**The Only Infidelity Before the Wedding: How a Comment About Weight Changed Everything**
Sophie had only been unfaithful to her fiancé once, just before their wedding. Hed called her fat and said 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 blue-eyed man she barely remembered. The shame was unbearable. She never told James, forgave his cruel words, and started dieting. She even gave up alcoholespecially when she soon found out she was pregnant, which felt like a chance to start fresh.
Their daughter, Lily, was born right on timea beautiful blue-eyed girl, and James adored her. For five years, Sophie convinced herself everything was fine. Lilys eyes? Well, Jamess father had blue eyes too. And her curls? Just a coincidence. She tried desperately to forget that stranger whose name she couldnt even recall. But something in her heart whispered that Lily wasnt Jamess. Maybe thats why she let so much slidehis late-night texts, constant business trips, his endless criticism of her looks and cooking. Lily needed a family, and she worshipped her father. Besides, what man didnt stray?
*”Where would you even go?”* her mum had snapped when Sophie once hinted at leaving. *”Weve no space hereGrans in the spare room, your brothers moved his girlfriend in. I told you not to put your name on his mothers flat! Youll end up with nothing!”*
So Sophie stayed. But it didnt matter in the endJames left anyway. He said hed met someone else, even cried, swore hed always be Lilys father, but he couldnt ignore his heart. Her mother, whod doted on Lily, muttered after the divorce:
*”Get a paternity test. Why pay child support if shes not even yours?”*
Sophie was stunned. Shed thought she was the only one with doubts. Turns out, she wasnt.
*”Are you mad?”* James lashed out. *”Lilys mineanyone can see that!”*
His mother hadnt expected what came next. A year after the divorce, Sophie ended up in hospital with appendicitisand there, in scrubs, was a familiar face.
*”Sorry, have we met?”* the surgeon asked.
Sophie shook her head fiercely, praying he wouldnt remember. But he did. The next day, he joked with the nurses:
*”Hope you wont run off like last time?”*
Sophie turned beetroot red. She vowed to leave as soon as possible. But she hadnt counted on one thing: in those few days, Oliverthe surgeonmanaged to make her *want* to stay.
She didnt mention Lily at first, only hinting she had a daughter and carefully avoiding the topic of her father.
Oliver understood the moment he saw her. He fretted, bought her a doll, asked Sophie endless questions so hed do everything right.
*”When I was little,”* he said, *”my mum met a man she loved, but my sister never accepted him. In the end, Mum pushed him away. I dont want that. I want to be a proper father to your girl.”*
Those words floored her. And when he paused, staring at Lily, it was clearhe *knew*.
*”Whats the difference?”* Sophie thought. *”Shell find out one day anyway.”*
Used to marital strife, she braced for shouting. But Oliver just held her tight and whispered, *”What a miracle.”*
At first, Lily seemed to adore Oliver. But when Sophie tentatively asked if shed mind him moving in, she burst into tears:
*”I thought Dad would come back! Oliver can live somewhere else.”*
Sophie eventually persuaded her, but Oliver was crushed.
*”Shes *my* daughter! You have to tell them!”*
*”James wont survive it. Neither will Lily. To her, hes her dad. To him, shes his only childhis girlfriend cant have kids. His mother told me.”*
Oliver was hurt. Lily threw tantrums. Sophie walked on eggshells, trying to keep the peace. They agreed on rules: shed take Lily to Jamess, ensuring the men never met; Oliver and Lily would have time alone to bond. Even on Mothers Day, they prepped Lilys card, terrified shed blurt something out.
Then Sophie found out she was pregnant againand panicked. What if this baby looked like Lily? What if James realised? What if Lily resented Oliver even more? What if he told her the truth while Sophie was in labour?
She arranged for her mum to take Lily during the birth. But the day before, her mum landed in hospital with gallstones. Her stepdad refused to take the kids, her brother and his wife were always working. Sophie decided Lily would stay with Jamesexcept he was abroad, and asking his mother was out of the question.
*”You dont think I can handle her?”* Oliver snapped.
The birth was hardera C-section, jaundice, and then chaos at home. Oliver insisted all was fine, but Lily refused to speak to Sophie. *”He told her,”* she thought.
Worse, shed confided in the neighbours, who nagged her to come clean: *”Secrets always come out. Youll pay for this lie.”* Hormones raging, she called James:
*”I need to confess something.”*
*”What?”*
She hesitated, scrambling for words.
*”Its about Lily, isnt it?”*
Sophie froze. *”What about Lily?”*
*”Shes not mine. Ive known for years.”*
*”Oliver told you?”*
*”I had a test done when she was one. Before the army, they said Id never have kids. I hoped but then I doubted. My mum kept hinting. So I checked.”*
*”But why?”*
Her mind reeled. Hed known all along.
*”What else could I do?”* he said flatly. *”Shes innocent. Dont you dare tell her! I kept quiet this longyou wont take her from me now.”*
The day they left hospital, Sophie watched Lily and Oliver closely. They were acting oddexchanging glances, staying quiet.
*”How were things while I was gone?”* she asked when their son was asleep and Lily was drawing.
*”Brilliant,”* Oliver said, grinning. *”Turns out we get on fine without you.”*
*”Did you tell her?”*
*”Of course not. You said not to.”*
*”Then why is she so upset?”*
Oliver smirked. *”Ask her yourself.”*
Sophie found Lily bent over a drawingthree adults, two kids.
*”Whos this?”*
*”Duh. You, Dad, Oliver, me, and baby William.”*
*”Lovely.”*
*”Mum can someone have two dads?”*
Sophies heart lurched. *He did tell her.*
*”Well sometimes, yes,”* she said carefully.
*”So can I call Oliver Dad? Hes nice. We built a Lego castle and watched the fish. The shopkeeperthe one with the hatasked who my dad was. I didnt know what to say, so I said the doctor. Its cool having a doctor dad. I already asked Oliver, but I wanted to check with you.”*
Sophie hugged her tight, suddenly realising the trap shed built for herself. James had forgiven her. Oliver would too. But if Lily ever found out the full truth
*”Of course you can,”* she whispered. *”Just maybe dont tell Dad yet.”*
