes, yes,” Emily said carefully.
“So can I call Daniel Dad too? Hes nice. We built a Lego castle and watched fish. There was this funny shopkeeper, an old man with a hat. He asked who my dad was. I didnt know what to sayhe meant Daniel. So I said the doctor. Its cool having a doctor dad. I asked Daniel already, but I wanted to check with you.”
Emilys heart swelled. She suddenly saw the trap shed built. James had already forgiven her. Daniel would too. But if Sophie ever learned the truth It was time to decide: tell now, or wait for fallout. She hugged her daughter tight.
“Of course you can. I think Daniel would love that. But maybe dont tell your other dad”
